The Maserati Quattroporte, Ghibli and Levante will now be available with 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 petrol engines in India.

In the Quattroporte and Quattroporte S, the engine produces 345 BHP @ 5,750 rpm / 500 Nm @ 1,750-4,500 rpm and 424 BHP @ 5,750 rpm / 580 Nm @ 2,250-4,000 rpm respectively.

The engine makes 345 BHP @ 5,750 rpm / 500 Nm @ 4,500 rpm in the Ghibli and 424 BHP @ 5,750 rpm / 580 Nm @ 2,250-4,000 rpm in the Ghibli S.

In the Levante, the engine puts out 345 BHP @ 5,750 rpm / 500 Nm @ 2,000-4,750 rpm and in the Levante S, it makes 424 BHP @ 5,750 rpm / 580 Nm @ 2,000-4,750 rpm. An 8-speed automatic transmission is available as standard across all cars.

Maserati is also offering new tri-coat colours and full-grain Pieno Fiore leather as well as veneers for the interior. The cars come with an option of 20-inch or 21-inch alloy wheels. The Levante gets the GrandSport styling theme inspired by the GTS and Trofeo versions.

Variant-wise ex-showroom prices:

Quattroporte - Rs. 1,63,95,455

Quattroporte S - Rs. 1,73,27,201

Ghibli - Rs. 1,31,06,770

Ghibli S - Rs. 1,44,09,490

Levante - Rs. 1,41,97,698

Levante S - Rs. 1,53,07,488

Maserati has sent a press release for a camouflaged Maserati undergoing testing. The press release also says that the car was spotted testing in Modena, Italy.

The mid-engined mules are testing a new combustion engine which will form the base for a new family of engines to be used in future Maserati vehicles. The engine is said to be built entirely by Maserati. The company says that the learnings from the road tests will be integrated with the learnings from the Maserati Innovation Lab driving simulators.

The engine is expected to be unveiled in May 2020.

Maserati has announced that the Levante Trofeo will be launched in India by the end of 2019.

The Levante Trofeo is the sportier of the Levante range of SUVs. It features a different front bumper with larger air vents. It has a redesigned bonnet, slim headlamp clusters with LED daytime running lights and circular fog lamps and carbon fibre side skirt inserts and rear diffuser.

On the inside, the Levante Trofeo comes with sports seats wrapped in full grain Pieno Fiore leather upholstery, which is black, red and tan with contrast stitching and Trofeo logos.

The Levante Trofeo is powered by a 3.8-litre V8 engine that produces 582 BHP @ 6,250 rpm and 730 Nm of torque @ 2,250-5,000 rpm. The engine is mated to an all-wheel drive system. Maserati claims that the Levante Trofeo will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 300 km/h.

Maserati has launched the updated Quattroporte in India. The sedan is available in two variants - GranLusso and Grandsport priced at Rs. 1.74 crore and Rs. 1.79 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively.

The Maserati Quattroporte measures 5,262 mm in length, 1948 mm in width and 1,481 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,171 mm. The car has a 530 litre boot and 80 litre fuel tank.

The updated Quattroporte features an Alfieri-shaped three-dimensional grille with chrome inserts flanked by L-shaped headlamps. It has three vents behind the front fenders and the trident logo on the C-pillars. The car is available in ten exterior colour options including two tri-coat options - Rosso Potente and Blu Nobile. It comes with a choice of 20, 21 or 22-inch alloy wheels.

The Quattroporte comes with optional full-grain Pieno Fiore leather interiors and high-gloss veneers. It has an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity options and a Harman Kardon audio system. A 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system is available as an option. The car comes with a 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a twin-dial instrument cluster with a 7-inch TFT display in the centre.

In India, the Quattroporte is available with a 3.0-litre, V6 turbocharged diesel engine that produces 271 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 600 Nm of torque @ 2,000-2,600 rpm and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The car is claimed to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and touch a top speed of 252 km/h.

Last year, we had reported that Maserati sales had fallen sharply. Now, according to a media report, the company is planning a new strategy to overcome this.

FCA CEO Michael Manley admitted that pairing Maserati with Alfa Romeo was an organisational mistake. Manley has now appointed Harald Wester as the head of Maserati. He has been tasked to create a new management team and come up with a new plan for the company. Wester previously held the same position from 2008 to 2016.

According to the CEO, the pairing of the two brands in the FCA stable reduced focus on Maserati while treating it as a mass-market company. It is also reported that the company will take further action on the new plan in the fourth quarter of this year, with changes taking place by second half of 2019. To this effect, Wester has hired Jean-Philippe Leloup from Ferrari to lead a new department called as the Maserati Commercial.

As per the plan presented by former CEO Sergio Marchionne, the company was supposed to launch the Alfieri coupe in electric and plug-in hybrid forms, a new SUV positioned below the Levante and replacements for the Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante as EVs and plug-in hybrids.

Maserati sales had dropped in China, due to the WLTP regulations and models like the GranCabrio and the GranTourismo that are 11 years old with no new replacements in line. The brand's YoY sales fell by 26% in Q3 last year. While the yearly target of 75,000 annual units was reduced to 50,000, only 26,400 units were shipped by end of September, 2018.

Source: Autocar

According to a media report, earnings and sales of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' (FCA) Maserati car brand have fallen sharply in Q3 of 2018. Its revenue fell by 87% to 15 million Euros and vehicle dispatches fell to 8,800 units - a drop of 19% compared to the same period in 2017.

According to the company's 2014-2018 plan, Maserati was expected to sell 75,000 units in 2018. This target was revised to 50,000 units on June 1, while the actual sales for the first 9 months of 2018 stand at 26,400 units. The company's profit margins also fell from 13.8% in Q3 of 2017 to 2.4% in Q3 of 2018. The actual margin target for 2018 was 14%. It hopes to achieve a profit margin of 15% by 2022.

FCA CEO Mike Manly revealed that running Maserati and Alfa Romeo with a single leader was a mistake. He also said that it reduced the focus on the premium brand and it was treated like a mass market entity.

Last month, Harald Wester - FCA's Chief Technology Officer was recently appointed to lead Maserati. He was also in charge of the brand from 2008-2016. Since Wester's move to Maserati, he has hired Jean-Philippe Leloup - a former Ferrari executive with experience in sales and marketing of luxury cars. Leloup will head a new entity named Maserati Commercial.

One of the problems faced by Maserati is the lack of new model launches. At present, Maserati sells the Levante SUV and the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans. New models like the Alfieri coupe and convertible were planned, but have not yet been launched. Further, the Levante competes in the large premium SUV segment - the only SUV segment that is not showing growth.

Source: Automotive News

Maserati has launched the 2018 GranTurismo in India. It is available in two variants - Sport and MC. Prices start at Rs. 2.25 crore (ex-showroom).

The updated GranTurismo was showcased at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car gets a new sharknose hexagonal grille, which is inspired by the Alfieri Concept. Combined with the lower air ducts, the car is claimed to have lower aerodynamic drag than the outgoing version. According to Maserati, the coefficient of drag has reduced from 0.33 to 0.32. The rear bumper has also received minor tweaks and features twin-exhausts flanked by a set of vents.

On the interior, the GranTurismo comes with Poltrona Frau leather seats with integrated headrests. The centre console houses an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and comes with a Harman Kardon audio system. The rotary controller for the driving modes is located near the gear lever. The dashboard also has Maserati's double dial clock in the centre.

The 2018 GranTurismo is powered by a 4.7-litre, naturally aspirated V8 engine that produces 453 BHP @ 7,000 rpm and 520 Nm of torque @ 4,750 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the rear axle. Maserati claims that the Sport will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 299 km/h. The MC version clocks 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and tops out at 301 km/h.

Maserati has launched its 2018 range of the Ghibli sedan in India. The new Ghibli comes with a V6 diesel engine and is offered in three variants - base, GranSport and GranLusso priced at Rs. 1,33,87,856, Rs. 1,38,81,858 and Rs. 1,42,47,814 (ex-showroom) respectively.

The Maserati Ghibli measures 4,971 mm in overall length, 2,128 mm in width and 1,461 mm in height. The car has a wheelbase of 2,998 mm and it comes with a 500-litre boot and 70-litre fuel tank.

For 2018, Maserati has made minor revisions to the Ghibli's exterior. Each variant of the Ghibli gets a unique front bumper and a redesigned rear bumper with quad-exhaust tips. Adaptive LED headlights are now standard on the GranLusso and GranSport as is the Skyhook suspension system. Chrome vertical slats in the grille further help differentiate the GranLusso from the GranSport. The latter gets black ORVMs and a black boot spoiler. Both variants get distinct alloy wheels as well. Maserati claims that the exterior changes have improved the aerodynamic efficiency of the Ghibli by 7%, lowering the drag coefficient form 0.31 to 0.29.

The interior of the Ghibli is identical to the outgoing model. It comes with a 3-spoke steering wheel and a twin-dial instrument cluster with a large MID in the centre, while the centre console houses a touchscreen infotainment system. Like the GranLusso, the GranSport also gets leather upholstery but with a carbon trim.

In India, the 2018 Ghibli is offered with a 3.0-litre, V6 diesel engine that produces 271 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 600 Nm of peak torque @ 2,000-2,600 rpm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, which drives the rear wheels. It has 5 driving modes - Auto Normal, Auto Sport, Manual Normal, Manual Sport and ICE (Increased Control and Efficiency) mode. Maserati claims the Ghibli can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h.

The new Ghibli now comes with electric power steering and Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS). It also comes with an Integrated Vehicle Control System (IVC), which actively monitors the vehicle's dynamics to prevent instability. Other safety features include 7 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, Maserati stability program, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, forward collision warning, rear cross path function, parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.

Maserati had unveiled the Levante in India in October 2017 at the DLF Emporio mall in New Delhi. The company has now launched the SUV in the country. The Levante is offered in three variants - Diesel, GranSport and GranLusso priced at Rs. 1,45,12,054, Rs. 1,48,63,774 and Rs. 1,53,83,399 (ex-showroom, India) respectively.

The Maserati Levante was first unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Its styling is inspired by the Kubang concept. The Levante measures 5,003 mm in length, 2,158 mm in width and 1,679 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,004 mm. It has a 580-litre boot a fuel tank capacity of 80 litres.

The Levante features a U-shaped radiator grille with 8 vertical chrome slats and Maserati's trident logo in the centre. The grille is flanked by slim headlamps and circular fog lamps. The SUV has a coupe-like side profile. Three small vents are placed on the front fender and a trident logo can be found on each of the C-pillars. At the rear, the Levante features a roof-mounted spoiler, triangular LED tail lights and quad exhaust tips.

On the inside, the Levante gets a 3-spoke, multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters, a twin-pod instrument cluster with a large MID in the centre and leather upholstery. There is an analogue clock is placed on the top of the dashboard and the centre console houses an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Customers can choose between Bowers & Wilkins and Harman Kardon audio systems.

In India, the Maserati Levante is offered with a 3.0-litre, V6 diesel engine that produces 271 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and a peak torque 600 Nm @ 2,000-2,600 rpm. It comes with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. The SUV rides on air suspension and electronically controlled dampers, which can be raised or lowered depending on the terrain.

The Levante has features like engine start/stop, highway assist, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitor and traffic sign recognition. It also comes with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic brake assist, 360-degree camera and a powered tailgate.

Maserati has launched the Quattroporte GTS in India. The new performance sedan is available at a price of Rs. 2.7 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) based on customization.

The Maserati Quattroporte GTS made its debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. The overall length of the car is 5,262 mm and its width and height are 2,128 mm and 1,481 mm respectively. The Quattroporte GTS has a wheelbase of 3,171 mm and it has a kerb weight of 1900 kg.

This top-spec Quattroporte comes with the familiar Maserati front end with the trident logo in the centre and triple vents on the front fenders. Like other Maseratis, this too has the trident logo on the C-pillar. At the front, it gets adaptive full LED headlights with high-beam assist. The rear features wraparound LED tail lights, dual-tone bumper with integrated diffuser and quad-exhaust tips.

Inside, the Quattroporte GTS comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It can also be operated via a rotary controller placed on the centre console or through voice commands. The GTS is offered with a choice of two audio systems – a 900-watt, 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system as standard and an optional 1,280-watt, 15-speaker Bower & Wilkins unit.

The Quattroporte GTS is available in two trim options – GranLusso and GranSport. In the GranLusso trim, the sedan comes with a subtle front spoiler, chrome bumper inserts, body-coloured side skirts, 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels and black brake callipers along with GranLusso badges on the fenders. The GranSport includes front and side intakes with aerodynamic splitters in the lower section, centre spoiler and side inserts finished in Black Piano. Additionally, Maserati offers an optional exterior carbon package on this model that adds carbon fibre ORVM housings, door handles and around the B-pillar and front bumper.

Until recently, Maserati only offered the V6 version of the Quattroporte in India. The new GTS comes with a 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged V8, petrol engine borrowed from the Ferrari 488. In the Quattroporte GTS, it produces 522 BHP @ 6,500-6,800 rpm and peak torque of 650 Nm @ 2,000-4,000 rpm. 710 Nm of torque @ 2,250-3,500 rpm is available on overboost. The engine is paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Maserati claims that the Quattroporte GTS will do 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 310 km/h.

Maserati offers a host driving and safety aids on the new Quattroporte GTS. These include adaptive cruise control with stop & go, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, highway assist, blind spot alert, rear cross path function, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors with 360-degree camera, Maserati Stability Program, 6 airbags with active headrests and ABS with EBD, Brake Assist & Anti Slip Regulation.