2010 Maserati Quattroporte S Automatic 4-door Sedan on 2040-cars

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Maserati expands Quattroporte cable recall to 1,000 units

It was nearly two years ago that Maserati issued a recall for a number of Quattroporte sedans. At the time, the recall only affected 63 units in the United States. But now the Italian automaker has broadened that campaign to include nearly 1,000 examples across the country. The issue in question is related to the battery positive cable for the alternator and starter motor, the insulating cap of which may not have been installed correctly. The cable may not have been secured properly in the engine bay, too. According to the statement below from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem could increase the likelihood of the cable shorting out, causing the wiring harness to overheat and potentially start a fire, or the engine to stall and potentially cause the vehicle to crash. The expanded recall still only affects certain examples of the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte GTS with the V8 engine – namely those manufactured between October 1 and December 31, 2013. That now includes an estimated 984 vehicles in the United States, the owners of which can expect to hear from their local dealer to have the cable inspected and, if necessary, replaced. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Starter Motor Cable may Short to Ground Report Receipt Date: OCT 21, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V686000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 984 Manufacturer: Maserati North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain model year 2014 Quattroporte GTS V8 vehicles manufactured October 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the battery positive cable for the alternator and starter motor may not have its insulating cap installed properly at the starter motor. Additionally, the cable may not be adequately secured in the engine bay. These factors may result in the cable shorting to ground. CONSEQUENCE: If the battery positive cable shorts to ground, the wiring harness may overheat, resulting in a fire. The car also may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to verify that the starter motor cable has a properly installed protective cap and that the cable is adequately secured. If not, the starter motor cable assembly will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 11, 2015. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-201-816-2600.

Reid Bigland appointed CEO of Alfa Romeo, Maserati

There's been a big shakeup in Fiat Chrysler's leadership team, as head of US sales and FCA Canada CEO Reid Bigland will replace Harald Wester as the chief exec for Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Wester will retain his position as chief technical officer of FCA. Both men will hang onto their positions on FCA's Group Executive Council. The move is an interesting one considering the widely publicized issues at both Alfa and Maserati. Alfa Romeo's problems are almost too many to list. The brand has promised a full-scale return to the US market for more than a decade, but faced repeated delays. Its latest volume model, the Giulia, is being savaged by reviewers over quality issues, and the company has frequently pushed its upcoming CUV back. If that were the only problem, it'd be annoying, but according to Automotive News, Alfa's relaunch is also considerably over budget. Maserati is an entirely different can of worms. Alongside Alfa, it's been stung by a slow Chinese market. Profits are down, according to Automotive News, and it's been widely rumored that the company will delay its next sports car, the Alfieri, until 2018 – it was previously promised for this year. Meanwhile, two of its three other models, the Quattroporte and GranTurismo, are dangerously long in the tooth, and the Levante is still months away from US sales. Can Bigland sort these issues out? Maybe. As Sergio Marchionne said in his official statement, "[Bigland] has an extraordinary record of growing sales and market share in the US and Canada over the last 7 years at FCA, including leading the growth and positioning of the Ram and Dodge brands for part of that time."

Maserati's new North American CEO is Chrysler's dealer guru

There's been a bit of a shakeup among the executive ranks at Chrysler and Maserati, as the Italian sports car manufacturer has appointed Peter Grady as its new North American CEO. Grady, who we imagine is about to get a very nice upgrade to his company car, will retain his role as vice president of dealer network development for Chrysler and Chrysler Capital, and is replacing Bob Graczyk at Maserati.
"It is with pleasure and anticipation that I welcome Peter to Maserati. He brings to our company nearly 30 years of leadership and experience. His background and industry expertise will be a great basis for the continued expansion of Maserati in North America," said Maserati CEO Harald Wester in a statement.
Also joining the team at Maserati is Saad Chehab, who previously worked for the Chrysler and Lancia brands and will be the new head of marketing for the Italian brand. He'll be replaced by Al Gardner, the former boss of Chrysler's southeast business center, as the head of Chrysler brand, according to Automotive News.