Recall Alert: 2008-10 Maserati GranTurismo and GranTurismo Convertible

Maserati has issued a recall for 1,768 GranTurismos and GranTurismo convertibles from the 2008-10 model years because of a faulty lamp assembly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were manufactured from June 2008 to March 2010, both the taillights and brake light could fail because of the faulty lamp assembly. This could lead to reduced vehicle visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Maserati will notify owners this month, and dealers will inspect and replace affected rear taillamp assemblies free of charge.

For more info, owners can call Maserati at 201-816-2600 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

Maserati Kubang Concept: Photo Gallery

Maserati's first foray into the SUV market will yield a vehicle composed of many different DNA strands. The new SUV, previously thought to be called the Kubang, will be built in Detroit and use Jeep Grand Cherokee architecture, a Fiat transmission and a Ferrari-sourced powertrain.

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Though Maserati's been throwing the Kubang name around since the first concept debuted at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, the production version will use a different moniker when it goes on sale for the 2014 model year, according to Fiat boss, Sergio Marchionne. Another version of the concept SUV resurfaced at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Maserati Kubang at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

• Competes with: Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, BMW X6
• Looks like: Wall Street execs have a new SUV to preorder
• Drivetrain: Unknown
• Hits dealerships: To be announced

The Kubang — too … many … jokes — is Maserati’s formal and completely official foray into the luxury SUV market. Yes, the Kubang is based on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and rumored to be built alongside it in the U.S. But, and this is a major but, Maserati promises it will be 100% Maserati in terms of engines, brakes, suspension, handling and, of course, styling.

In terms of looks, the Kubang looks nothing like a Grand Cherokee. The front has the same concave grille we’ve seen on the Quattroporte and GranTurismo. The back also features nearly identical taillights to the GranTurismo. However, the Kubang’s overall SUV-ness reminds us of the Porsche Cayenne and Mazda CX-7.

Under the hood will be a new engine designed by Maserati that’s teamed to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A specifically tuned suspension will also be done in Italy, but there seems to be wiggle room in the company’s parsing of words over how much of this SUV will be Jeep and how much will be Maserati besides the engine itself. It could be an Italian-engineered Jeep like the Volkswagen Routan is a German-engineered Chrysler.

At least it looks like a completely different vehicle, which is good because it will likely cost three times as much as a Jeep.

Recall Alert: 2009 Maserati GranTurismo, Quattroporte

Maserati is recalling 763 GranTurismo and Quattroporte vehicles from the 2009 model year because the tie rods in the rear suspension could fail, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built between July 3 and Sept. 30, 2008, the left- and right-side wheel alignment toe-in tie rods may be incorrectly matched. Driving with the tie rods over rough roads, such as potholes, could damage them over time and cause them to fail. If this happens, the driver may lose control of the car.

The recall is expected to begin next month. Dealers will replace the affected tie rods, install a tie-rod kit and perform a wheel alignment for free. For more info, owners can call Maserati at 201-816-2600 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2010 Maserati GranCabrio: First Look

Maserati has released images of its first convertible since the 2006 model year, the GranCabrio, which will go on sale in the U.S. next spring. Based on the GranTurismo, the Cabrio shares the coupe's Pininfarina styling and seating for four. Though the photos only show a top-down, buttoned-up look, Maserati says the car is a soft-top. The GranCabrio gets the 433-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8 engine from the uplevel GranTurismo S. The car will debut in the flesh on Sept. 15 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. More images below.

2008 Geneva Motor Show: 2009 Maserati Gran Turismo S

Competes with: Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

Looks like: A Maserati for the Mafia

Drivetrain: 440-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 with six-speed automated manual transmission; rear-wheel drive

Maserati's new Gran Turismo S is a performance-oriented version of the two-door coupe. It features a larger-displacement V-8 engine that makes 440 hp, which is 35 hp more than the regular Gran Turismo's V-8. The S also gets Maserati's duo-select six-speed automated manual transmission with paddle shifters in place of the six-speed automatic that the standard model uses.

The new drivetrain propels the car from zero to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 183 mph, according to the company. The task of stopping this sports car falls to a high-performance brake system that features six-piston front calipers.

Exterior differences between the two versions of the Gran Turismo are minor, like a red stripe on the grille trident of the S, but the car does take on a particularly menacing aura when painted black with dark gray rims, like the car in the photos. It also features a sport exhaust system. On the inside, the S has new sport seats finished in leather and Alcantara fabric.

 

First Look: Maserati GranTurismo

We’re not your normal exotic-car destination, but we still find wildly expensive, wildly powerful and wildly designed supercars fun to look at, especially when there’s a new one on the block. Today Maserati unveiled the first images of its new two-door sports car, the GranTurismo, which is sure to get ultraluxury buyers excited when it debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

This is actually a very significant model for Maserati, as the company’s current coupes have not aged well. Most people know of the Quattroporte four-door sedan and its celebrity status in Hollywood, and Maserati’s close ties to Ferrari generate a lot of love from exotic car fans.

The GranTurismo was styled by Ferrari’s design house, Pininfarina, and is powered by a 405-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 engine. Weight is distributed almost perfectly, with 49% at the front and 51% at the rear. Like many new exotics, the GranTurismo features an automatic transmission with shift paddles for manual gear selecting. 

There’s no word on price or an on-sale date, but expect the price to be similar to or higher than Maserati’s current GranSport coupe, which hovers right around the $100,000 mark. For now, you can join us in just taking in this new exotic.

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Maserati Joins Certified Pre-Owned Business

With the launch of the Maserati Trident Discoveries Certified Pre-Owned Program at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, the Italian luxury brand joins Bentley and Ferrari as yet another ultraluxury brand with a CPO program.

Maserati’s program ensures that the odometer is accurate and that the car hasn’t been in a serious accident or driven on a track. We’re not sure how Maserati can claim for certain that the Quattroporte you’re looking at hasn’t been thrown around a racetrack a time or two, but the likelihood of that ever happening is admittedly low. The program also includes a 120-point inspection and roadside assistance.

What do you think of these programs? Do you think the price of certification is worth any extra peace of mind that may come with it — and does it become even more important when springing for a high-dollar used luxury car?

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Year-End Maserati Incentives

Year-End Maserati Incentives

Holiday sales and incentives are usually meant to clear out excess year-end inventory and make way for next year’s models. However, we rarely — and we mean rarely — see an exotic manufacturer offer such deals. Yet here we are, reporting that Maserati will offer special financing on remaining 2006 Quattroporte sport sedans. Or as you may know it, the car from “Entourage.”

You can now finance a 2006 Quattroporte — which starts at $103,700 — for 1.9% over 60 months or 2.9% over 72 months. Compared to the average car-loan rate of 6.96%, that saves you close to $15,000 over the course of the loan.

These are still Maseratis, though, and dealers don’t have fleets of them on their lots. Many dealers might not have any, while others will have only a few on hand; that’s just the volume these specialized shops work in. Interested buyers have to hurry: The deal ends Dec. 31.

In 2007, the Quattroporte will get a new automatic transmission that reportedly is a significant upgrade for the non-sporting enthusiast, but we won’t know more about its performance credentials until the 2007 debuts in Detroit next month.