| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Future Maserati SUV will be powered by Chrysler, Not Ferrari
 
We’ve been drowning in rumors about a Maserati SUV for a little while now - ever since the Maserati Kubang Concept came out in 2003 - so the thought of some semi-concrete evidence was rather inviting. A few months ago, the new Maserati SUV was finally confirmed by the brand, who set a launch for sometime in 2012. That confirmation was followed with rumors of a Ferrari-sourced engine, but as it turns out, Top Gear is hearing that Chrysler will actually be the ones powering the bulkier Maserati. CEO of Chrysler Group and Fiat, Sergio Marchionne had said that the new SUV would carry a "rock and roll engine," possibly in both V8 and V12 variants. Current rumors suggest that the engine will actually be a Chrysler Hemi V8 with 465 HP and more torque than the original option. This engine will also fit better in the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee platform they have already confirmed for the Maserati model. Now, the future SUV will only be Italian on the badge, as the engine and chassis will be American made at Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant. This should bode well for the SUV, since having a Ferrari engine would have undoubtedly hiked up the price. Expect to see the official launch of the Maserati SUV at one of the major auto shows in 2012. Maserati will replace V8 engines with a Twin-Turbo Pentastar V6
Efficiency is turning into a four letter word for speed freaks considering the fact that recent automaker decisions have been in favor of saving at the pump and losing at the 0-60 mph mark. It’s unfortunate, but the walls are coming in and it’s getting a little too difficult to breathe for some automakers. Upping the ante on efficiency is what it will take for continued success and that is what Maserati plans to have as soon as it ditches the Ferrari-borrowed V8s found in the Quattroporte and GranTurismo line-up. Rumors are now circulating that the Italian luxury car manufacturer is steering clear of their usual V8 powertrains in favor of a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter version of the Chrysler’s Pentastar. Apparently the V8s were light on low-end torque and didn’t provide adequate fuel economy. We can’t say we are in favor of Maserati’s decision, but hard times call for hard measures. In its standard version, the Pentastar V6 delivers a total of 280 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, however this engine has been tested in many flavors on both European and American markets and will hopefully produce just as much horsepower in a twin turbo variant. At least, that’s what we’re hoping for Maserati’s sake. 2011 Maserati Quattroporte by MR Car Design
We all know that the most important element of a tuning project hinges on whether the tuning company played around with the car’s engine. Sure, aesthetic and aerodynamic modifications make for great eye candy, but for the most part, the joy still lies on what kind of powertrain upgrades are done on the car. MR Car Design opted to go to this route with their latest upgrade for the suave and sexy Maserati Quattroporte. With a powertrain that features a 4.6-liter Ferrari V8 engine, MR Car Design gave the engine a software upgrade while also adding a new custom exhaust system, bumping up the luxury saloon’s output from 400 horsepower and 339 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 430 ponies and 361 lb/ft of torque. While the program doesn’t have a whole lot of aesthetic and aerodynamic changes, the German tuner nevertheless gave it a few tweaks here and there, including tinted windows, new tail pipe designs, a set of adjustable H&R sport springs that lowered the ride height by 20 to 30mm, and a set of 22” Vossen alloy wheels wrapped in 245/30 R22 tires at the front and 295/25 R22 tires at the back. For a car like the Maserati Quattroporte, sometimes subtle is the way to go. Of course, it’s always a plus if the car’s already powerful engine gets a bump up too. 2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo JBF RAK Race Car
Italian automaker, Maserati, is getting ready for the inaugural season of the Trofeo JBF RAK Middle East, a one-make racing series that will feature 12 races spread across the Middle East competed by 16 cars of the same kind. For this race, Maserati has announced the use of the new GranTurismo MC Trofeo JBF RAK Race Car, which will be used by the racers while being maintained and managed by Maserati themselves for the entire 12-race calendar. For the GranTurismo MC Trofeo JBF RAK Race Car, Maserati is outfitting the rear-wheel drive race car with a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 488 horsepower. The season is set to kick off on November 11, 2011 and will feature races in venues across the Middle East, including the Yas Marinas F1 circuit in Abu Dhabi, the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, the Dubai Autodrome in Dubai, and the Losail Ciruit in Qatar. Those interested in driving the GranTurismo MC Trofeo JBF RAK Race Car will have to fork over an entry fee of $135,000 to $145,000, which, in addition to driving the car, will also come with logistical management of the car, technical assistance at the circuit, a Maserati Trofeo race suit, and VIP hospitality for driver and guests. It’s hard to find that kind of money lying around, but if we did have the funds for it, we’d jump at the opportunity to be part of this new Maserati racing series. Alfa Romeo 4C might get Abarth and Maserati variants
While everyone is waiting for the Alfa Romeo 4C GTA to debut in production form and find its way over to the US, other variations may currently be in the pipeline as well. New reports suggest that the 4C concept will not only preview a two-seater model for Abarth and Alfa, but will also come in some other derivatives, including a Maserati model. The 4C GTA concept is powered by a "4 cylinder" 1750 Turbo Petrol engine located centrally in the rear of the vehicle and mated to a new automatic "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission. With a total output of 200 HP, the engine will sprint the concept from 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds, while top speed goes up to 155 mph. However, we anticipate that the Maserati variant will be both more powerful and sportier, but we’ll have to wait until about 2013 or 2014 to see it in action. Maserati will expand line-up to five models
The current Maserati line-up includes the Quattroporte, the GranTurismo, and the GranCabrio, but things are about to get a little more populated with addition of a new sedan and a new SUV. The company has already begun developing these models and we should start see the fruits of their labor sometime in 2012, with the last model - the SUV - arriving in 2014. Before that, a new generation Quattroporte will be coming off of the production block, followed by a smaller model that will take on the likes of the BMW 5-Series. Both sedans are being designed by Pininfarina and the Fiat Auto Centro Stile as we speak and they will be offered with either a 400-hp MultiAir-equipped, turbocharged version of the Pentastar V-6 or a 300 HP V6 turbo-diesel. The engines will be mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox that will help improve fuel consumption. The new SUV arriving in 2014 - earlier said to be 2012 - will be the first one landing on the Maserati lineup and will be based on the Grand Cherokee platform. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler Group and Fiat, has already confirmed that the new model will be fitted with a "rock and roll engine" from Ferrari, possibly in both V8 and V12 variants. The company has already invested $750 million for its production. 2020 Maserati GT Garbin Concept
Jaime Cervantes, Andrea Coccia, and Chetan Rajput, a trio of students from the Transportation Design at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, have come up with a design study that is fit to wear the Maserati crown. Under the guidance of Fiat, these students chose to create a design study of what a Maserati GranTurismo inspired vehicle would look like in 2020 with a throwback to the Maserati Ghibli produced in the late sixties/early seventies. It goes by the name of Maserati GT Garbin, but its look is anything but retro with some unique and modern interpretations. The GT Garbin’s surface language features discontinuous shapes and luminescent fabrics as seen a fashion design concept called the Armani Collection Privé 2010. The modern edge was added through the use of dramatic, futuristic shapes inspired by the Opera Theatre of Valencia, by Calatrava. The sparkle comes in the form of various blue LED lights scattered throughout the exterior and unique doors that open outward and then slide forward. A typical Maserati grille was thrown in there for good measure. The same design language was brought to the interior of the vehicle and is used to connect the door panels to the dashboard. The GT Garbin Concept can fit four adults in seats that seem to be a little awkwardly shaped. A long piano-black center console breaks up the look of the interior and houses the air conditioner, navigation, and entertainment system controls. This concept was sponsored by Fiat, so the GT Garbin will use the same 4.7 liter V8 engine as seen on the Maserati GranTurismo. Not that we will ever see this concept out on the road. Then again, that’s what many people said about the Lamborghini Indomable Concept and now the Mostro DiPotenza SF22 is a major work in progress. Video: Maserati range in action
Maserati has revealed an impressive video that shows their entire line-up in action. The GranTurismo MC Stradale, the GranCabrio, the GranTurismo, and the Quattroporte are all presented showing off their stuff and tempting all of us to choose their favorite Maserati model. We couldn’t make that decision, so we’ll leave it up to you to decide which model would be the best for a perfect summer drive. We’re big fans of Maserati anyway, but now that the company has brought the GranTurismo MC to the American market, we have many more reasons to appreciate it. We have to remind you that the MC will be the fastest model ever offered by Maserati over in the States, so if you want a pretty cool car in your garage this might be the perfect time to start saving. And save that cash fast, as we’d bet money the car will only be offered in limited numbers. 2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC
Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC Stradale at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, but the company is now bringing the North American version of the car to the New York Auto Show. It’s not exactly the street-legal machine found with the Stradale nameplate, though. This is the Maserati Corse (MC) which means we have a racing setup with no hopes to take it out on the streets. Eliminate the Stradale wording, add a new transmission and two rear seats, and you get a car that will only be sold on the US and Canadian market, strictly for track use. The new GranTurismo MC will be the fastest production car Maserati has ever sold in the US market. It is powered by a 4.7-liter all-alloy V8 engine that delivers 443 HP at 7000rpm and and a peak torque of 376 lbs-ft at 4750rpm. This translates into enough power to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 185 mph. The MC version comes with a automatic gearbox instead of the Race Shift transmission that was used for the Stradale version. Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC. Full story Maserati 8CTF bike
It seems that a trend has been developing among automakers that has nothing to do with the four wheeled vehicles they produce. More and more brands are coming out with their own bicycles. Yeah, we said bicycles and we don’t mean motorcycles. McLaren and Audi have recently flashed their new products and now Maserati is joining the bunch with their new 8CTF. The Maserati 8CTF was designed to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Wilbur Shaw’s victory of the 500 miles of Indianapolis behind the wheel of a Maserati 8CTF and it will be limited to only 2000 units. Each bicycle is hand-built to the driver’s specifications and will be on sale at a price 3600 Euros, or $5,200 at the current exchange rates. The bike will be distinguished by unique and distinctive details including the silver Trident on a grey background on the hubs, inspired by Maserati’s supercharged three-liter engine. The Maserati logo is found in a 1930s-style chassis plate and trident emblem. | featured reviews:Maserati cars reviews2020 2014 2013 2012 2011
* prototypes, future cars, modified cars (tuning) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maserati cars
|
|