It probably isn’t surprising, considering that more and more luxury automakers are looking to add volume product to their portfolios; indeed Maserati has been toying with the idea of a SUV for some time.

The first photo of Maserati‘s performance SUV has leaked onto the net. Or has it?

Maserati and luxury goods maker Fendi have teamed up to design a masterpiece of technology and craftsmanship, the Maserati GranCabrio Fendi.

Fiat’s luxurious Maserati brand has plans to build its first Jeep Grand Cherokee based SUV at Chrysler’s Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit. The eagerly anticipated concept version of the model will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month.

Maserati is recalling 2009 model year Quattroporte and GranTurismo vehicles, over inadequate rear tie-rods that could fail. The recall is affecting 763 vehicles that were built between July and September 2008. A failed tie-rod could lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Maserati dealers will replace the poorly installed tie-rods, install a tie-rod kit and perform a wheel-alignment, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during September 2011. Owners may contact Maserati at 1-201-816-2600.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has ambitious plans for the  Maserati, specifically to drastically improve sales almost tenfold from last years 5,675 units sold to 50,000.

Anderson Germany’s newest creation is a menacing, flat black Maserati Gran Turismo S that they’ve dubbed the Superior Black Edition. The only parts remaining on this Gran Turismo S that aren’t matte are the window frames, grille and rear logo. And they’re all gloss back.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has ambitious plans for the Maserati, specifically to drastically improve sales almost tenfold from last years 5,675 units sold to 50,000. Marchionne believes this is attainable through three new Maserati models, all based on systems and components from Chrysler Group.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler Group and Fiat, announced that Maserati’s future SUV will make its world debut in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The concept vehicle at the show, will provide a good idea as to what to expect from the production version set to follow in 2013.

German luxury tuner DMC has refined the Maserati Gran Turismo, naming the project Sovrano 2011 and giving it an additional 150-hp and 60 lb-ft of torque. The extra power comes thanks to a supercharger mated to the 4.7L V8, bringing peak horsepower to 590-hp and torque to 348 lb-ft.

Should Maserati build an SUV? Well, that doesn’t really matter because they will and it won’t be what you’re expecting. One would imagine the SUV would be dripping in fine Italian materials but the underpinnings of this truck will be very American. The  vehicle will be based on the brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, but insiders have said it will be hard to spot the resemblance. The interior will be fitted with plush Italian leather as well as wood accents throughout the inside.

On August 19th at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey California, Concorso Italiano will open the traditional Monterey/Pebble Beach Weekend. The event will feature more than 800-1000 beautifully designed Italian cars on display. Enthusiasts can engage in conversations with fellow car lovers and enjoy Italian fashion, food and art. There will no doubt be an astonishing variety of Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Maserati’s, Alfa Romeo’s, Pagani’s, and Lancia’s on display  The event will run from 9:00am- 5:00 pm and admission will cost $130 per person.

With the Gumball 3000 already underway (it started May 26), the folks in charge of the international parade of shenanigans has released a video showing the rally’s start in Covent Garden, London. The 19 minute video shows over 100 of the most magnificent and rare supercars in the world. Even the rain couldn’t stop the massive crowd that gathered to watch the beginning of the world’s most fun and most glamorous rally.

The 3000 mile rally will start in London and end in Istanbul over a seven day period across 10 countries, via Paris, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Milan, Venice, Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia. It was also revealed that the 2011 rally would cost £25,000 to take part in.

Participants include the “who’s who” of the international social scene, Sheikhs, entrepreneurs, oil tycoons, and dot com billionaires.

The incredible line up includes Pagani Zondas, Bugatti Veyrons, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Jaguars, Porsches, Morgans and several Lotus’, and this year, over 20 eco and concept electric cars are taking part as Gumball enters a new decade of green motoring!

Check out the video after the jump!

The movers and shakers of China are buying up luxury cars, and cars in general, at a dizzying pace. And Maserati is nothing if not on fire intuitive, so the skyrocketing sales in China are motivating the Italian company to expand even faster.

Everybody needs a little bling for their cuffs and key rings. And if you’re all about being stylish and subtle, try the Maserati Masterpiece and Circle collection on for size.

Maserati‘s newest sedan, rumored to be a smaller model comparable to a BMW 5-Series in size, will be built in Italy, after a deal was struck between an Italian labor union and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

To keep its North American customer base happy, Maserati has now unveiled a version of their sleek coupe just for us and its called the GranTurismo MC.

So what’s the difference between an MC Stradale and this new MC? Well they look just about the same, but there are some notable changes under the skin and in the cabin. Whereas the MC Stradale used an F1 style sequential gearbox, the MC makes use of the ZF six-speed automatic found in other Maserati road cars.

Inside, the MC retains its rear seats, which were junked for the MC Stradale version. So it seems the North American version is a watered down version of what our European cousins get to play with, but not quite. Thankfully the MC Stradale’s tweaked 4.7-liter, V8 which produces 450-hp has found its way into the North American MC also. That engine can power this coupe all the way to 185 mph and sprint from 0-62 mph in just 4.9 seconds. Also worth noting, this engine is  available in the GranCabrio Sport.

For more details on this model, check out the press release below:

While Novitec Rosso is famously known for tuning and modifying Ferraris, it’s only natural that a separate division, Novitec Tridente, would be tinkering with Maseratis as well. Sporting 590-hp and 422 ft-lbs of torque, Novitec Tridente’s Maserati GranCabrio makes for one fun luxury convertible.

As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, India is developing an increasing appetite for luxury goods and services. In terms of cars, the latest high-end brand to take the plunge is Maserati.

Maserati‘s new GranTurismo MC Stradale might be using a nifty new single-clutch automated manual gearbox in its home market of Europe, but North America will get a ZF-built 8-speed automatic.

It is a 2008 Maserati Quattroporte, which might be a nice car on its own. But what sets this example apart from the rest is the fact that it is a station wagon. It was customized by coachbuilder Carrozeria Touring Superleggera, a company that has in recent years built quite a name for itself and is also responsible for the new Gumpert Tornante.

The successor to Maserati‘s Quattroporte exotic Italian sedan will debut later this year, with this Fall’s Frankfurt Auto Show the likely venue.

Maserati is reporting a sales increase of 20 percent in 2010 and selling 2,000 cars. Not bad for a car company that only a decade ago was a boutique maker of finnicky but beautiful Italian exotics.

Maserati convertibles are for the kind of guys who like to wear their shirts open way past their neck and put their arm on the windowsill so everyone can see their rose gold Hublot Big Bang.

Wald International has continued their rapid development and release of Black Bison tuning packages with the Maserati Quattroporte being their latest subject. And while there aren’t any real significant surprises in terms of the body kit and wheels Wald International outfitted on the Maserati Quattroporte, we’re a little more excited at the fact that the Japanese tuner is focusing more on Italian offerings as well.

Maserati has just revealed a new version of its Gran Cabrio model, adding power and improved driving dynamics. Set to officially debut at the Geneva Auto Show in just a week, the Gran Cabrio Sport (likely to be called the Gran Turismo Convertible Sport in North America) makes use of the same 4.7-liter V8 engine found in the hard-core MC Stradale version of the Gran Turismo Coupe.

It’s official, the economic recovery is complete. Don’t believe us? Just ask the folks at Maserati, who were able to sell every single GranTurismo Convertible that landed States-side in 2010. In total, Maserati shifted 1,717 units this year, which included 558 units of this gorgeous convertible.

The Porsche Cayenne better get ready, because Maserati is all set to introduce a new SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Word of the new model comes from none other than Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Could the Porsche Cayenne finally have a serious rival when it comes to delivering on- an off-road performance, as well as stunning looks and serious luxury? Perhaps.

Maserati showed off a new variant of the Quattroporte GTS at the Sydney Motor Show, labeled the Quattroporte MC Sport Line.

While the MC moniker is normally reserved for cars like the MC12 supercar and the MC Stradale, the Quattroporte MC Sport Line is a mostly cosmetic upgrade with new exterior and interior fittings.

Carbon fiber accents on the inside of the cabin, as well as new sill plates feature prominently, and unique alloy wheels round out the rest of the package. As you can imagine, it will cost megabucks.

[Source: Maserati]

Maserati has been rumored to be working on several new models, with the latest reports suggesting it will launch a new sports sedan under the Quattroporte model late next year. With a new QP in the works, it’s expected the flagship saloon will grow slightly, making room for a mid-size luxury competitor to the BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG and Jaguar XFR.

Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC series cars, as well as the Italian automaker’s GT4 race cars, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale brings much of the former two models’ racing capability to the street.

Maserati is set to debut the most hardcore variant of their GranTurismo Coupe, known as the MC Stradale. With a 20 horsepower boost and some revised aerodynamics, the MC Stradale will fill the role of a Maserati version of Ferrari’s Scuderia variants, without stepping on the hoovers of the Prancing Horse.

Maserati hasn’t really released too many details ahead of the car’s Paris Auto Show debut, but you can check out the press release and photos below.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

Gallery: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

Always thinking outside the box (for better or worse) the team at Mansory has just released its first ever tuning package for a Maserati. Designed for the GranTurismo and GranTurismo S models, there are actually some nice carbon fiber parts buried beneath all the more-red-than-Ferrari paint.

The Maserati Biturbo, that boxy relic of the 1980s, may be coming back according to reports. The Biturbo was Maserati’s most popular offering in the 1980’s, but also their most unreliable, with the twin-turbo V6 becoming notorious for its fickle operation.

In our eyes, Mansory has become the undisputed king of building custom vehicles. From their Rolls-Royce Ghost to their Bentley Continental GT Speed, Mansory has found a way to excel in building off the excellent foundation that these luxury vehicle manufacturers have already released.

Ferrari tuner Novitec has just released a new tuning package for the Maserati Quattroporte under its Tridente brand, adding even more sex appeal to the looks of the Italian sedan plus a supercharger to deliver a total of 590-hp!

Maserati is aiming to launch a four door sedan slotting beneath the current Quattroporte (seen above) in 2014, as part of an effort to expand its current two car lineup.

If “regular” Touring and GT class race cars are just too small and too low budget for your taste, then you need to check out the Italian-based Superstars Series, which pits the heavy metal of Grand Tourers against each other in a 10 race season at some of Europe’s (and South Africa’s) greatest racing circuits.

We’re talking BMW M5’s, Audi RS4’s, Maserati Quattroportes, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMGs, Jaguar XFs, Cadillac CTS-Vs and even a few Chrysler 300C SRT8s. That’s some serious 4-door luxury barges trading paint, a site unique to this growingly popular series. There’s even a Porsche Panamera S scheduled to make its first start at Mugello on July 25th with multiple Touring Car champion Fabrizio Giovanardi behind the wheel.

Now in its sixth season, the Superstars Series truly “arrived” in 2009 when its own video game for the Xbox360 was released called ‘Superstars V8 Racing’. In February of this year there was a sequel released called ‘Superstars V8 Next Challenge’, so if you’re unable to attend one of these races yourself you can get a pretty good taste of it just by firing up your Xbox.

For a glimpse of some real Superstars Series action, check out the video after the jump.

[Source: AxisOfOversteer]

A Fiat dealer along Paris’ famed Champs-Elysees will play host to the first side-by-side Jeep and Fiat dealer as the brands seek to integrate themselves in anticipation for anticipation for Chrysler’s European rollout.

Maserati, we hardly knew ye. The one time car of gentlemen, scoundrels and masochists ( Maserati is a synonym for “unreliable” in many thesauri) has become positively mainstream, with all kinds of celebrities and nouveau riche types snapping up the GranTurismo and Quattroporte as an alternative to the usual German offerings.

Maserati is strutting its stuff on the catwalk with its new line of yachting and golf apparel, casual footwear, leather bags and accessory creations. They introduced their retail swag at the Pitti Uomo fashion show at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, a dynamic event that focuses on the men’s fashion scene.

In what can only be described as some kind of bizarre, inter-connected cosmic wave, two home made supercars have surfaced on the web, paying homage to their respective brands but looking remarkably similar.

The Trofeo Maserati series held its first test day at Vallelunga circuit this week, and it was just as awesome as you might expect it to be. The series is an arrive-and-drive competition for international ballers gentleman drivers who want to go fast in style – much like the Ferrari Challenge or Lamborghini Super Trofeo series.

The GranTurismo MC race cars used in the series weigh less than 3,087 lbs and while Maserati hasn’t released horsepower output numbers, the cars use Maserati’s 4.7-liter V8 powerplant.

Maserati released a few official videos of the cars on track but they aren’t very exciting. Instead we found this video on YouTube. Turn up your speakers and hear that unrestrained Italian V8 howl!

Hit the jump for the video:

Maserati is looking to expand down-market, with plans to introduce two new models in the next five years. The two models will span a rather significant price point, ranging from 55,000 to 70,000 Euros (roughly $74,000 to $94,000 U.S.). Currently the lowest price Maserati in the brand’s lineup is the GranTurismo, which starts at $118,000.

These images, from MSNBC‘s coverage of the late Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s funeral, show something that we just couldn’t believe we were seeing: a Maserati Quattroporte Hearse!

This particular Maserati has been modified by Intercar Modena, a company that will turn just about anything into a hearse if the price is right. What’s really interesting about this particular hearse is that it shows off just how much better proportioned, say, a Cadillac DTS is for hearse duty than a Quattroporte. It’s a good thing government funeral processions move slowly, because we’re guessing this bad boy has a tendency to oversteer….

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

Hit the jump for more photos of the QP Hearse, plus a gallery of hearse’s by Intercar Modena

With a second-generation Maserati Quattroporte on the horizon, it now appears as though the next iteration of the luxury sport sedan will spawn other models, including some Alfa Romeo products. According to a report by InsideLine, the new architecture will use a significant amount of aluminum to keep weight to a minimum. Along with the underpinning the QP, the new structure is also slated for duty as the next GranTurismo and convertible models.

With Ferrari having announced at the Geneva Auto Show last week that it would offer hybrid versions of all of its future models, is it really any surprise to learn that Maserati is also looking to ad hybrid options to its lineup? While the siblings aren’t technically in the same part of the umbrella under the greater Fiat company, a lot of product still gets shared around: from engines to platforms to transmission technology. According to Inside Line, Maserati will also look to do what every automaker from Acura to Volkswagen is also doing – reduce the weight of its vehicles moving forward.

When Maserati announced it would debut another special edition model at the Geneva Auto Show we hardly even managed enough excitement to yawn. The new Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition,” is, however, worthy of a very intense look.

Maserati is a company that makes very few different models, but plenty of special editions, ensuring that practically every buyer gets an original. Set to launch at the Geneva Auto Show next week is a new Awards Edition version of the 430-hp Quattroporte Sport GT S model. After six years on the market, the QP has received 56 awards and so this new model has been announced to celebrate its success. It also likely signals the end of the first-generation model.

Originally unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show as the GranCabrio, Maserati has decided to give its convertible GranTurismo model a more self-explanatory name for North America: the GranTurismo Convertible.

Maserati debuted its first ever four-seater convertible, the GranCabrio at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Maserati will debut its first-ever four-seater convertible at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. While rumors of a convertible based on the GranTurismo’s popular and stunning platform have existed since the day the coupe model was introduced, we now know the name to be GranCabrio.

The “S” in Maserati GranTurismo S stands for many things according to the illustrious Italian automaker. The list includes sport, style, shifting fast, side skirts, seven spoke wheels and superior comfort among others. But one word above all describes the purpose built speed machine from Modena; sexy. When it comes to good looks and going fast, the new GranTurismo S is in a league of its own.

It doesn’t exactly take the foresight of a Nostradamus to predict that Maserati will bring a drop-top version of the GranTurismo to market, but the gents over at Car & Driver seem to have the inside scoop.

Several years ago Ferrari tuner Novitec released it’s first line of parts for the Maserati brand under the name Novitec Tridente. The minor modifications made available for the Quattroporte model didn’t, however, generate much excitement. The opposite will no doubt be true of the new Novitec Tridente line for the Maserati GranTurismo S…. due mostly to the car’s 600hp output.

Over the weekend Maserati revealed its GranTurismo MC race car at the FIA Media Days at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The completely stripped down car will weight less than 1,400 kg (or 3,087 lbs) and while Maserati hasn’t released horsepower output numbers, they have said that the car will use the 4.7-liter Maserati V8 powerplant and boast a power to weight ratio of 3.4 kg/hp (which would put the horsepower rating at about 411 ponies).

True to their word, the folks at Maserati unveiled the new Gran Turismo  S Automatic at the Geneva Auto Show. The Italian luxury brand did, after all, say that it would unveil one new model at each international auto show.

Maserati won’t say much about the new QP that it plans to unveil at the North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, but it does claim the Sport GT S will be the
“sportiest” version of its famous sedan.

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