Maserati SUV to Be Revealed in Frankfurt

Maserati hay laid dormant for some time now, but the sportscar manufacturer is waking from its deep slumber to bring us a number of new products, the first one of which being the SUV that we’ve been waiting on fore some years. Besides that, the Italian brand will bring an entry-level saloon to take on Audi’s A6 and BMW’s 5-Series. But we’ll focus on the SUV for now, which, according to Automotive News, will be revealed at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show in about a month. Marchionne has plans to step down in about 5 years, but before that happens, he wants Maserati’s revival to be part of his legacy. It’s highly probably that the SUV will debut based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and in concept form at first. The Fiat CEO has a thing for perfecting the design to the extreme, so a bit of public opinion will have to be sprinkled on top of the off-roader before it’s fit for mass consumption. Because Maserati is a premium brand, it’s believed the SUV will not get a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 as was originally foretold, but the whole package from the Jeep brother - a 6.4-liter HEMI V8. The move makes a lot of sense, as Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said production of the Maserati SUV will take place in 2012 at the American automaker’s Jefferson North assembly plant. Other rumors suggest the SUV that is to be underpinned by the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform will have its V8 growl imported over from Ferrari, but that might not have been the most financially viable option, as Marchionne expects Maserati to increase sales by a huge margin, and Ferrari engines aren’t exactly readily available. There’s sure to be a bit o diesel power added to the mix, probably in V6 for, mixing refinement and efficiency. But it will still be some time before we get the Maserati SUV on the road, an arrival that’s likely to take place in 2013. autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.