Autoblog

Maserati Ghibli overtakes Levante, headed for Shanghai?

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Maserati, Luxury

While earlier reports indicated that the next Maserati product out of the gate would be the Levante SUV, Motor Trend is now reporting that the Audi A7-shaped Ghibli has cut in line. Word is that we may see the new Ghibli as early as the Shanghai Motor Show in April.

Citing unnamed sources, MT predicts that the minds at Maserati now see a more pressing need to fight off the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series than to go after luxury utes. However, if our spy shots of Ghibli prototypes are anything to go on, it's also likely that the sub-Quattroporte Maser won't be a traditional sedan. The car above's long nose, low roof and brief, sloping rear deck all bring to mind Audi's lovely A7, Meaning the Ghibli may fall into the always murky four-door-coupe/luxury hatchback genre.

Bi-turbocharged iterations of both a V6 and a V8 should make up the early powertrain choices for the Maserati, meaning the top-spec Ghibli should have loads of shove to match its promised good looks.

Maserati Ghibli overtakes Levante, headed for Shanghai? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leak confirms Maserati product plans, five new models

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Crossover, Maserati

It isn't a secret that Maserati is planning a product expansion in an attempt sell 50,000 units annually by 2015, but the automaker hasn't officially announced just how it plans to do so. Yes, we've seen (and driven) the 2014 Quattroporte, checked out spy shots for the smaller Ghibli sedan and Maserati even confirmed the Levante name for its SUV, but a leaked document reported by CarScoop could shed some light on how the Italian automaker intends on carrying out its rapid growth.

According to the image, the new Ghibli and Levante models will considerably lower the entry price point for the Maserati brand with the sedan having a price range from around $72,000 up to just over the $100,000 mark, with the SUV starting at close to $80,000 and topping out at almost $200,000. It also looks like the GranTurismo and GranCabrio will be getting redesigned in the near future at which point the new Gran Sport model will be added to the mix - otherwise known as the which often-rumored sports car with which Maserati will do battle with the Porsche 911.

Leak confirms Maserati product plans, five new models originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Maserati Ghibli prototype spied for the first time

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Maserati, Luxury

Looking to better compete with mainstream luxury automakers, Maserati has already announced its plans for expanding its model lineup. Now, these spy shots give us our first look at a new, smaller sedan that resurrects the Maserati Ghibli nameplate. Seen for the first time as a prototype rather than a Quattroporte-based test-mule, this is the closest-to-production view of the upcoming Ghibli thus far.

Aside from its name, we don't know much about the 2014 Ghibli, but we do hear that this Maserati, like the upcoming Maserati Levante SUV, will have a direct lineage to a Chrysler product. While the Levante will be based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it sounds like the Ghibli could use the Chrysler 300 as its starting point. This means that the standard version of the car could get Chrysler's 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 - rumored to produce around 400 horsepower - paired with the latest eight-speed automatic transmission; sportier trim levels would almost certainly get a V8 from Ferrari rather than using the 300C's Hemi.

As for some of the details apparent in the spy photos, we can obviously see the size difference between these two cars when comparing previous spy shots of the newly released 2014 Quattroporte, which we drove last week. We also see that this car gets some performance-oriented, cross-drilled brake rotors, and based on the depth of the snow in which this car was caught testing, we also wouldn't rule out the use of all-wheel-drive on the Ghibli.

2014 Maserati Ghibli prototype spied for the first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati looking to book 13,000 sales of new Quattroporte in 2013

George Kennedy — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Maserati, Fiat

Europe's continuing financial woe is forcing automakers to get creative, and while Fiat may be scaling back its volume vehicles, it's looking to ramp up production of the exclusive Maserati brand. Following the debut of a new Quattroporte sedan, Fiat wants to boost Maserati sales to 50,000 vehicles by 2015. Maserati may lose as much as €7 million ($9.05 million) this year, and Fiat is betting big on Chrysler platforms and dealers to turn that around.

Currently regarded as a low-volume boutique carmaker, Maserati sold just 6,159 units last year, and 4,700 units through three quarters of this year. For 2013, Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is targeting 13,000 in sales of the redesigned Quattroporte alone. Fiat apparently wants the brand's low volume image to change, hoping to position it closer to BMW and Porsche in the market.

The recent unveiling of the new Quattroporte will be followed by more new vehicle launches, including a crossover utility called Levante, and a long-promised sub-Quattroporte sedan, called Ghibli. The latter will share certain components with the Chrysler 300 sedan in an effort to optimize production costs. The Ghibli will be positioned to take on the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It's all in an effort to turn the profit tide for Maserati and its parent company Fiat amidst European economic turmoil.

Maserati looking to book 13,000 sales of new Quattroporte in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati dubs new SUV Levante, new sedan to resurrect Ghibli moniker

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 04:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Maserati, Luxury

Building on the introduction of the GranCabrio MC that debuted at the Paris Motor Show, Maserati is planning three new models over the next couple of year in an attempt to raise sales to 50,000 units annually by 2015. While we think that that is a pretty lofty goal for a boutique automaker, redesigning its flagship sedan and adding two all-new models in popular segments sounds like a great plan of attack

The first new car we'll see from the Italian automaker is the next generation of the Quattroporte which will be a fitting way to celebrate the car's golden anniversary. We've already seen spy pictures of the new Quattroporte testing as well as a series of patent drawings that reportedly show the car's basic lines. Expect the new Quattroporte out sometime next year with a possible launch at the Detroit Auto Show.

Following the new Quattroporte, we'll finally get to climb behind the wheel of a Maserati SUV... just not the Kubang. Maserati confirmed that its new utility vehicle, based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, will in fact be named the Levante. We already knew that Maserati would definitely not be using the odd Kubang name after this year, but if the Levante name sounds familiar, it's because we previously reported that this name would be used on a sedan slotting in below the Quattroporte.

Speaking of this new sub-Quattroporte sedan, Maserati also announced that this all-new model would wear the Ghibli name. Both previous Maserati Ghibli models were sporty two-door cars, but this latest take on the name will be a full-size sedan going up against cars like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. No word as to when we might see the new Ghibli on the road.

While we have the naming down for Maserati's newest products, we have few other details about these three new models, but we suspect Maserati will remedy this over the next year or so.

Continue reading Maserati dubs new SUV Levante, new sedan to resurrect Ghibli moniker

Maserati dubs new SUV Levante, new sedan to resurrect Ghibli moniker originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hear what Ferrari's "Dino" mule sounds like

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Maserati, Ferrari

We're no closer to figuring out what this car will actually be, but thanks to some cameramen lurking in bushes, we know more about how it sounds. The Ferrari "Dino"/possible Maserati Ghibli has been caught on tape during what appears to be a field trip from the Alfa Romeo factory to the 'Ring and back again. The video speaks for itself, and from the way the car does its work, we think it will, too. And no matter what it's called, Dino, Ghibli, or anything else, it certainly sounds vicious. Check out the video after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Bryan!

[Source: Sport-Auto]

Hear what Ferrari's "Dino" mule sounds like originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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