Maserati 5000 Reviews

The launch of the new Quattroporte -- the world's fastest four-door saloon -- which replaces the best-selling Maserati in the company's 100-year history, heralds the start of an onslaught of new models over the next 18 months that may drive global Maserati sales to 50,000 worldwide.In additional to the new Quattroporte, Maserati will also launch a second sedan, the Ghibli, and its first SUV, the Levante, both of which take Maserati into new market sectors for the first time. These new models will be complimented by the fastest selling Maserati of all time, the GranTurismo, and its four seat open-top sibling, the GranCabrio.The new Maserati flagship, the Quattroporte, is larger, lighter, more luxurious and more practical than the car it replaces. With a three dollar top speed and a 0-100kmh time of 4.7 seconds, it's also as fast as most two-door supercars.The sixth-generation Quattroporte delivers a leap forward but also remains faithful to Maserati's long history in luxury sports saloons. The powerful engine and the large cabin at the core of the Quattroporte's design, dominated by a long, powerful nose and a concave Trident grille, provide a clear link to both the outgoing Quattroporte and the GranTurismo.Even with all of its new technology, the new Quattroporte remains true to Maserati's roots. Its V8 twin turbo makes it not only the fastest four-door Maserati ever built, but also the most powerful and the most fuel efficient.The Maserati direct-injection engine family boasts a twin turbo, 390kW/710Nm 3.8-litre V8 and a 301kW/550Nm 3.0-litre V6, both of which are new, twin turbo charged, designed by Maserati Powertrain and assembled by Ferrari at Maranello. The V6 twin turbo doesn't lack in performance.The V8 Maserati Quattroporte has lowered both its fuel consumption and emissions by 20 per cent over the outgoing Quattroporte. The all-new architecture retains the Quattroporte's handling thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution, a double-wishbone front suspension and a state-of-the-art five-link rear suspension.It also delivers new standards in quality in every area from design, development, fabrication and process controls. It is produced in a new plant that combines Maserati's traditions of craftsmanship with cutting-edge technologies that are able to guarantee outstanding quality by controlling even the tiniest details.Traditional hand crafted detailing continues in the Quattroporte's cabin, now more spacious and featuring both four and five-seat layouts. Cabin luxury leaps forward technically too, with features like the Maserati Touch Control screen, adjustable pedals (left hand drive only), reversing camera and the optional 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, as well as WLAN-based WiFi and compatibility with most modern mobile phone systems.It lobs here in the fourth quarter of 2013. 

Tired of reading about hybrid cars? At least one car company is bucking the trend towards petrol-electric propulsion and sticking with raw horsepower. Maserati is poised to build a supercar based on the LaFerrari -- but unlike its Italian stablemate it will not have the high-powered hybrid system.Car magazine in the UK reports that Ferrari’s sister company is planning to produce a supercar of its own based on the same underpinnings as the LaFerrari that was unveiled at Geneva motor show a fortnight ago.The two companies have worked closely before. The last time Ferrari built a supercar - the Enzo - Maserati had a limited edition version of the same car called the MC12. Only 50 were built compared to the run of 400 Ferrari Enzo models.Significantly, the Maserati wasn’t allowed to out-power the Ferrari; the magazine report says the same deal will apply this time around as well. The Maserati supercar is due in 2015, about a year after the LaFerrari has enjoyed its first full year in production.The Maserati is likely to make do with a slightly detuned version of the mighty 6.2-litre V12 in the LaFerrari. It will also be slightly slower because the LaFerrari gets a power and acceleration boost from the electric motor.The LaFerrari will be the fastest and most powerful hybrid in the world when it goes on sale next year priced in excess of $1 million. Only 499 will be built. Ferrari, which used to mock the Toyota Prius, the world’s highest selling hybrid, has been forced to embrace the technology because of stringent emissions regulations in Europe.Ferrari used to boast that its cars produce fewer emissions than the Prius because so few Ferraris are sold each year. There are more than 4 million Prius hybrids on the road compared to Ferrari’s annual production of about 7000 V8 and V12 sportscars.But at least the “LaFerrari” will go like the wind. With a 0 to 100kmh time of “less than 3 seconds” it is almost as fast as a Formula One race car. It has a top speed in excess of 350km/h, and can reach 300km/h from rest in less time than it takes a tiny Smart car to reach 100km/h.It is powered by a conventional 6.2-litre V12 engine matched with a 120kW electric motor to create a combined output of 960 horsepower, or 715kW (more than a race-ready V8 Supercar). It is so fast that tyre maker Pirelli had to develop special tyres. “The LaFerrari represents Ferrari’s most ambitious project yet, to push the boundaries of technology on a road car,” the company said.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

After hitting the auto show scene in 2010, Maserati’s race-inspired GranTurismo MC Stradale has undergone its first major update. Set to debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next week, the updated Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale goes on sale in Europe this summer and previews some of the changes we may see on our own GranTurismo MC. Key among the changes is an upgrade to the 338 kW variant of the GranTurismo’s 4.7-litre V-8 engine as well as the availability of a 2+2 seating configuration. Previously, the GranTurismo MC Stradale came with 331 kW and just two seats (the rear seats were removed in order to save weight). And just like the previous car, the updated GranTurismo MC Stradale continues to take its inspiration from the racing version which competes in the Maserati MC Trofeo racing series. This means it also features the race car’s latest upgrades, which include a new vented hood constructed from carbon fiber, forged alloy wheels measuring 20 inches in diameter, and carbon ceramic brakes from Brembo. The transmission remains Maserati’s six-speed automated manual ‘box, which paired to the slightly more powerful V-8 engine helps deliver a top speed of 303 km/h. www.motorauthority.com  

Despite only being formally announced six months ago, Maserati’s upcoming ‘baby’ sedan, the Ghibli, will reportedly be revealed as early as April’s 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.

Maserati will launch a new sports car in 2015 to challenge the likes of the Jaguar F-Type and Porsche 911; a car that could end up reviving the GranSport name. Unfortunately, apart from its 2015 launch, few details are known about it. A previous report suggested it will feature a mid-engine layout, possibly using a stretched version of the platform developed for the upcoming Alfa Romeo 4C, which, incidentally, will be produced in one of Maserati’s plants. Autocar is now reporting that the new Maserati sports car will offer the choice of V-6 and V-8 powerplants. Those engines are the same units produced by Ferrari for Maserati’s other models. In the latest 2014 Maserati Quattroporte, the V-6, a twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 3.0-liter mill, produces 410 horsepower, while the V-8 displaces 3.8-liters and develops 530 horsepower, also with the aid of turbocharging and direct-injection technologies. It’s likely that the new sports car will offer slightly higher outputs, reportedly up to 450 horsepower in V-6 trim and 550 horsepower with the V-8. It’s claimed that all-wheel drive may also be offered as an option to help boost the car’s popularity. An official document showed that the new sports car won’t be the flagship of the Maserati range. That role will remain with the GranTurismo, whose successor will also be launched in 2015. This means that we could see the new sports car launch with a pricetag of around $100k, which should make it competitive with its aforementioned rivals. With its Ferrari engine, mid-engine layout and expected $100k pricetag, the new Maserati sports car is starting to sound like a cut-priced 458 Italia. www.motorauthority.com  

One of the most striking cars of next year, the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte, recently made its online debut, but at the time Maserati only gave us a handful of photos to lust over. Now, finally, the automaker has released a wave of new photos for the sixth-generation Quattroporte, providing us with the opportunity to examine virtually every detail of the car.Competing in the full-size luxury sedan segment, the Maserati Quattroporte faces strong competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S Class, which will also be all-new for 2014, as well as the recently updated BMW 7-Series and Lexus LS.Apart from its beautiful Italian styling, the Quattroporte also benefits from having its engines designed and built by Ferrari. We say engines, as the 2014 Quattroporte will for the first time offer more than one engine option.Two engine options have already been announced, a V-6 and a V-8, and it’s almost certain a V-6 diesel will be offered in select markets. Another first for the Quattroporte will be the option of all-wheel drive on the V-6 model, which should prove popular across the snow belt states.The most powerful of the engines is the V-8, which benefits from direct fuel injection and a twin-turbocharging system. It’s rated at 390 kilowatts and 650 newton-meters of torque (709 newton-meter with Overboost) and will rocket the big sedan from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds and see it reach a supercar-like top speed of 307km/h.In addition to being a better performer than the last Quattroporte, which came exclusively with a V-8, the new model is also bigger, lighter and more fuel efficient. Maserati claims the Quattroporte V-8 has lowered both its fuel consumption and emissions by 20 percent compared to the previous car.The V-6, which is also twin-turbocharged, is rated at 302 kilowatts and 510 newton-meters of torque, and is also more capable than the old V-8 model. It needs just 7.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and can reach a top speed of 285km/h.Underpinning the 2014 Quattroporte is a brand new platform composed mostly of steel, though with some aluminium to help save weight. The Quattroporte is not exactly light, weighing in at close to 1905 kg, though it should handle decently thanks to its ideal 50:50 weight distribution as well as double-wishbone front suspension and a state-of-the-art five-link rear suspension.The trunk space comes in at a generous 530 litres and the wheels measure between 483 and 533 mm in diameter. Most of the extra size comes in the rear, where occupants in the back will find an additional 102 mm of legroom.Please check out our gallery of the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte.Traditional hand crafted detailing continues in the Quattroporte’s cabin, now more spacious and featuring both four and five-seat layouts. Cabin luxury leaps forward technically too, with features like the Maserati Touch Control screen, adjustable pedals, a backup camera, optional 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and WiFi and smartphone connectivity.In terms of safety, the 2014 Quattroporte still lags many of its rivals, though it still offers a high level of safety. In addition to six standard airbags, the car also gets electronic stability control, ABS brakes and hill-hold assist, active cruise control, the aforementioned backup camera, active headrests and seatbelt pre-tensioners.The brakes are from Brembo and feature six-piston fixed calipers up front and ventilated and cross-drilled discs all around. On the V-8 model, the discs measure 380 mm in diameter and on the V-6 model they are 350 mm across.Stay tuned for live photos of the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte fresh from its debut next month at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.www.motorauthority.com 

The new Quattroporte will make its world debut at the North American International Automobile Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on 14 January 2013 before arriving in Australia in the third quarter of 2013, when local specifications and prices will be announced. The all-new Quattroporte heralds the start of a series of new models from the Italian car maker. The new models include a new medium size performance saloon and a performance SUV which, combined with the GranTurismo, GranCabrio and the new Quattroporte will possibly spike Maserati global sales. The new Quattroporte is a high-performance sports luxury sedan that reinterprets the design features of classic Maseratis in a contemporary design language. Next generation Maserati engines, to be used in all models are more powerful than ever, more exciting to drive than ever and also more eco-friendly.  

Crushing car sales in Europe are no barrier to Maserati, which this year opens a new $1.5 billion factory and shoots its three new models straight at the heart of Porsche.  To Maserati Australia boss Glen Sealey, the new Quattroporte - announced this week - and the mid-size Ghibli and SUV Levante, represent a new dimension for the 98-year old car maker.  "Everything, everything, about the new Quattroporte is new," he says. "We are forecasting up to 1500 sales a year in Australia by 2015/16 - that's enormous growth but it still leaves us as an exclusive marque.'' Maserati in Australia sold 140 cars last year. Mr Sealey says the new Quattroporte - here in September 2013 - moves more upmarket, while the mid-size Ghibli is expected in Australia early 2014 and then, in 2015, the Levante SUV. "If you look at Porsche's line-up, then that's a good example of how Maserati is going to market its models,'' he says. The Quattroporte will come first with a high-performance V8 engine that in price and performance would compete around the level of the Porsche Panamera and Panamera Turbo. "Like the Panamera, we will have a V6 petrol and a diesel.'' He says that while rumours of the Ghibli being a car to take on the BMW 5-Series, the new Maserati is more upmarket. "It will be a performance saloon.There will not be a Ghibli model like the (entry-level) BMW 520i. All will be upmarket models," he says. The Ghibli will be powered by a V6 petrol and a diesel and, like the new Quattroporte, drive the rear wheels through a Maserati-spec ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Maserati has no V6 or diesel on its shelves but Mr Sealey insists these engines will be made by the company - and not sourced from elsewhere - by he time the models are ready for production. "Maserati will not have an outside engine in its cars - it doesn't expect it and the customers certainly don't expect it. So that means Maserati is making its V6 petrol and a diesel.'' Pricing for the new Quattroporte is expected to be similar to the existing model. The Quattroporte - which is bigger than the current model and sits on a new platform - and the Ghibli will be built in Maserati's new factory that was previously owned by Bertone. The factory cost $1.5 billion to buy and refit. "What other company in Europe is doing that?'' asks Mr Sealey. "That's an indication of the confidence that Maserati has in its future.'' Maserati in Italy goes further. Its CEO, Harald Webster, says it is claiming it is standing "at the edge of an unparalleled strategic and industrial growth that will see our presence in the world rise to 50,000 units a year by 2015.''  

The Italian brand is forecasting an unprecedented ten-fold increase in local deliveries in just three years. The prediction comes as Maserati confirms Levante as the name for its upcoming SUV, previously displayed at motor shows as the Kubang. It comes from via Emilia Levante, a street in Bologna where the Maserati brothers first dreamed of their car company. It has also confirmed the continuation of the Quattroporte name and position, but announces the decision to build a new four-door prestige sedan that renews the Ghibli name used in the past. "We're looking for a massive increase in volume. Over the next three years we see massive growth," the head of Maserati in Australia, Neville Crichton, reveals exclusively to Carsguide. "There is a new SUV, a new Quattroporte, and the new E Series. That will grow probably mean ten-fold growth over three years." Maserati used the Paris show to unveil its latest hotrod, the GranCabrio MC, but all the talk is about future growth as the company predicts a volume increase to 15,000 cars by the end of 2015. "Our target is we're going after Mercedes customers and BMW customers," says Crichton. "We'll have much better cars. It's going to compete seriously with Mercedes. Our competition will clearly be mainstream competition, Mercedes and BMW. We're not going after Bentley, we sell double Bentley now. We're not going after Aston, we sell treble Aston now." The Ghibli is set to debut in 2013 and the Levante will arrive in 2014 as part of the company's centenary celebrations. The Ghibli name was first used by Maserati on a two-door GT in 1967, then returned on another two-door in 1992. Crichton dismisses fears about Maserati's quality and also confirms a major dealer development in Australia. "We're not having problem . We have no problems with warranty now with Maserati. Nothing," he says. "The earlier cars, with the older transmissions, they're gone. They're history. The new cars have an eight-speed transmission. "On the dealer side, we'll be putting an additional dealership into Sydney, on the north shore, and an additional dealership at Brighton in Melbourne. We've just appointed a new dealer in adelaide. Perth and Brisbane can only accommodate a single dealer and I think they're doing a good job for us."  

It’s not the new GranSport we’d been hoping for, but it’s a lustworthy addition to the Maserati line-up.Maserati says the newcomer is inspired by the success of the GranTurismo MC Stradale coupé, but is a four-seater where the Stradale takes just two.Reports suggest it will be powered by the Stradale’s 331kW/510Nm 4.7-litre V8 engine, but with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission instead of the Stradale’s six-speed dual-clutch.The GranCabrio MC gets a stretched profile compared to the standard GranCabrio thanks to a 48mm increase in length, and also carries the Stradale’s substantial boot-lid spoiler – which can be optioned in a naked carbon-fibre finish rather than the body colour.The GranCabrio MC has not yet been confirmed for Australia, but if it arrives you can expect a premium over the current Grancabrio Sport, which starts at $328,000 and adds another $10,000 for the Sport version. The Stradale’s price tag, by comparison, is $364,900.