Maserati Sebring Reviews

Despite talk of a new Maserati sports car being in the works, the Italian brand’s flagship GranTurismo is here to stay and will be spawning a successor sometime in 2015. Not much is known about the new GranTurismo, though Maserati styling boss Lorenzo Ramaciotti has previously revealed that its size will be smaller than the current GranTurismo. This will mean that the four-seat layout of the current GranTurismo will shrink to a 2+2 arrangement, similar to that found in the Jaguar XK, allowing the new car to be more compact and dynamic. Edmunds, citing a company insider, is reporting that the new GranTurismo will also reveal a change in styling direction for the Maserati brand. A new GranTurismo GranCabrio convertible is also planned. Maserati’s new sports car, which is tipped to revive the GranSport name, will also be launched in 2015, though not until after the new GranTurismo is launched. The change in styling direction is a key step in Maserati’s overall plan to boost its sales from less than 7,000 units last year to as much as 50,000 within the next several years, as it will not only keep the lineup looking fresh going forward but also lay the groundwork for the launch of even more models by offering a more versatile design than Maserati’s current theme. www.motorauthority.com  

The Ghibli will put the wind up Maserati’s luxury large car rivals when it lands in Australia late this year. Most Carsguide readers will only dream of owning a $200,000 car but as the entry model for the range the Ghibli is expected to account for annual global sales of 25,000 by 2015- four times the entire number of cars the company now sells.It has the luxury and performance to satisfy owners, even if it isn’t (yet) fitted with a V8. Just as importantly, it looks different to the crop of German cars that dominate the segment.VALUEThe numbers game puts the Ghibli up against the Mercedes CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. It will be more expensive than its German opposition but will add badge exclusivity its rivals can’t match. Standard equipment includes bi-xenon headlamps, an eight-speaker sound system, eight-speed automatic transmission, a reversing camera and powered leather seats with inbuilt heaters and fans. A 3.0-litre turbodiesel will be the starter engine, with a pair of twin-turbo V6 petrols turning up the wick on price and performance.DESIGNA smaller, tauter version of the Quattrporte can’t be a bad thing. It looks more aggressive, too, with the curved bonnet and pronounced wheel arches giving it a predatory stance. Boot space and rear leg room is down on the QP but will still accommodate enough luggage to carry four adults, providing they aren’t all basketballers. Scalloping the back of the front seats would help here without.Despite sharing the Quattroporte’s chassis and drivetrain, the Ghibli’s track is wider and the reduced length - it is almost 30cm shorter - makes it more engaging to look at and drive. The 8.4-inch touchscreen effectively divides the dash into driver and passenger zones and the smell of Italian leather pervades the cabin.SAFETYSeven airbags and enough structural alloys to build an office block should ensure the Ghibli stands if it is involved in a collision. The car is also built without any electronic aids. Only when Maserati is satisfied with the inherent stability of the vehicle does it move to install the electronic aids. Toss in a 50/50 weight balance and there are few reasons why the Ghibli will venture off the bitumen.DRIVINGThe base twin-turbo V6 petrol is a convincing car, despite having “only” 243kW and 500Nm. It hits 100km/h in a claimed 5.6 seconds and stops from that speed in 36m. A ZF eight-speed automatic works well and the engine barks and fizzles on over-run up and down the cogs.Gearchanges in manual mode have to be performed using the alloy paddle shifters and they’re fixed to the steering column rather than moving with the wheel. Ferrari uses the same system based on the principle it saves drivers having to remember which shifter is which when the wheel is cranked over mid-corner. The absence of cabin noise - at least on the Italian roads chosen for the international launch - makes it a genuinely serene environment. The balance superb and the adaptive suspension markedly stiffens up the ride, though it comes at the expense of occupant comfort. It is far more supple in normal mode but can then be caught out by unanticipated ripples or potholes at high speed.The higher-spec V6 wasn’t available at launch in rear-wheel drive guise and Australia won’t get the AWD system. For those who prefer to lubricate their social conscience by buying an economical luxury car, the diesel will arrive early next year.VERDICTThe Ghibli is a great car at a good price and will give luxury car buyers a more exclusive option without a major price premium. It still needs a V8 to satiate our preference for hi-po luxury cars and give the range a halo car.Maserati GhibliPrice: from $195,000 (estimate)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing:  NoService interval: 2 years/20,000kmSafety: not rated; seven airbagsEngine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, 243kW/500NmTransmission: 8-speed auto, RWDThirst: 9.6L/100km, 233g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.97m (L), 1.95m (W), 1.46m (H)Weight: 1810kgSpare: Space-saver 

Convincing buyers that passion and pragmatism can coincide is the key for Maserati to increase sales eight-fold to 50,000 vehicles by 2020. The new Quattroporte V6 and V8 are the first steps in that process.The Quattroporte will be the headline act in a play that Maserati expects to earn mainstream appeal on the basis of the smaller - and cheaper - Ghibli sports car and the Levante SUV.The logic follows the Porsche approach of maintaining top-end cache while developing volume models that spin the sports car heritage in a new direction. First impressions of the Quattroporte show the Italian carmaker is on the right road.VALUEThe Quattroporte V8 arrives in Australia in September with the V6 following two months later. Prices haven't been finalised for either model but Maserati Australia head Glen Sealey says they will reflect the lift in standard features.Carsguide expects the V8 to cost somewhere around $320,000; the six should be around $40,000 cheaper. Sealey won't be drawn on pricing but says the V8 will come loaded with all the features buyers of a premium grand tourer expect. He is still deciding whether to include the premium leather and alcantara roof lining on the starter car. Rivals range from the Mercedes-Benz S Class and BMW 7 Series to Jaguars and Aston Martins.TECHNOLOGYThe V6 uses a direct injection twin-turbo engine that is good for 301kW and 550Nm. To put that in perspective, BMW's brilliant turbo three-litre engine generates 225kW and 400Nm. The Maserati engine is mated to an eight-speed auto to achieve a 0-100km/h time of just 5.1 seconds.The Quattroporte six is so good the V8 will only tempt buyers who demand the ultimate in power or prestige. A sport button sharpens throttle response and extends transmission shift points and the suspension can be tightened using a computer-controlled valves in the dampers that uses anti-dive, anti-squat, and anti-roll algorithms.DESIGNIt's fashionable for cars to grow in size and at 5.26 metres, the Quattroporte is an expansive car. The exterior styling disguises a lot of that size - the proportions are right - and it is only in carparks and on hairpin turns that drivers appreciate just how big this car is.That size translates into saloon-style space front and rear; needed to keep the Chinese market happy and make room for the Ghibli sedan to slot underneath in as an E-Class and 5 Series rival. Build quality is expectedly high with tight panel gap tolerances and a luxury-finished interior that doesn't shudder even when navigating rough roads at speed.SAFETYThe Maserati hasn't been crash-tested an isn't likely to be, given the expected price of the car. Monstrous Brembo brakes bleed speed faster than a haemophiliac and the inherent steel structure is reassuringly solid. If things do go wrong, six airbags protect all occupants.DRIVINGEngaging driving generally doesn't come in a car this commodious but that's part of Maserati's point of difference. It aims to be a more involving drive than its Euro rivals and to that effect the software nannies can be switched off to purify the drive experience.Either way, the V6 Quattroporte is a seriously quick car and a quantum leap over the outgoing model in the way it drives and cossets its occupants. It officially hits 100km/h in 5.1 seconds, just 0.4 off the V8's sprint time.The Quattroporte's natural environment is the autostradas and autobahns where it cruises at 130km/h with virtually no wind or road noise. So good is the insulation that owners will need to wind the windows down to appreciate the snarl and pop from the bi-modal exhaust on downshifts.B-grade roads are a revelation as the car hunkers down and handles tight corners and patched pavement without complaint. The 8.4-inch touchscreen controls most of the car's functions and is easy to operate. The reversing camera is a must-have - touch parking a car this big isn't a good look. The only real quibble is the paddle-shifters are fixed to the steering column and don't move with the wheel. That makes mid-corner shifts a problem when the transmission is in manual mode.VERDICTThe first instalment of Maserati's move into the mainstream is a good as anyone could desire. If you have the coin, the Quattroporte is now a legitimate contender in the upper luxury market rather than a niche player. Passion now has a practical side.Maserati Quattroporte V6Price: $280,000 (est)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 2 years/20,000kmSafety: Not rated; six airbagsEngine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6, 301kW/550NmTranmsision: Eight-speed auto, RWDThirst: 10.5L/100km, 244g/km CO2Dimensions: 5.26m (L), 1.95m (W), 1.48m (H)Weight: 1860kgSpare: Tyre repair kit 

The recently revealed 2014 Maserati Ghibli has been spotted for the first time in public, and we’re glad to report that the upcoming Italian sports sedan looks even better on the road than it did under the auto show spotlights. This time the Ghibli sports a striking blue finish, which we suspect will be its new hero colour. This particular car was spotted during an official shoot, presumably for a new advertisement or promotional video, which is said to have taken place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.   YouTube user TheMAXIMUMCARS also happened to film the car and was fortunate enough to upload this video for all to see. It gives us the chance to see the Ghibli in motion, with its daytime running lights and brake lights on. We also get to hear the growl of the car’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6 for the first time. The car’s numberplate reveals that this is the more potent Ghibli S, which develops 548 Newton metres of torque and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds. The “301 KW” in the number plate represents the car’s 301-kilowatt power rating. The Ghibli will also be offered with a 242 kilowatt version of the turbo V-6 engine and overseas buyers will also have the option of a 202 kilowatt V-6 turbodiesel. All of the Ghibli's engines are built by Ferrari and all of them come matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. www.motorauthority.com  

News of Maserati’s plans to launch a sports car positioned below its GranTurismo first broke in May of last year. The speculation was quickly followed with confirmation of the car by Maserati boss Harald Wester, who added that it might feature a mid-engine layout.This led to talk that the car might use the platform of the Alfa Romeo 4C, which, incidentally, is built at a Maserati plant. However, it’s since been reported that the new sports car will feature an engine mounted up front. Now, Motor Trend has dug up some fresh details on the car after speaking with Wester.The Maserati boss said a new, small sports car was needed as a rival for the likes of the Jaguar F-Type and Porsche 911. He explained that volumes for cars like the bigger GranTurismo and GranCabrio (a.k.a. GranTurismo Convertible) were simply too limited. “The four-seat GranCabrio is in a segment where even the biggest-selling competitor sells just 2,000 a year maximum,” he said.Though it’s yet to be confirmed, the new sports car, which most are predicting to revive Maserati’s GranSport nameplate, will reportedly ride on a shortened version of the platform underpinning the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans.This platform will allegedly be used for a number of performance models within the Fiat Chrysler Group including the new GranSport, next-generation GranTurismo and GranCabrio, and possibly even the next-generation Dodge Challenger and the long-rumored Barracuda it will spawn.The GranSport will be one of the smallest of these new performance models, stretching approximately 4.49m or roughly the same length as a C7 Corvette. To differentiate it from the larger GranTurismo, the GranSport will feature V6 power while the new GranTurimso will stick with a V8. The V6 in question is Maserati’s new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre mill, which is manufactured by Ferrari and rated at 297 kW and 550 Nm.A convertible version of the GranSport is said to also be in the works, possibly as a replacement for the current GranCabrio. Both the new GranSport and the next-generation GranTurismo are expected to be launched on the market during 2015.www.motorauthority.com 

Maserati has ambitious plans to boost its annual sales to as much as 50,000 units per year in the mid to longer term, up from less than 7,000 units sold last year. To do so, the automaker intends on two brand new model introductions. One of these is the recently revealed 2014 Ghibli sedan, which goes on sale later this year. The other is the Levante SUV, which was previewed in 2011 by the Kubang concept car and is expected to be revealed late next year as a 2015 model. The Levante name comes from Via Emilia Levante in Bologna, Italy, where the Maserati brothers first dreamt of the company that today still bears their name. And, with Maserati’s centenary taking place next year, the use of the Levante name on the SUV seems appropriate; it hints at the past while also serving as a bridge to Maserati’s future.  As we’ve reported for some time, the Levante will share a platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. However, it will feature its own engines and be produced in Italy rather than the Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit as originally envisaged by Maserati. According to a report from Edmunds, demand for the Jeep Grand Cherokee means capacity at the vehicle’s plant is too tight to include the additional run of Levantes expected. The Levante is expected to be Maserati’s top seller, just as the Cayenne SUV is the most popular model in the Porsche lineup. Previous estimates have put production figures between 10,000 and 15,000 units annually. Power will come from the same assortment of engines fitted to the 2014 Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans. This means a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with 300kW in the base model and a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 with 390kW in a range-topping model. The Ghibli’s 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel will also be offered in the Levante overseas. The only transmission will be an eight-speed automatic. Interestingly, the report claims the Levante will use Maserati’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system rather than the existing setup found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This is due to the Levante being tuned more for sport handling rather than off-road prowess. With a reveal scheduled for next year, we should be seeing the first spy shots for the 2015 Maserati Levante very soon. www.motorauthority.com  

While many top manufacturers in the luxury segment have phased out their diesel V-8 engines, Maserati is reportedly looking to introduce a new one. Apparently the automaker sees a void in the market now that the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz are no longer offering a diesel V-8 option on their cars. The information comes from Car and Driver, which reports that the Fiat Chrysler Group is working on a new diesel V-8 engine aimed at global markets, something that is said to be in strong demand. The engine is expected to be a turbocharged V-8 unit displacing 4.0 litres and producing as much as 268 kilowatts and 623 Newton metres of torque. Whether such an engine makes it to production will depend on how well Maserati’s new diesel V-6 engine sells in the upcoming 2014 Ghibli sedan. This engine is a turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6, rated at  202 kilowatts and 599 Newton metres of torque. It is Maserati’s first diesel engine and it was developed together with Ferrari. There is one other major automaker still offering diesel V-8 engines to luxury buyers: the Volkswagen Group. Its latest model equipped with such an engine is the Porsche Cayenne S Diesel, which sports a twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre V-8 good for 285 kilowatts and a massive 848 Newton metres of torque. If this isn’t impressive enough, the Volkswagen Group has even more capable diesel engines in the works. Just this week the automaker announced new technology that will allow its diesel engines to deliver an astonishing 100 kilowatts per litre of displacement. www.motorauthority.com  

A BMW-chasing mid-size Maserati is tasked with being the vital cog in an extraordinary plan to boost sales by more than eight times. Maserati this week debuted its first mid-size sedan, the Ghibli, at the Shanghai motor show and claims it will sell 20,000 a year by 2015. In fact, Maserati wants a total of 50,000 sales in 2015 - more than eight times the 6200 units sold in 2012. Company chief executive Harald Wester is dead serious about the prediction that flies in the face of a massive car sales retraction in Europe. Wester agrees that since the recent sales peak of about 9000 annual Maserati sales of 2008, the market has plummeted. “Italy has been our Number 2 market for seven years up to 2008 when we sold about 900 cars,’‘ Wester says. “Last year, in Italy, we sold less than 100 cars.’’ Wester is clinical in his outlook but says the Ghibli, the new Quattroporte (on which the Ghibli is based) and the 2015 debut of Maserati’s first SUV, the Levante, will be so well received by buyers that sales of the company will hit 50,000 for 2015. “We’re doing cars better for our customers,’‘ he says. “The engine, the transmissions, the size of the cars and the price, will all meet the requests of our customers. “The old Quattroporte, for example, didn’t meet the requests of buyers. It had a size issue, it had an engine that was to big for the market and it was only available as a rear drive. “Now we move into a new Quattroporte with a selection of engines, all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive, new levels of equipment. It satisfies markets like North America and Europe where if we don’t have an all-wheel drive, we don’t have a sale. “The Quattroporte appeals to a far bigger audience than before.’’ Though the emphasis is on the Quattroporte, Wester says the mid-size Ghibli will have ‘’substantially’’ more sales than its bigger sister. The Ghibli is the first mid-size four-door sports luxury sedan in Maserati’s 100 year history. It goes on sale in Australia in early 2014 from about $160,000 and follows the third-quarter release of the new Quattroporte. Australian importer Ateco says Maserati’s global 2015 target of 50,000 cars a year will be matched by local sales of about 1400 in 2016. Wester says the Ghibli is heavily based on the Quattroporte, using the same platform - but shortened by 200mm - and common suspension and drivetrain components. He says the Ghibli will have engine options of two 3-litre turbo-petrols and a 3-litre turbo-diesel. The three are built by - and related to - Ferrari products. Both V6 petrols have a bi-turbo system and are based on the Quattroporte’s V8. The higher-spec version will also be available as an optional powerplant in the Quattroporte. This engine produces 310kW/550Nm and allows the car to hit 100km/h from rest in only 4.8 seconds. The second petrol is slightly detuned with 243kW/500Nm and a sprint of 5.6 seconds. It claims 9.6 L/100km. The 202kW/600Nm 3-litre turbo-diesel is a Chrysler-VM engine though has been “enhanced’’ - says Wester - by Ferrari and is capable of less than 6 litres/100km and a 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds. The diesel represents not only a first for Maserati, but possibly the first time Ferrari has worked on a diesel engine for one of its family cars. “Diesel engine represent 75 per cent of the large-car segment in Europe ,’’ Wester says. “Buyers in Italy, for example, are more interested in the car’s size and the engine - they’re not interested in 500 horsepower.' “This is also a time of new engines. The old engines were normally-aspirated, big capacity, high revs and conventional technologies.“The new engines have two turbochargers, smaller capacities and direct injection. We are also seeing technologies of petrol and diesel engines getting closer and closer.’’ All Ghibli engines pick up improved economy and performance thanks to their eight-speed automatic transmission. “We have been accused on not being faithful to our roots,’’ Wester says. “But the Ghibli is everything we stand for. It remains an exclusive product. It is a car for someone outside the mainstream.’’ Maserati expects the Ghibli will contribute 20,000 units to its predicted 50,000 annual sales in 2015. The Quattroporte will deliver an estimated 10,000 sales and the new Levante SUV, based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee which is part of the new Fiat-Chrysler family, will sell at a rate of 20,000 a year. This is the third time the Ghibli name has been worn on a Maserati, though the first applied to a sedan. But Maserati nods to its predecessors by giving the Ghibli a couple-like style, especially around the C-pillar. It shares most of the dashboard design with the Quattroporte - one of the first signs of the commonality of the two models - while the shortened wheelbase crimps rear-seat room back to the same accommodation as the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series. The Ghibli also continues Maserati’s dedication to an aural symphony. Like the petrol models, the diesel also gets the Maserati Active Sound system comprising two sound actuators fitted near the exhaust tailpipes that  accentuate the engine sound. Ghibli also shares Quattroporte’s suspension system with a double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension with the option of the active Skyhook system, part-time all-wheel drive and sport-spec suspension damping. The Ghibli also has a standard mechanical limited slip differential to maximise traction.  

Two of Italy’s finest luxury labels, Maserati and Ermenegildo Zegna, have entered a partnership aimed at promoting Italian design and manufacturing excellence worldwide. At the same time, the two will collaborate on a number of projects, starting with a special edition model next year to celebrate the centenary of Maserati. The new special edition will be a Quattroporte sedan inspired by the collections of the famous fashion label. The Maserati flagship sedan will be reinterpreted and customised with new colours, materials and trims, with some lifted directly from Zegna’s famous suit line. In particular, fabrics will be produced by the historic Lanificio Zegna wool mill in Trivero, Italy. Only 100 examples will be built and owners will also benefit from a unique collection of accessories by Zegna, specially designed for each of the cars. The first prototype will be unveiled at a major international auto show later this year (a standard 2014 Quattroporte is featured above). In 2015, Maserati will start offering Zegna-designed trim across its range, and in 2016 the automaker will launch a new personalisation department to help capitalise on the growing demand for tailor-made products. The demand has been so strong that even Hyundai has developed a custom version of its Equus flagship with French fashion label Hermès. “The partnership between Maserati and Ermenegildo Zegna Group is the meeting point of two leading companies representing pioneering Italian design and manufacturing,” Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a statement. “The partnership with an equally prominent company such as Ermenegildo Zegna will benefit both brands and the Fiat Chrysler Group.” www.motorauthority.com  

It appears Maserati’s mystery teaser for this month’s 2013 Shanghai motor show was in fact depicting the automaker’s upcoming Ghibli sedan, which has already been spied in prototype form for several months and was rumored to be debuting at the Chinese show. After an early leak, Maserati has now revealed its Ghibli and provided some initial details. These images, plus our own spy shots, confirm that Maserati designers have gone with a coupe-like profile for the latest Ghibli. This coupe styling, plus the long hood, is reminiscent of the original Ghibli, which was a sporty, two-door GT. The powerful rear fenders of the car, on the other hand, look similar to those found on the latest 2014 Maserati Quattroporte, while up front, the nose and grille section appears to protrude much farther than on Maserati’s bigger sedan. The interior has also been revealed; it exhibits a sporty, distinctly Italian design, with some elements also borrowed from the more upmarket Quattroporte in addition to plenty of carbon fiber to denote its sportier positioning in the Maserati lineup. Sales of new Maserati sedan will commence late in the year, making the Ghibli a 2014 model. The reason for the speedy rollout is due to Maserati’s ambitions growth plans, with the automaker hoping to boost its annual sales almost 10-fold to as much as 50,000 units per year by the middle of the decade. To speed up development, the Ghibli shares most of its underpinnings with the Quattroporte, including engines, transmissions and Maserati’s available Q4 all-wheel-drive system. In fact, the two cars were largely developed side by side. At launch, the Ghibli will be available with two turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engines, the more powerful of which will develop 297 kW. Overseas, the car will also come with a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel option, likely to be the same VM Motori unit fitted to a number of Fiat and Chrysler vehicles. This makes the Ghibli the first production Maserati to feature a diesel engine. www.motorauthority.com