Photo: Mhoss Designs
Sources within Maserati have told us that a successor to the MC12 Stradale, which is the fastest Maserati ever made, has been approved for development.
As the Italian premium brand is rapidly growing its range of models and directly targeting German car buyers (think Porsche Panamera and BMW 5 Series), a halo vehicle is needed. Sister brand Ferrari will supply the tech and the engineering expertise while in-house designers will try to make something that reminds everybody of the Ghibli or Levante.
Hopefully, this is just what's needed to boost sales. Maserati currently has two brand new sedans, the Ghibli and Quattroporte, with plans to add an SUV soon, widely expected to be the most popular model.
After that, they will also make a production version of the Alfieri concept and a successor to the GranTurismo, which will be their fastest and most dynamic car. Using the Ferrari-developed 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, they will make this into the ultimate GT with around 580+ horsepower going to the rear wheels.
But the Maserati halo car will actually be based on the LaFerrari, just like the MC12 Stradale was based on the Enzo. Development should take at least until late 2016 and supply will be extremely limited. Only 499 examples of the hybrid Ferrari hypercar will be made, but Maserati plan to deliver only about 10 or 20, with prices starting at around 3 million euros.
That's just a ballpark figure, which places the LaMaserati in the same league as the Lamborghini Veneno. Hopefully, it will be more interesting to look at than the MC12. Remember, the aim is to make something that challenges a Porsche 918 Spyder in every way, not just performance.
Ironically, the "LaMaserati" could be the last of the first hybrid monsters. All the major players in this weird but exciting game have hinted they will wait another decade before trying to make another 918 or P1. In that time, battery technology will become more compact and light, they hope.
Our source also admitted hybrids will arrive in Maserati's (near) future. But before that, they need to consider an inline-4 turbo option. A large portion of Audi 6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class sales come with 2-liter turbo engines.
As a response, Maserati will begin using the new engines being developed for Alfa Romeo's sedan in the Ghibli soon.
Renderings by Mhoss Designs
Hopefully, this is just what's needed to boost sales. Maserati currently has two brand new sedans, the Ghibli and Quattroporte, with plans to add an SUV soon, widely expected to be the most popular model.
After that, they will also make a production version of the Alfieri concept and a successor to the GranTurismo, which will be their fastest and most dynamic car. Using the Ferrari-developed 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, they will make this into the ultimate GT with around 580+ horsepower going to the rear wheels.
But the Maserati halo car will actually be based on the LaFerrari, just like the MC12 Stradale was based on the Enzo. Development should take at least until late 2016 and supply will be extremely limited. Only 499 examples of the hybrid Ferrari hypercar will be made, but Maserati plan to deliver only about 10 or 20, with prices starting at around 3 million euros.
That's just a ballpark figure, which places the LaMaserati in the same league as the Lamborghini Veneno. Hopefully, it will be more interesting to look at than the MC12. Remember, the aim is to make something that challenges a Porsche 918 Spyder in every way, not just performance.
Ironically, the "LaMaserati" could be the last of the first hybrid monsters. All the major players in this weird but exciting game have hinted they will wait another decade before trying to make another 918 or P1. In that time, battery technology will become more compact and light, they hope.
Our source also admitted hybrids will arrive in Maserati's (near) future. But before that, they need to consider an inline-4 turbo option. A large portion of Audi 6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class sales come with 2-liter turbo engines.
As a response, Maserati will begin using the new engines being developed for Alfa Romeo's sedan in the Ghibli soon.
Renderings by Mhoss Designs
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