Maserati Reviews

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the Maserati GranTurismo MC Sport with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Richard Blackburn road tests and reviews the Maserati Quattroporte S with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2014 Maserati Ghibli.

Luxury maker Maserati is rolling the dice with the more affordable Ghibli. This four-door coupe, the same size as a BMW 5 Series, is the cheapest Maserati yet, starting at $138,900, or scores of thousands less than the next model in the line-up.At risk is the Maserati mystique, borne of its exclusivity, which could take a hit when more of its cars are spotted on the street. The reward would be a dramatic boost in sales and profits. Maserati sold just 6300 cars around the world in 2012, but is aiming to move 50,000 next year. The Ghibli (pronounced Gibbly) is right at the centre of the plan.Maserati's new coupe will quickly become the brand's best seller in Australia but in turn it is expected to be outsold by a new Maserati SUV called the Levante, which will cost a similar amount when it arrives in 2016. For its part Maserati argues that the new, more affordable, models won't hurt the brand because sightings on Australian roads will still be rare.Even if Maserati sells 1500 cars a year locally after the Levante arrives, spokesman Edward Rowe says: 'That is still a small number when you consider the new car market in Australia is one million cars a year." The Ghibli takes its name from a prevailing wind in Syria. Maserati first used the name in 1963 then reprised it in 1992.The new car is essentially a downsized Quattroporte, although it might be rude to point that out to someone who has shelled-out more than a quarter of a million dollars on the larger model. Firstly, it looks like a Quattroporte, with the same aggressive nose and sloping coupe profile but the smaller proportions mean it looks better than its big brother.Plainly it isn't as expensive as the Quattroporte nor does it have quite the same presence, but most people will assume it costs more than it does. The Ghibli is also built on a shortened version of the Quattroporte platform and even employs the same suspension design.When it comes to engines, yep, you guessed it, they are from the Quattroporte too. The most affordable Ghibli costs $138,900. This uses a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 from VM Motori, which is also available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This example has a unique Maserati tune for outputs of 202kW/600Nm, so it doesn't mess about when you jab the accelerator.Next up is the "standard" petrol engine, a 3.0-litre direct injection V6 with two intercooled turbochargers, developed in conjunction with Ferrari and built in Maranello. It costs $139,990 and it has a 243kW/500Nm version of the engine under its long bonnet.A warmer version, with more aggressive engine management software that increases the outputs to 301kW/550Nm, tops the current range at $169,900. For the record, Maserati says a high-revving V8 and an even more powerful V6 are planned for the Ghibli at some stage in the next few years.Carsguide drove the more powerful V6 at the launch near Byron Bay this week and came away pondering: 'Why would anyone buy the more expensive Quattroporte?" For its part, Maserati reckons customers who want a larger limousine with more interior space will be happy to hand over the additional cash for the bigger car.Regardless, the Ghibli is a great performance sedan that looks beautiful, stands out on the road and goes mighty fast when required (0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds).It handles extremely well and its hydraulic steering (not electric as in almost all other new cars) is wonderfully involving. The ride of our test car was uncomfortably harsh but it was running optional 20-inch wheels ($5090). It should ride better on the standard 18s.Surprisingly, there is some turbo lag but the engine is remarkably strong when the turbos start spinning. You better pay attention because the revs build extremely quickly.The V6 has a meaty sound, which is louder in Sport mode, does a great "thrump" on gear changes - but doesn't sound as good as a V8.All Ghiblis get an eight-speed automatic, a regular torque converter type, which swaps cogs quickly and without fuss and it can be controlled via paddle-shifters on the steering column. Selecting reverse, park or neutral via the centre-mounted gear shifter can be frustrating as the design is surprisingly poor.This is a rare negative in what is an excellent interior.The cabin not only looks smart and expensive, but the controls and easy to use. There is plenty of space for four adults, sitting on sculpted seats trimmed with soft leather and it has as a decent boot. Small items, such as USB charger and 12V charger ports in the rear centre armrest show Maserati has put in a lot of thought.

Maserati's new Quattroporte is selling like hotcakes overseas. Although it looks much the same, the big four-door, four or five-seat sedan is actually new from the ground up.

There's a button on the new Quattroporte's console marked 'ICE' – which has nothing to do with driving in snow or setting the aircon to freezing.

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 

Maserati has perfected the art of applying subtle changes to existing models to create new  variants to appeal to new buyers. Basically, it’s like a woman having a series of hairdos designed to subtly alter her appearance and expand her list of suitors.But in the case of the GranCabrio Sport, the tweaking has made an attractive convertible into one with more appealing driving characteristics.VALUEThe GranCabrio Sport is expected in Australia in December and, based on currency predictions, will land here for less than $350,000. That’s a premium of about $20,000 on the existing - and ongoing - GranCabrio. What do you get? Well there’s a more sporty line of body gear - stuff like a front splitter, side sills, black grille and headlights surrounds and 20-inch wheels - but the better value is in the slightly more powerful engine, firmer suspension and an enhancement to the world’s best exhaust note. The modest changes to the body sharpen up its street cred and the engine note is certainly head spinning. But is this all worth the extra dosh? Maybe not.DESIGNSame as the existing GranCabrio but with the additions as mentioned above. This is Maserati honing the model and in its creation of a new, high-priced variant of the convertible, may be seen as gilding the lily. It seats four people - yes, adults in the back for short trips - and the ride comfort is very good for a car that has been worked over in the suspension department. It’s as quiet and comfortable with the electrically-operated fabric roof up or down. The boot is small and in the test car, was practically full just with the addition of the fold-out wind deflector. Cabin treatment is excellent, falling over only by the placement of some switches behind the steering wheel where they are invisible to the driver, and a sat-nav system that isn’t up to Japanese standards.TECHNOLOGYMaserati make song and dance out of the extra 10kW (that’s not a misprint - it’s a weeny 10 kilowatts) and additional 20Nm. More important is the friction-reduction campaign that has reduced fuel consumption and emissions by 6 per cent to 14.5 l/100km and 337g/km CO2. The end result is 331kW/510Nm for a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds. That’s a mere 0.1 second faster than the 323kW/490Nm standard version. The ZF box gets longer steering wheel paddle shifters made of carbon fibre - which is dotted around the car as a trim material - and the box changes gears twice as fast as the existing model and blips on downshifts while manual mode will allow the engine to run to the rev limiter. Suspension springs are 15 per cent stiffer and there’s ben modifications to the dampers. The brake rotors are ventilated, drilled and slotted to minimise fade.SAFETYMaserati cars, like most exotic cars, aren’t flung into concrete barriers to come up with a crash rating. It’s understood they’re pretty safe. Standard kit includes stability and traction control, six airbags and automatic pop-up roll bars.DRIVINGAs expected, it’s a quick car with lots of exhaust hoise available at the touch of the “sport’’ button on the dash. Though suspension tweaks are designed to improve handling, comfort has not been sacrified. It is also an easy car to drive and well suits the role cruising the more expensive suburbs in your city.VERDICTIt’s clearly Italian with its showmanship styling, loud exhaust noise and ability to sprint. It turns heads all the time and despite its exotic tag, was a real pussycat to drive. Four seats also make all the difference.MASERATI GRANCABRIO SPORTPrice: est. $345,000Warranty: 3-years/100,00kmResale: 72% (est.)Service interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety: n/aEngine: 4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 331kW/510NmBody: 2-door coupeWeight: 1980kgTransmission: 6-speed sequential auto, rear driveThirst: 14.5L/100km, 98 RON, CO2 337g/km"The heart and soul of luxury motoring that takes its top off''

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''