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Maserati recalls 26k sedans for rear suspension failure

The Basics: Maserati is recalling all 26,464 examples of the 2014-16 Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans it manufactured between February 1, 2013, and September 18, 2015 and sold or leased to customers in the United States. The Problem: The bolt securing the tie-rod to the hub carrier assembly in the rear suspension may not have been properly tightened during manufacturing, which could cause the suspension to fail and the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Injuries/Deaths: The manufacturer reports that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries to have resulted from this issue. The investigation was prompted by reports of excessive noise. The fix: Dealers will check the bolts in question and replace the hub carrier assembly if necessary. If you own one: Look out for a letter from the manufacturer to arrange service at your local dealer. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Improperly Torqued Rear Tie Rod Bolt Report Receipt Date: MAY 02, 2016 NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V264000 Component(s): SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected: 26,464 Manufacturer: Maserati North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Quattroporte and Ghibli vehicles manufactured February 1, 2013, to September 18, 2015. During the assembly process, the rear tie-rod to hub assembly attaching bolt may not have been properly tightened. CONSEQUENCE: An improperly tightened rear tie-rod to hub carrier assembly attaching bolt may allow the tie-rod to separate from the hub carrier, resulting in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right rear tie-rod to hub carrier assembly attaching bolts to verify that they are properly tightened, replacing the rear tie-rod to hub carrier assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 1, 2016. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-201-510-2369. Maserati's number for this recall is 303. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. Featured Gallery 2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4: First Drive View 31 Photos News Source: National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationImage Credit: Copyright 2016 AOL Recalls Maserati Luxury Performance Sedan maserati ghibli

2019 Maserati Levante GTS has a 550-hp Ferrari-derived V8

A V6-powered Maserati Levante just wasn't enough. At least that's what a group of engineers thought as they formed a sort of skunkworks and secretly set out to see if they could fit the Ferrari-derived V8 from the Quattroporte GTS into the Levante. Turns out they could, and after revealing their project to company honchos, were given the green light for not just one V8-powered Levante, but two. The first to be revealed was the Levante Trofeo shown at the New York Auto Show. Now we get this, the Levante GTS, which was revealed last month to journalists in Pontiac, Mich., and kept under wraps until now. It will debut in Europe at Goodwood. Although the GTS shares the same 3.8-liter V8 as the 590-horsepower Trofeo, it features a slightly less prodigious output of 550 hp with peak torque of 538 pound-feet available from 2,500 rpm to 5,000. Maserati says the GTS will hit 60 mph in 4 seconds with a top speed of 181 mph. View 8 Photos The chassis was tuned to better handle the extra power, and while the suspension shares the same components as the rest of the Levante line, the tuning was changed for the GTS and Trofeo. The Sport Skyhook adaptive damping system was also retuned, while the air springs feature six different height levels spanning a total of 3 inches from its lowest to highest position. A rear-biased all-wheel-drive system and a rear limited-slip differential are included. These mechanical updates are largely shared with the Trofeo, which differs visually and features extra luxury equipment. Outside, the GTS features a larger lower air dam, a special black-trimmed grille and 22-inch wheels. Inside, there's a full-leather interior package and carbon fiber trim. That includes the shift paddles, which are carbon fiber rather than metal. Maserati models also receive some updates for the new model year. The eight-speed ZF automatic gets a new electronic shifter. Similar in layout to BMW's (forward for R, rearward for D, push button for Park), it replaces the previous Chrysler-sourced PRND layout. It's similar to what you'd find in a current Alfa Romeo but the shifter itself is more luxurious and substantial in feel and appearance. The infotainment system has been refreshed, but remains a Chrysler Uconnect system in Italian clothing. There's also new optional "Pieno Fiore" leather for all three models, Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte. It is available in red, black and tan.

Marchionne threatens to move Alfa production out of Italy

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne was unsurprisingly frank when asked by reporters about potential investments in Italian manufacturing for Alfa Romeo and Maserati, giving the Italian government the ultimatum, "Italy should decide if they want [Alfa Romeo's relaunch] to happen here or not as Fiat and Chrysler have several alternatives." Them's fightin' words.
Fiat's issue with the government stems directly from its courtroom clashes with the Fiom labor union. The two are currently embroiled in proceedings over longer shifts and shorter breaks, as Fiom has so far refused to sign a new contract citing revised labor laws that it says are anti-union.
According to Bloomberg, Fiat will be spending over $2.5 billion on development of eight new Alfas and six new Maseratis, in a bid to wrest some of the luxury pie away from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. But that's only going to happen if the government is willing to play ball and make life easier on Fiat.