Maserati News

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. 

Despite Europe's sagging car market and Italy's melting economy, Maserati says its mid-size prestige sedan - now named Ghibli - and the new SUV will take its annual sales to 50,000 units by 2015. Its optimism is clipped by the 6159 cars it sold globally in 2011 - 140 of those in Australia. Maserati says the Ghibli - once dubbed the baby Quattroporte and a rival for the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-Series - will start production next year and the Levante SUV in the company's centennial year, 2014. The Levante, once known as the Kubang concept and now named after the street in which the five Maserati brothers started business in 1914, is poised to be a Porsche Cayenne rival. The new Ghibli marks the third time that Maserati has used the name. It was first launched as a two-door luxury coupe in 1967 and then revisited in 1992 before ending in 1997. The Quattroporte will next year mark its 50th anniversary with an all-new, sixth-generation model with a more aggressive stance, a more defined boot line and a more spacious interior with an accent on better placement of controls. It was first sold in 1963 as the first generation Maserati four-door - quattroporte translates literally as four door - and remained in production until 1969. The second generation started in 1974 and replaced by the third generation in 1979, then the fourth generation arrived in 1994 and the fifth incarnation in 2004. The Quattroporte is Maserati's best-selling car of all time.  

"Enjoy the sound of a real piece of Trident history and listen to all its power," is all Maserati will say for now. But is it an existing model or -- as some people are thinking -- an aural tease for a new one. The 'Cinqueporte' for which they've registered the name? The horridly-named Kubang? Either way, it's likely to carry one of the two Maserati engines: the 298kW 4.2-litre V8 or the 324kW 4.7-litre V8. We're thinking it's the latter.  

The confirmation of the car will see it as one of three supercars on the Lamborghini stand at the Show ahead of its on-sale date later this year. This will give the Australian public their first official look at this all-new entry-level supercar. The Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder is the only convertible rear-wheel-drive variant in the Italian supercar manufacturer’s line-up and has been inspired by Valentino Balboni, who was Lamborghini’s test driver for over 40 years. Making its second official appearance in Australia will be the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, which was also at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show. Since its introduction last year, the Aventador, with its jet-fighter inspired styling and lightweight 60-degree V12 engine capable of reaching 0-100km/hour in just 2.9 seconds, has achieved success globally. “Lamborghini is always a crowd favourite at the Australian International Motor Show and we are excited they will be displaying their newest and most popular models in Sydney, as well as debuting an all-new stand design,” said Russ Tyrie, Show Director. “At this stage, we can confirm that a third vehicle will feature on the Lamborghini stand; whilst we cannot give exact details just yet, it will be a show-stopping concept never before seen in Australia.” The 2012 Australian International Motor Show will be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour from October 19-28, 2012. For further information about the Show and to purchase tickets, visit www.motorshow.com.au, which is also compatible with all android and Apple mobile devices.  

...but Carparazzi previews the real view of a car which is both chunkier and roomier for 2014.If the Euro snoops are right, as they usually are, the car will also become the Quattroporticina.

...Maserati unveils its all-new Quattroporte.Until then, Carparazzi has caught a heavily-disguised prototype that points to a new rear-wheel drive package, a body with more aluminium and - perhaps - the all-wheel drive system from the Ferrari FF.

...as the four-seat luxury car runs up to its reveal at the Paris Motor Show in September. It's still expected to have a V8 engine from the Ferrari family and perhaps also the all-wheel drive system fitted to the Ferrari FF.

The Maserati A6G/54 was unveiled at the 1955 Paris Auto Salon as a show car.Auction house Gooding and Company, who will put the car on the block at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, say that the Maserati has continued to be a star under Jay Kay’s ownership. The Grammy winner has added a Salon Prive Best of Show to his trophy shelf with the car, and has also driven it in Mille Miglia Storica twice.The Maserati A6G/54 is just one of the early bookings Gooding have announced for the auction. Also polished with a glow of celebrity is the factory-supercharged 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio convertible that once belonged to Prince Louis Napoleon of France, grandson of Emperor Napoleon I.Estimates of between $1.3 to $1.6 million have been given for the Bugatti. If you’re just a little short for that one, how about the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, which is likely to go for somewhere between $750,000 - $950,000 at hammer fall. 

...although the four-door Italian sports sedan is coming in by the middle of 2013.Among new developments are a hybrid drive system, extensive use of aluminium and a possible all-wheel drive system.

The recall notice cites a problem with the lights not being in conformance and therefore not functioning properly. The failure of the rear lights to operate may pose a crash hazard, the recall says. The notice applies to a total of 132 Maserati Granturismos and a single GranCabrio sold in Australia. "The light cluster will be completely replaced by Maserati, as our LED light clusters come as a complete unit," says Edward Rowe, spokesman for Maserati importer Ateco Automotive. "The replacement parts have been imported from Italy and are here awaiting the owners." However he emphasised that the Maseratis are not suffering having the lights completely out of action. "One side stops working, but you won't get both sides failing simultaneously, and the high level brake light will continue functioning," Rowe says, declining to comment on whether anybody unlucky enough to rear-end a Maser in the next few days would be able to blame the light defect.