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2017 Maserati Quattroporte gets updated styling, equipment

Maserati revealed a series of updates to the Quattroporte, the most obvious of which is revised styling inspired by the Alfieri coupe concept. The overall shape remains the same, but there's a new grille and front bumper, matte black trim, and an active aero element similar to the air shutter on the Levante crossover that helps cut drag by 10 percent. The Modenese automaker also took the opportunity to update the interior, principally integrating a new 8.4-inch multi-touch dashboard display to replace the old 7-inch unit. Manipulated by a new rotary multimedia controller, the system supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A new driver assistance package available as an option, encompassing adaptive cruise control, lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems, and automatic emergency braking. There are two new trim packages as well – dubbed GranLusso and GranSport – that can be optioned on the Quattroporte S and S Q4 or chosen between on the GTS model. Under the hood, both engines carry over unchanged. Standard power still comes courtesy of a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 404 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, channeled through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the rear wheels or all four. The GTS packs a bigger 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, still rated at 523 hp and 524 lb-ft. 0-60 times as a result remain unchanged at 4.9 seconds for the Quattroporte S, 4.8 for the all-wheel-drive Quattroporte S Q4, and 4.6 for the Quattroporte GTS. US pricing will be announced "in the coming weeks," we're told, however Maserati will begin delivering the revised Quattroporte already this month. The relevant question is whether these changes can help Maserati take a bigger slice of the fullsize luxury sedan market away from rivals like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes S-Class. Maserati sold fewer models across its entire range in the United States last year than Mercedes did of the S-Class family, making the Quattroporte something of a footnote in this elite segment. If what we're looking at here represents a mid-cycle refresh of the model introduced in 2013, it will likely be 2019 before FCA's most upscale brand replaces its flagship sedan altogether. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Maserati Quattroporte View 9 Photos News Source: Maserati Maserati Luxury Performance Sedan

2017 Maserati GranTurismo will only come with a hard hat

If you've been waiting for the next generation of the Maserati GranTurismo to come along before you place your order for a four-seat convertible, you'd better change your plans and act fast. Because the latest report coming in from across the pond confirms what we long suspected: that the next GranTurismo will be offered in coupe form only. The news comes from Auto Express, which quotes Peter Denton – Maserati's manager for Northern Europe – as saying that "The GranTurismo will be replaced at the end of 2017, but as a coupe only." That coupe will also be smaller than the current model, but the timeframe means that by the time it's phased out, the current GT will have been on the market for a staggering ten years – based on architecture dating back to 2003, if not earlier. That doesn't mean that Maserati won't offer a convertible altogether, though. By the time the new GranTurismo arrives, the Trident marque will have introduced the Alfieri, which (like the outgoing GranTurismo) will be offered as both a coupe and a convertible. The trend seems to follow a larger industry direction away from four-seat convertibles – particularly under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles umbrella. Chrysler discontinued the 200 Convertible, and unlike Ford and Chevy that offer convertible versions of the Mustang and Camaro, Dodge does not offer a convertible Challenger. Aside from the fated GranTurismo Convertible (known as the GranCabrio overseas) and the Jeep Wrangler, the only droptop in the entire sprawling group with more than two seats is the Ferrari California – a model whose presence may have factored in to the decision to discontinue the Maser cabriolet as well. The news will undoubtedly come as welcome to competitors like Aston Martin and Bentley, which between them offer several four-seat convertibles including the DB9 Volante, Vanquish Volante and Continental GTC. It remains to be seen, however, whether Jaguar will offer a convertible version of the next XK to stand alongside the smaller F-Type roadster.

Maserati gives us our best look yet at its Grecale small crossover

Maserati's second SUV, the Grecale, is nearly ready to make its debut. The company took advantage of a visit by Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares to release some of the most revealing photos of the model we've seen to date. While the Porsche Macan-fighting soft-roader remains fully draped in camouflage, we see enough of its front end to tell there's a wide, low-mounted grille with vertical slats and almond-shaped headlights located higher on the fascia. We'll hold our judgment until the Grecale is unveiled, but we're starting to see what Klaus Busse, the head of Maserati's design department, meant when he told Autoblog the MC20 would have big influence on future models. Viewed from the side, even with Tavares standing in the frame, it's clear that the Grecale's proportions were drawn with more of an emphasis on sport than on utility. Its front end is relatively long, its dash-to-axle ratio hints at the rear-wheel-drive platform underneath, and its roofline has more slope than the average kid-and-dog-hauling Ikea warrior. Earlier spy shots taken near Maserati's headquarters suggest the rear end wears horizontal LED lights. Unverified rumors claim the Grecale rides on an evolution of the Giorgio platform that Alfa Romeo's Stelvio (one of the better-handling crossovers on the market) and Giulia models are built on. Some reports warned the architecture would be phased out, but Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato suggested they're not accurate. If the Grecale is indeed Giorgio-based, it will likely come standard with rear-wheel-drive, and it will be offered with all-wheel-drive at an extra cost. Engine options remain unconfirmed; four- and six-cylinders can easily fit in Giorgio-based cars. Maserati will finish fine-tuning the Grecale in the summer of 2021, and it will present the model before the end of the year. When it lands, the Grecale will slot beneath the Levante as a taller alternative to the Ghibli. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.