Maserati's baby Quattroporte expected around 2015

Maserati has ambitious plans to break out of the fringe and into the mainstream. To do so, the Trident marque is going to need more than just the two models it currently holds in its stable. Fortunately, Maserati has plans in place to expand and they're beginning to come into focus.

Following earlier reports from back in April that the Modenese automaker was planning to slot a BMW 5 Series rival in below the current Quattroporte, and subsequent rumors that the QP's successor could go both all-wheel drive and more eco-friendly, come new reports on the smaller sedan's progress.

Motor Trend projects that the baby QP will arrive around 2015 with a starting price around $68,000. A flexible new platform could underpin the next Quattroporte itself, as well as the successor to the current GranTurismo. Sources also forecast that the base version of the next-gen QP will also go slightly down-market, but that the space between the two sedans in the stable will remain sufficiently delineated.

[Source: Motor Trend]