Maserati announces its new baby

TWO versions of an all-new entry-level Maserati model priced around €55,000 ($A80,000) in Europe and a redesigned Quattroporte sedan have been confirmed as part the 2010-2014 restructuring plan announced by Fiat in Turin yesterday (April 21).

Although details of what will be the most affordable Maserati by a long margin remain scarce, the Italian sportscar maker says it hopes the car, which will “offer a new product package with specific contents in order to exploit Maserati DNA”, will give it a 10 per cent share in what it calls Europe’s ‘high-end E-segment’.

Maserati SpA commercial director Raffaele Fusilli told GoAuto in February that, in addition to developing a lighter and more dynamic next-generation Quattroporte, Maserati was investigating the addition of a third model line in the form of a volume-selling small four-seater coupe to position below the GranTurismo.

Mr Fusilli, who was in Australia to launch the brand’s new GranCabrio locally, also said that future Maserati models were likely to be powered by twin-turbo petrol V6 and even hybrid drivetrains, but ruled out the possibility of an all-electric Maserati.

Left: Maserati Quattroporte sedan.



“For now we are launching the GranCabrio,” he said at the time. “Then in the mid-term we are focussing on the revamp of our model range, for sure, and the first one will be the new (Quattroporte) four-door.

“Eventually it’s possible to think also of another model in our range ... maybe smaller than the current models.

“We’re talking about that but it’s too early to anticipate something because we are at the start of this project and nothing has been started yet. For sure we are thinking about how to enlarge our presence in the segments. There are possibilities ... opportunities.

“Maserati already gained a good position in terms of perception, so we are also analysing possibilities to eventually expand our range with a smaller version, but it has to fit first of all customer expectation and secondly it has to make a profit.

“Our territory will remain four-seat. Ferrari is Ferrari, Maserati is Maserati,” he said.

Yesterday, Fiat said Maserati’s sixth-generation Quattroporte, which will follow this year’s release of Mercedes-Benz’s conceptually similar MkII CLS-class ‘four-door coupe’, will come with a “completely new style, offering outstanding driving emotions and high-level quality”.

While the new Quattroporte model range, which will be priced lower than the current line-up, is charged with increasing Maserati’s share of Europe’s G vehicle segment from three to eight per cent, the company revealed no long-term plans to replace either the new GranCabrio convertible or GranTurismo coupe.

While the latter remains relatively new, Fiat expects both models to maintain their top three position within – and at least a 10 per cent share of - Europe’s H segment, which includes super-luxury models priced between €115,000 and €160,000 ($A165,000-$230,000) there.