Maserati Quattroporte 2030: A 1970s Concept...from the Future

The Maserati Quattroporte 2030 Concept is Yaroslav Chumachenko's vision of where Maserati's large sedan could be design-wise should we end up in the world of Minority Report and Tom Cruise is knocking at your door for that crime you're about to commit.

Chumachenko, a 25-year old Ukrainian designer, drew inspiration from dinosaur skeletons, zeppelins, and the Maserati Birdcage to create a car that is futuristic and unique: its modular platform would allow engineers to replace the car's various systems as they evolve and the panels would be uniquely customizable for each customer (in theory).

Its curvaceous exterior body panels use "Stereolithography additive manufacturing technology", the benefits of which are a quick formation process and the ability to adapt to any customer's request, while the four doors - larger front units and smaller rears - can actually fuse magnetically to become two larger doors (or, conversely, simply open as smaller front doors and leave the rear doors in position).

Beneath its body panels, the Quattroporte 2030 has a backbone consisting of the engine and transmission (its "vertebrae"), around which is a rib cage that functions as structural reinforcement and protective bracing.

This is definitely a concept that would most definitely be welcome on the show circuit, hearkening back to the long overhang-wearing pods of the 70's. Something like this would be much more entertaining to view than these "concepts" companies release purely as a means of gauging public reaction to a production car.

By Phil Alex

Images: Yaroslav Chumachenko , Via: CBD

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VIDEO: Maserati Quattroporte Hearse on Transport

Someone has turned Maserati's lovely Quattroporte sedan into a tall, bulky hearse, and there's video of it on a trailer below. Regardless of how it looks, it sure puts the Cadillacs used in America to shame. Unlike Ferrari, who has issues with anyone doing anything heinous to their cars (like making a 360 limousine), Maserati apparently doesn't mind too much.

Spotted near Modena by youtube's lambofanX, who usually doesn't film Quattroportes (but we're sure glad he did), it appears as if there's at least one Italian mortuary out there with mad style. This at least seems a little more appropriate for a funeral compared to those funky car coffins we recently showed you. Who knows, maybe Maserati's just prepping a hearse for the Vatican.

If anyone knows what this is for (other than hauling the deceased, that is) and where it's going, feel free to drop us a line.

By Phil Alex

Maserati Targeting BMW 5-Series, Announces Plans for New Entry-Level Model

The Fiat Group has revealed its future plans for the Maserati brand that include the presentation of a new entry-level model and a replacement for its flagship limo, the Quattroporte.

The announcement was made today during the presentation of the Fiat Group's 2010-2014 Business Plan to financial analysts and institutional investors in Turin.

According to the Italian automaker, the new model will carry a price tag under €55,000 (about US$74,000 at today's exchange rates) and will be positioned in the upper-end of the E-Segment that includes vehicles such as the Jaguar XF, BMW 5-Series, and Audi A6.

The brand also revealed that it is planning to introduce a successor to the Quattroporte luxury sports sedan that will be marketed and priced closer to cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series.

Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione Recalled Along with Maseratis in the US

A few dozens of extremely fortunate American owners of one of the world's hottest sports cars, the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, will have to return their Italian beauty for a quick fix after it was discovered that certain models were manufactured with incorrectly torqued front and rear suspension upper and lower ball joint nuts. The recall also affects MY 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo and Quattroporte which share the same platform with the Alfa.

Overall, 7,912 Maseratis and Alfa 8c Competiziones will be recalled in the States. While the Italian automaker did not reveal specific numbers, we do know for a fact that only 84 Alfas were allocated in the U.S.

Maserati said that the incorrectly torqued ball joint nuts may loosen with consequent steering wheel vibration, a growing metallic noise and progressive loss of driving precision in the transients. According to the Italian automaker, continued use of the vehicle in these conditions may lead to damage of the suspension lever, which in the long term and depending on vehicle usage, may cause the ball joint/suspension arm to break.

The firm's dealers will inspect the torque of the front/rear upper and lower ball joint nuts and, if necessary, replace the suspension arms and hub carrier. The recall is expected to begin during February 2009. Concerned U.S. owners may contact Maserati for more information at 1-201-816-2600.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT-S Premieres in Detroit

The sportiest to-date model of Maserati's Quattroporte range made its worldwide debut at NAIAS. The technical changes to the new Quattroporte Sport GT S compared to the 'S' model concern the mapping of the V8 4.7-litre engine which now produces 433HP, the new gearshift management software, the stiffer springs and lower ride height as well as the more sonorous sport exhaust system.

The Italian firm's designers also went ahead and made a few subtle changes to the sport sedan's exterior and interior. These include the new black grille with concave vertical fins featuring the Trident logo with red accents, the new headlights, in metallic titanium finish, the new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara and leather upholstery and finally the "titanium colored" composite material dashboard trim.

New Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S with 433HP to Debut in Detroit

At the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January, Maserati will take the wraps off the sportiest Quattroporte yet. Based on the Quattroporte S, the new Sport GT S gains a more powerful version of Maserati's 4.7-litre V8 engine with a remapped ECU that delivers an output of 433HP. Maserati also updated the gearshift management software while the front and rear suspension system gets new single-rate dampers, stiffer springs and lower ride height. Other mechanical changes concern the new sport exhaust system which is controlled by pneumatic valves for a deeper and more throaty sound bite.

Cosmetic changes over the standard Quattroporte S include a new black grille with concave vertical fins featuring the Trident logo with red accents, a metallic titanium finish for the headlights, body-coloured door handles, black finishing around the doors and black twin oval exhaust pipes. Inside the sportiest Quattroporte boasts new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara and leather upholstery as well as titanium colored composite material for the trim.

Video: 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Facelift

Leaving aside the subtle design tweaks, the biggest change in the 2009 Maserati Quattroporte is the introduction of a new range-topping model dubbed the Quattroporte S. While the standard version is fitted with the familiar 400 Hp 4.2-litre V8 engine, the Quattroporte S adopts the new 430 Hp 4.7-litre V8 recently introduced on the GranTurismo S. Both versions of the Quattroporte are matted to a 6-speed automatic transmission developed in association with ZF. –Video after the jump

Maserati Quattroporte “ala” Burberry

What a horrid fate for such a beautiful vehicle; well before Maserati even dreamt about redesigning the Quattroporte, this Saudi Arabian owner of the Italian sports sedan decided to perform a facelift of his own by (w)rapping the entire vehicle in what seems to be some sort of Burberry themed perforated plastic cover. This thing is beyond tasteless… -More images after the jump



Via: Cardomain

2009 Maserati Quattroporte Facelift – New “S” Version with 430Hp

The most upscale Italian sedan, the Quattroporte has received a series of subtle changes for the 2009 M.Y. while Maserati also enhanced the range with the introduction of a new sport version equipped with the Gran Turismo S derived 4.7-liter V8 engine that develops 430Hp. The base model continues to use the 400Hp strong 4.2-liter V8 unit.

The most prominent design change on the 2009 Quattroporte sedan is the new front grille with the vertical chromed strips. Other than that, the 2009 model features redesigned bumpers, LED tail-lights and new mirrors while inside, changes include the reworked centre console and improved multimedia system. -Continued

Detroit Show: Maserati Quattroporte “Collezione Cento” - Limited To 100 Units

For this year’s Detroit Show, Maserati has brought to the States a super-deluxe version of its flagship saloon, dubbed the Quattroporte “Collezione Cento” - of which just 100 will be produced. Offered in an exclusive brand-new ivory colour, with a contrasting coach line on the sides, the limited edition Quattroporte gets 20” polished rims and chromed honeycomb front and side grilles. -Continued

Inside, the Italian carmaker fitted the Quattroporte with Poltrona Frau “Cuoio” coloured leather seats with diamond-shaped stitching and matching buttons in the centre, polished Wengé wood inserts on the steering wheel, centre console and small object compartment while Cuoio coloured leather is also used for the overmats, enhanced by edges in contrasting Beige.

The Collezione Cento edition also features a Multimedia Entertainment system that’s housed in the rear centre armrest. It contains an AUX-IN socket, iPod docking station, SIM card port and a USB port so that passengers can view photographs, videos or listen to MP3/WMA tracks on other external devices. The car’s sound system or the special Bluetooth headsets can also be used.

The armrest also features a built-in keypad for Internet browsing and email access, which can be folded away. Finally, there are two 10.4” touch screens built into the back of the front seats complete with a CD/DVD player integrated into the back of the centre receptacle.

The Quattroporte Collezione Cento is fitted with a 400 HP 4.2-litre V8 engine paired with a hydraulic automatic 6-speed transmission.