Cars

Published on April 27th, 2020 | by Subhash Nair

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Understanding Maserati’s Current Model Line

When we starting compiling a list of brands to cover in this series, one brand that was a little difficult to decide on was definitely Maserati. On the one hand, they really do have some exotic, rare, high-end performance luxury vehicles.

But on the other hand, they sometimes compete in mid-to-high premium segments with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW – particular with 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder sedans. However, after considering their upcoming replacement models and the Ferrari-built engines, we feel like Maserati belongs in this series

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Now let’s have a look at their current and upcoming models.

Current Models

Ghibli

The Ghibli is a 4-door sedan competing in the Executive segment since its introduction in 2013. Think slightly larger than a BMW 5-Series or Mercedes-E-Class, but even in its base configuration, you get a turbocharged 3-litre V6 engine sending power to the rear wheels and some Italian design flair. For a slight performance bump, you could have yourself a Ghibli S or Ghibli S Q4 if you’d like all-wheel drive on the side. A diesel version is also available (Ghibli Diesel).

Wheelbase2,998 mm
Length4,971 mm
Width1,945 mm
Height1,461 mm
Kerb weight1,810–1,875 kg 

Quattroporte

The next vehicle to look at in the Maserati range is the Quattroporte, a full-sized luxury sedan with twin turbocharged V6 and V8 engine options. The Quattroporte in its 6th generation was introduced in 2013 and shares a platform with the Ghibli. It is much larger than the Ghibli though. For a performance bump over the base model, there’s the Quattroporte S, which can also be equipped with all-wheel drive (Quattroporte S Q4). A range-topping model with a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 is also available (Quattroporte GTS), but this is not available with an all-wheel drive system. A diesel version is also available (Quattroporte Diesel), also without all-wheel drive.

Wheelbase3,171 mm
Length5,262 mm
Width1,948 mm
Height1,481 mm
Kerb weight1,860–1,925 kg

Levante

The Levante is the latest model to be introduced into the Maserati family. It came around in 2016 to fill the mid-sized SUV gap in the company’s portfolio, going up performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne. All variants of the Levante come with all-wheel drive and similar turbocharged 3-litre V6 and 3.8-litre V8 engines as the Quattroporte. For a performance bump over the entry model, there’s the Levante S. V8 models start with the Levante GTS but the Levante Trofeo has the same engine with more power. The slowest, most economical model of the lot is the Levante Diesel.

Wheelbase3,004 mm
Length5,003 mm
Width1,968 mm
Height1,679 mm
Kerb weight2,109–2,205 kg

GranTurismo/GranCabriolet

These models are the oldest on Maserati’s showroom floor and are due for replacement this year by the Alfieri. However, because production on the replacement has yet to commence, we’ll talk about these cars first. The GranTurismo and GranCabriolet are 2 door, 4 seater grand tourers in coupé and cabriolet form. They’ve been around since 2007 and are based on the 5th generation Quattroporte.

The GranTurismo and GranCabriolet were both equipped with naturally-aspirated 4.7L V8 engines from base to top spec model. By 2019, the model line up consisted of the base models, models with a slight performance bump (GranTurismo Sport/GranCabriolet Sport) or high-performance 2-seater models (GranTurismo MC Stradale/GranCabriolet MC Stradale) with an automated manual gearbox.

Upcoming Models

Alfieri

This is, as we mentioned above, a replacement for the GranTurismo model. It may feature downsized V6 engine options, as well as plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions later on. It’s still unclear if the coupé and convertible models will share a model name or not.

MC20

Maserati are also developing a 2-seater, mid-engined sportscar with a V6 powerplant and rear wheel drive. Some reports suggest electrified engine options might be added later. The MC20 has yet to be launched, but was scheduled for 2020. It’s unclear if the MC20 is meant to replace the low-production MC12 or provide more longer lasting competition in the sportscar market.

For other brands in this series:


About the Author

Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.



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