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Maserati orders triple on strength of Quattroporte demand in China

Considering Maserati sold all of 6,300 cars globally in 2012, its goal of selling 50,000 by 2015 seemed like a bit of a stretch to say the least, but it turns the Fiat-owned automaker was on to something. Reuters is reporting that Maserati has already received about 17,000 orders for cars this year, with help from the new 2014 Quattroporte and strong demand in China.
The US continues to be the top market for Maserati sales, but the report quotes Harald Wester, brand chief executive, as saying that China is now the top market for Quattroporte. As big of an improvement as this is it bears mentioning that the Ghibli isn't even on sale yet and the Levante SUV, a redesigned GranTurismo and a new 911-fighting coupe are still waiting in the pipeline.

Maserati's Levante crossover gets cold weather test

With winter in full effect in the northern hemisphere, automotive engineers from across the globe have flocked to the fjords and towns of northern Sweden for winter testing. That includes teams from Maserati, who are pitting a mule for the Levante SUV against the snow, ice and bitterly cold temperatures. The last time we saw a Levante mule was in August. That vehicle, though, was riding dirty without any license plates, meaning it's impossible to know if the vehicle shown above is one and the same. Both sport an eye-catching shade of blue beneath their shape-distorting camo, and the wheels and heightened roof are the same too. Beyond that, there's not a lot to see that's new here. Maserati's decision to move testing north to Sweden while still using a mule is an interesting one. As our spies point out, considering how long this particular vehicle has been testing, we'd imagine it's only a matter of time before we see a Levante testing with a more production-based body, rather than the Ghibli shell that's been fitted here. Take a look at the spy photos of the new Levante, available up top.

Learn why this man has four different Maserati 3500GT classics

When you're born, it's impossible to know what sort of cars you'll be into as an adult. Your dad might be into old Mopars while your mom prefers a Ford Mustang. You, on the other hand, might end up being a fan of English cars (that was the case with your author, at least). Regardless of which vehicle type, era or marque you prefer, though, it's usually possible to trace back to the exact moment you fell in love with them.
For Frank Mandarano, his love of all things Maserati started at its birthplace in Italy, before spawning into a passion that saw him found a club and take possession of four 3500s over the years. One car in Mandrano's one-make collection stands out, though - a rare 3500GT that was imported into Mexico in 1960. It is a sweet sounding and gorgeous coupe to behold, making it the perfect subject for the crew at Petrolicious. Scroll down and have a look.