autoevolution Poll: SUV Could Bring Commercial Success to Maserati

Maserati is an automaker in search of a soul, new hearts and courage to take on the Germans, but with no wizard in sight, it’s up to the Fiat Group CEO to pull off a miracle here. While Bentley will have the experience of the man who got his say in the development of the Porsche Cayenne, Maserati has no choice but to rely on help from the Yankees, more specifically Chrysler Group’s Jeep division. That’s why we asked you what you if you thought a luxury SUV from the Italian brand underpinned by the new Grand Cherokee was a good idea. A week has passed and the results are in! Almost half our readers (44 percent) say the Jeep-based Maserati SUV will not spell the end of the brand’s spirit as this was also no the case when Porsche decided to build their Cayenne. We can only partially agree with the ideal idea. You see, the Germans have a wealth of experience from sister companies in the VW Group to rely on, but the Americans have just started developing V6 diesels for the mass market. When the Maserati SUV gets unveiled in Frankfurt next month, it will reportedly come with the same 6.4-liter HEMI V8 from the Grand Cherokee, and you have to admit that one size doesn’t really fit all! 31 percent of you were a bit more reserved, saying the full reveal of the new vehicle will have to take place before you cast the final vote, while 16 percent of you clicked on the “What was once a sportscar maker is no more,” probably believing that Maserati should stick to sportscars. Some 7 percent of the people that answered our poll aren’t that hopeful, but still have the patience to wait and see if sportiness will be brought back to the famous Italian brand. The final Verdict: The SUV could do for Maserati what it did for Porsche, but only if the formula is right!