More affordable Maseratis on the way?
According to
the U.K.'s What Car?, Maserati's plan for the near future includes diversifying its model range with
"more affordable" models in the $90,000 to $115,000 range.
Chief executive Karl-Heinz Kalbfell
suggests that new Maserati models will wait until the sports car manufacturer hits its target production of 8,000 to
9,000 units a year. That shouldn't be too long - its popular Quattroporte sports sedan alone sold nearly 5,700 units
last year.
The new models could well include a trident-badged SUV based on the Giugiaro-designed Kubang
concept (shown at right), and even diesel-powered models.
Since its split with Ferrari, Maserati has become
closely associated with Alfa Romeo under the Fiat Group umbrella, but Kalbfell doesn't expect any badge-engineering
exchange of models between the two marques, saying "There will never be an Alfa with a Maserati badge and never a
Maserati with an Alfa badge, because even if you think you are being clever, the customers will tell you
different."
[Source: What Car?]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ebm14 3:42PM (3/25/2006)
Isn't VW or Audi part of the deal?
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Joel A 5:16PM (3/25/2006)
That is one hot-lookin' Maserati.
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Michael Karesh 5:19PM (3/25/2006)
Quattroporte sales will get a boost when the car becomes available with a conventional automatic next year. The clutchless manual doesn't shift smoothly in automatic mode, limiting its appeal for most drivers in the segment.
My full review of the car: http://www.epinions.com/content_182726856324
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DJ 6:24PM (3/25/2006)
#1 - You're thinking of Lamborghini, which is owned by VW and Audi provides engineering and technical support to them. The new Audi LeMans supercar will share some of the Lambo Gallardo's engineering, but will not be a Lambo with Audi badges and bodywork.
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xanto21 1:51PM (4/11/2006)
Maserati deserves good years. The current models are nicer are more reliable than the former ones, specially the Quattroporte, I love it, in my opinion is much more elegant and sophisticated than the S-Class, 7 series or A8.
It would be great seeing again a biturbo family (with sedan and coupes) but more efficient and reliable than 80's biturbos.
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DPC car videos 2:23AM (8/24/2006)
first of all it looks odd, secondly it is too much money.
Reply