Maserati Karif Reviews

Bouncing back from the GFC and poised to turn downward again as a surging Australian dollar threatens to push up interest rates, Australia has become a nation of widening gaps between the haves and have nots. Witness the strength of the luxury car market. In Maserati's case, Australia has recorded sales increases of almost double previous years. Spokesman for Australian importers, Ateco Automotive, Edward Rowe, says the GranTurismo coupe models doubled sales in 2011 year-to-date compared with the same period in 2010. "The Quattroporte is up 90 per cent in the same period and order books are getting longer,'' he says. "The currency rate, which favours importers, means we have added a lot more equipment to the models to make them more attractive. The GranCabrio, for example, has more luxury features and equipment than before.'' Australians who can afford to consider a Maserati are also more likely to buy a sports derivative rather than the more luxurious models. The launch of the GranCabrio Sport - the more sporty version of the existing convertible - is set down for December in Australia with a sub-$350,000 price tag. "We expect to sell in 2011 calendar year 40 Quattroportes, 90 GranTurismos and 35 GranCabrios - not including the Sport model which, as is expected, will be registered in the 2012 year,'' he says. "But we are aware of the potential for the global economy - and that of Australia - to tighten in 2012 so our estimates for these models will be similar next year.'' Buyers for the GranCabrio Sport are expected to come from BMW 6-Series and Mercedes-Benz coupe models. "It's an exclusive market and Maserati is doing well because of its exclusivity and especially the breadth of the customisation available on the cars.''

Bouncing back from the GFC and poised to turn downward again as a surging Australian dollar threatens to push up interest rates, Australia has become a nation of widening gaps between the haves and have nots. Witness the strength of the luxury car market. In Maserati's case, Australia has recorded sales increases of almost double previous years. Spokesman for Australian importers, Ateco Automotive, Edward Rowe, says the GranTurismo coupe models doubled sales in 2011 year-to-date compared with the same period in 2010. "The Quattroporte is up 90 per cent in the same period and order books are getting onger,'' he says. "The currency rate, which favours importers, means we have added a lot more equipment to the models to make them more attractive. The GranCabrio, for example, has more luxury features and equipment than before.'' Australians who can afford to consider a Maserati are also more likely to buy a sports derivative rather than the more luxurious models. The launch of the GranCabrio Sport - the more sporty version of the existing convertible - is set down for December in Australia with a sub-$350,000 price tag. Rowe expects this to greatly enhance GranCabrio sales and suggests that many have already been allocated. "We expect to sell in 2011 calendar year 40 Quattroportes, 90 GranTurismos and 35 GranCabrios - not including the Sport model which, as is expected, will be registered in the 2012 year,'' he says. "But we are aware of the potential for the global economy - and that of Australia - to tighten in 2012 so our estimates for these models will be similar next year.'' Buyers for the GranCabrio Sport are expected to come from BMW 6-Series and Mercedes-Benz coupe models. "It's an exclusive market and Maserati is doing well because of its exclusivity and especially the breadth of the customisation available on the cars.''

The airfield, a former military base hidden in lush green countryside about an hour south-east of central London, is best described as shabby.Yet there is no denying the magic in the place, thanks to Top Gear. Dunsfold is the place where the world's favourite motoring show is filmed and also houses the test track where The Stig - whoever or whatever he is this week - does his stuff.Hitting the Top Gear track in the McLaren MP4-12C, with a British touring car race winner along to point the corners, is a win-win-win in anyone's book. Best of all, there are no limits. So long as the car comes back undamaged, the McLaren men are happy to have their car pushed right to the edge. After watching the Stig-ring for years on the television I think I knew it well.But the first surprise is discovering that it's actually a figure-of-eight layout, with a crossover where Chicago corner goes right and the 'tyres' take you left.The second surprise is the runway surface, which is bumpy, broken in places, skittery across some painted markings, and gives you almost zero marker points for braking and turning.So it's not an easy place to drive. It's a giant challenge in a car that cranks the speedo round past 230km/h in places and corners at well over 160.But the McLaren at Dunsfold is F-U-N. We're not playing with Top Gear slides and burnouts, just trying to learn the car and get the maximum speed and grip over every lap, and my adrenalin is pumping.Anything that gets into the 1 minute 20-second bracket on the Power Wall is quick at Dunsfold, and the McLaren settles there easily thanks to its twin-turbo V8, track-tuned adjustable suspension, giant carbon brakes and lightweight race-style construction.It whacks out of corners with a big surge of turbo thrust, brakes incredibly late, and gives you metre-by-metre feedback and grip in every corner. The back slides wide on me a couple of times, once under power and once when I misjudge my braking, and there is some turbo lag, but the 12C is basically a thoroughbred racing car with the comforts of a luxury limo.I get my last big surprise during a full-on race launch when the car rockets to 100km/h in less than four seconds before pushing me over the blind brow that hides the left-handed first corner at more than 200km/h. It is spooky fast.Just when I think it cannot get any better, Jackson chimes in from the passenger seat. "One-nineteen point four. Not bad," he says. At that point we park. Job done.

Due to a new rotation system between Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian International Motor Show returns to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for the first time in more than two years – and it is back with a serious bang. The huge positive of that is one motor show per year has seen renewed commitment from manufacturers.Plus, the single yearly event sees the show take a more prominent place in the international motor show landscape – especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The July date means it avoids clashes with other international shows, and allows manufacturers to bring their best show cars.The result is that the 2011 Australian International Motor Show will be the biggest for a long time, with concept cars, future technology and new models aplenty. With 29 manufacturers attending, the show will reflect a broad range of the Australian marketplace; from Land Rovers to Lamborghinis, Peugeots to Porsches, supercars to super-minis.As the premier event of the Australian automotive industry each year, it is the responsibility of the Australian International Motor Show to inform, educate and excite the public about everything motoring.You want a star of the show? Take your pick out of: the BMW Concept Vision EfficientDynamics, the Mazda Shinari concept, the Hyundai Blue2 concept, the Lexus LF-Gh concept, the Toyota FT-86 II concept, the Toyota Prius C concept, the Subaru XV Concept, the Mazda Miyagi concept, the new Lamborghini Aventador, the new Bentley Continental GT, the Lexus LF-A, the new Maserati MC Stradale...Family day returns too, and this time there will be two of them. On both Saturdays there will be activities for the kids – including the opportunity to see Po, from the new movie Kung Fu Panda 2. The 2011 show gives me cause for great excitement – I hope it does for you too.Enjoy!Russ Tyrie Event Director, Australian International Motor Show

The specialist Italian car maker recently reported its 2010 profit, together with the year's 5777 unit sales, which was up about 18 per cent on 2009. Maserati spokesman Luca Dal Monte admits 2009 was a depressed year - because of the global financial crisis - but on that still reported a $15 million profit for the company on sales of under 5000. It is a far cry from the record sales year of 2008 when Maserati made 8586 cars and one that may not be repeated soon. Dal Monte predicts 2011 will have "about the same'' sales as 2010. Asked if product development will be stifled by modest sales increases, he says it was incidental. "Profit doesn't affect future development,'' he says. "We are part of the Fiat Group.'' With Fiat behind it, Dal Monte indicates that new projects - the mid-size prestige saloon, a new Quattroporte and an SUV - are assured. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993 but it wasn't until 2007 that it made its first profit for some decades. In 2008, thanks to a resurgence of the marque, profit tripled over 2007 to about $110 million. The 2010 year saw 47 per cent increase in sales in the US; 54 per cent in China (off a low base as 402 cars sold that year); and 46 per cent in the UK. One week ago, Maserati opened a dealership in India. Maserati, like Ferrari, build to customer orders under the philosophy of making "one car less than is ordered''. That ensures it carries no stock and has minimal downside when global car sales slump.

Fresh from hinting at a new SUV to take on Porsche's Cayenne, Maserati quietly let it slip this week that it is finalising details of its 5-Series/A6/E-Class rival.  The saloon, effectively a downsized Quattroporte, may be ready for sale in Europe by late 2013. It will be joined on the showroom by the new Quattroporte which, it has been suggested to Carsguide in Modena this week, will be slightly bigger to emphasis more cabin room. The mid-size car will use a tweaked version of the 4.2-litre V8 and the option of the 4.7-litre V8. It will have conventional drivetrain with a six-speed ZF automatic and double wishbone suspension at all corners. The new Quattroporte will have only the 4.7-litre engine but in two power derivatives.  No further information is coming on the two cars. But it is understood the new SUV - a tall coupe-styled car with all-wheel drive - will use drivetrain components and probably the platform of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The SUV will use Maserati engines and will not be available with a V12 from Ferrari as has been suggested. Even a diesel engine hasn't been discussed. The SUV is regarded as - finally - the production version of the Kubang concept car of 2003, designed by Giugiaro.  A Maserati spokesman says the new mid-size and the bigger saloon were still being formulated for final design and engine choices.

THE character-warping skills of Jekyll and Hyde take on metal form as Maserati launches a special edition coupe that takes the race car to the road.  Limited in volume, but not exhilaration, the MC Stradale is Maserati's third coupe and runs an even more potent version of the company's 4.7-litre V8.Only 15 units are allocated to Australia and New Zealand and most of the $364,400 race-bred coupes are spoken for ahead of deliveries next month.  The exclusivity and price seriously limit the potential of Maserati's limited edition that is designed particularly for drivers who want a squirt on the rack on weekends.Sadly, though that's the desire of Maserati, the car is more likely to be garaged by people with money who simply want the latest Maserati model.VALUEExclusivity has its price. The MC Stradale (it means street, so implies its civil) is $45,900 more expensive than the GranTurismo S and though gains 7kW (to 331kW) and 20Nm to 510Nm and is more fuel efficient, there are subtractions.Unlike the GT S, the Stradale has only two seats. It has less sound proofing - though remarkably it actually benefits the car - and misses out on electric seat adjustment.In Europe it comes standard with four-point seat harnesses - illegal in Australia - and an optional half cage for roll protection. Australia gets standard three-point seat belts and the option remains for the roll cage.In its favour, the Stradale gets 20-inch wheels with new Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres; body kit with front splitter and rear lip spoiler; new exhaust system with centralised twin exhaust tips; carbon-fibre seats (it's also used for the mirror housing, spoiler, cabin trim and door handles); and enormous carbon-ceramic disc brakes with Brembo calipers. Serious stuff.DESIGNBasically, it's a Maserati GranTurismo S with a subtle body kit. Looks great and comes in lots of colours including a few matte paint schemes.SAFETYTop of the wozza five-star crash, with full complement airbags and stability control, and so on.TECHNOLOGYThe engine gets tweaked for more power and has 80 per cent of its 510Nm torque on tap from 2500rpm.  Cleaning the efficiency of the engine has lowered fuel consumption in comparison with the GT S by 13 per cent to 14.4 L/100km and the same CO2 emission which is now 337g/km.The three-mode robotised manual box is in the back, integrated with the diff, and offers full auto; Sport (manual); and Race (full manual with reduced traction aids).  The suspension is 8 per cent stiffer and the car rides lower by 10mm at the front and 12mm at the back.But the biggie is the 110kg weight loss thanks to carbon fibre, negating some weighty bits (electric seats saving 26kg) with other fat busters being the carbon brakes (saving 18kg); removing most of the sound insulation (25kg); and the fact it has no back seat (16kg).DRIVINGNoise... so much glorious noise. The full auto option in the box is relatively smooth and requires no input from the driver. Sport ups it to manual - clicking up and down the cogs via big carbon-fibre steering wheel paddles - and adds an open exhaust from 4000rpm.The Race mode reduces traction aids while keeping the exhaust bypass valve open. It makes the exhaust sound like a mournful wail and is both threatening and addictive. Pedestrians on Maranello's narrow streets didn't object.The Stradale hints at being a raw, race-developed car. In fact, it is very comfortable with no suspension jarring. The noise levels - despite the extraction of 25kg of insulation - is fine. You could definitely live and commute in this car.The secret is that it goes like stink when prodded. The steering is as close to perfect as any car I've driven. Perhaps Porsche's Cayman R comes close, but not close enough.Calculate the curve of the corner ahead and feed in the steering and the nose follows through with a perfect translation of thought to action.  Immensely confident handling and that engine that wants to roar and spit and bark forever make this a very emotive ride.The cabin works. The switchgear can be a bit awkward - but not as bad as the Quattroporte's slap-dash placement - and the A-pillars are huge, but the rest of the car simply works.VERDICTSurprise package that takes the GT S one step higher but is so driveable that it won't sit in the garage waiting for race day.Maserati MC StradalePrice: $364,400Warranty: 3-years/100,000kmResale: 68% (est.)Service Warranty: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety: 5-star Euro NCAPEngine: 4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 331kW/510NmBody: 2-door coupeWeight: 1670kgTransmission: 6-speed semi-manual, rear driveThirst: 14.4L/100km, 98 RON, CO2 337g/km ``Track car that's so flexible it'll do the shopping during the week''

Then we head north in a Holden Cruze and Mitsubishi ASX, looking to see how far this pair can go on a single take of fuel.  Ed Ordynski is in the ASX and I have the Cruze, holding  the trip computer just over 6 litres/100km as Ordynski - expert driver - is below 5 litres/100km.The first stop is just outside Port Pirie after 250 kilometres and the figures are 5.3 and 4.2, as we battle wind and rain.  A lunch stop in Waikerie - about 530km into the journey - and then a turn south to follow the Murray both cars maintain sub-6 readings - the ASX in the region of 4.5 and the Cruze 5.5 litres per 100km as we pass the 700km mark near Murray Bridge.The weather worsens as we follow the river south through 730km at Wellington."The ASX was more adversely affected by that, it was 0.3 litres/100km worse off - we did what you need to do into a headwind and that was reduce the speed a little," Ordynski says.Running down through the southern foothills to complete our 1000km journey we return the tanks to full. There are still 15 litres in the Mitsubishi's 60-litre tank, but my Cruze is almost on fumes.  But after thirteen hours of "real-world" driving we have hit our 1000-kilometre target."I would drive like that with people on board and not be embarrassed," Ordynski says.  "You win on fuel use and emissions as well, with 2kg of CO2 for every litre of fuel, you win on maintenance and longevity of the vehicle by driving it kindly as well, it's hard to see a downside."Ed Ordynski’s Fuel TipsLevel 1. Overall factors1. Plan when you need to use your car to avoid unnecessary journeys.2. Plan your journey to avoid peak hour and congested roads.3. Measure your fuel consumption and take pride in reducing it.4. Choose an energy efficient vehicle.Level 2. Anyone can try1. Concentrate on driving smoothly and anticipate traffic flow to conserve momentum.2. Keep tyre pressures at maximum recommended.3. Avoid any excess weight in the vehicle and remove accessories which affect the aerodynamics (e.g. roof racks).4. Choose a manual transmission and learn to drive it properly for optimum fuel efficiency.Level 3. Hard-core methods1. Avoid use of airconditioning and keep windows closed.2. Do not use cruise control but do focus on keeping a constant speed and conserving momentum.3. Drive at low speed - most cars are at their most efficient at around 75km/h in top gear.4. Drive off as soon as the engine is started, especially from a cold start.GREEN STARSMake-model weight price combined fuel con1. Mitsubishi -MiEV 980kg $leased 02. Toyota Prius 1370kg $39,990 3.93. Smart Fortwo 750kg $19,9904.44. Honda Insight 1205kg $29,9904.65. Suzuki Alto 880kg $11,790 4.8GREEN DUDS1. Ferrari 599 1690kg $677,250 21.32. Ferrari 612 1849kg $698,000 20.73. Nissan Patrol 4.8 2440kg $75,690 17.24. Maserati GT S Coupe 1880kg $345,900 16.65. Mercedes ML 500 2148kg $132,400 16.5

The trident marque has sold 110 of its ultra luxury grand tourers in Australia this year and used AIMS to emphasise it recent feats on European tracks.While the name wants for something of the car's streamlined elegance, the Quattroporte Sport GT S MC Sportline recognises the 40 race victories of the MC12. Sinisterly turnedout  with the same t in gleaming black metallic paint and black 20-inch alloys, and caron fibre trim within, the limited edition of 30 costs "only" $298,800 - that's $30K under the standard GTS with the same tuneful 4.7-litre 323kW V8.Making an altogether different, and literally more open statement, is the GranCabrio, which has it first showing to the local general public. Arguably the beauty queen of AIMS 2010, Maserati's first fully four seat convertible is current range topper at $338,000.Maserati Australia boss Glen Sealey affirmed that an entirely new model is being developed.

... in Sydney when Jaguar displays its new XJ Supersport and Maserati spotlights its Quattroporte GT S at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS).The XJ Supersport, the quickest model in Jaguar’s XJ range, adds new competition to the luxury performance saloon category.  Jaguar’s all-new XJ Supersport combines luxury appointment with substantial power and critically acclaimed handling.The Supersport is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged engine, producing 375kW of power, 625Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds.  Interior luxury comes by way of leather seats that are both heated and cooled, and a 1200W Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system."The all-new Jaguar XJ reinforces the strength of the new Jaguar in the Australian market,” said Jaguar Australia general manager Kevin Goult.  “With its spectacular looks and performance, this XJ competes with a much wider range of challengers than any previous XJ."The all-new XJ challenges the notion that large cars should be conservative or constrained, with a blistering 0-100km/h performance time of 4.9 seconds.  “The XJ is far from a compromise in performance and maintains very high levels of expected luxury,” Mr Goult said.Maserati’s Quattroporte GT S, the company’s flagship saloon, will be making its Sydney motor show debut. The Quattroporte GT S is powered by a 4.7-litre V8 engine which produces 323kW of power and 490Nm of Torque.“The Maserati Quattroporte established this much sought-after market sector and remains the benchmark,” Maserati Australia and New Zealand general manager Glen Sealey said.  “Key measures that set it apart from its rivals are exclusivity and heritage.“Maserati offers a unique heritage and, with its products limited to the Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio, a name and badge that will only be found in this rarefied area of the car market.“The drivetrain and chassis ensure that the Quattroporte is more than capable of withstanding performance comparisons with sports cars, let alone other saloons.“The driving pleasure is accompanied by the rich baritone roar of its engine, while enveloping its occupants in the highest levels of comfort and luxury,” Mr Sealey said.The Australian International Motor Show will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour. The show opens at 5pm on Friday, 15 October and runs until 6pm on Sunday, 24 October.