2013 Maserati Granturismo Sport Coupe Blu Sophisticato Over Nero 422 Miles! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Former BMW M boss and Maserati CEO killed in freak motorcycle accident

It's a tragic coincidence that on the same weekend the BMW M4 Coupe Concept was introduced in Monterey, one of the men most integral to BMW's M and Motorsports divisions, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, was killed in England. Kalbfell, a vintage motorcycle enthusiast, was set to compete in the Lansdowne Classic Series at Brands Hatch and had an accident during a practice session. After going wide at Druids Corner and falling, he was hit by a competitor following close behind and died of his injuries after being transported to hospital.
Kalbfell, an engineer, began his career at BMW in 1977 in the communications department; a decade later he was chairman of BMW M GmbH, overseeing development of some of the cars responsible for the myth of M. In 1994 he was named chairman of BMW Motorsport, and his cap full of feathers includes getting the BMW V12 into the McLaren F1, getting the BMW V8 into two Morgan cars, along with developing BMW's Formula One engine and return to the sport. Not incidentally, he also assumed leadership of Project Rolls-Royce after BMW bought the British marque in 1998, which means he oversaw the Goodwood factory upfit and the creation of the Phantom.
He left Rolls-Royce for a brief stint at Fiat, heading Alfa Romeo and Maserati, then went into consulting for clients like Lotus and Paragon, who built the Artega GT. As Autocar notes, Kalbfell "had an abiding sense that customers needed to be attracted to cars by their aura and reputation, not just their engineering." He will be missed.

Maserati Levante starts at $72,000, Levante S for $83,000

The 2017 Maserati Levante won't arrive in the US until later this year, but we know it will cost $72,000 to park the posh crossover in your garage, Maserati spokesperson Jiannina Castro told Autoblog. The extra power from the Levante S will ring up for $83,000. The actual amounts to buy one will be somewhat higher because Maserati won't discuss option pricing or the destination charges until dealer orders begin in April. In its US guise, the standard Levante uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 345 horsepower, which can get the CUV to 60 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds. The Levante S uses the same engine with 424 hp, which cuts the 60-mph run to 5.0 seconds. Both mills use an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. A plug-in hybrid with the powertrain from the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will reportedly join the US lineup later, too. The newcomer Levante faces stiff competition among more established luxury CUVs in the US. For example, the base Porsche Cayenne with 300 hp starts at $60,650 after destination and the 420-hp Cayenne is $77,250. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport with the 340-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V6 is $65,945. We'll get another look at the Levante at next week's New York Auto Show. The Geneva Motor Show earlier in the month already provided a great opportunity to check it out. Related Video: LEVANTE - THE 'MASERATI OF SUVS' TO MAKE U.S. DEBUT AT 2016 NEW YORK AUTO SHOW Thoroughbred on-road handling meets solid off-road capabilities "Levante" is inspired by a warm wind that can change from gentle to gale force in an instant that can emerge any season or time of the year, day or night, mirroring the powerful and soulful character of Maserati's first SUV. Following the success of its global reveal in Geneva earlier this month, the all new Maserati Levante will make its way to the New York Auto Show on March 23rd for its official U.S. debut. The U.S. market launch is planned for late summer 2016 with a starting price of $72,000 for the 345 hp (Levante) and $83,000 for the 424 hp (Levante S) model (not including destination and delivery), which will be available for order in the U.S. this April. The Levante represents a new chapter in Maserati's iconic history. With over one hundred years of automotive excellence behind it, Maserati is well positioned to introduce its first ever SUV that represents the house of the Trident's core values and truly is the 'opposite of ordinary'.

0-to-62 in 2 seconds: Maserati Alfieri electrics will take on Tesla with Ferrari's help

Maserati's long-delayed flagship, the Alfieri sports car, will go electric, offering hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full-electric versions, parent company FCA said today its five-year plan. The Italian brand also outlined plans to launch a midsize SUV, all-new versions of the Quattroporte and Levante, and said it intends to electrify its entire fleet by 2022. Tim Kuniskis, head of the Maserati brand, said in a presentation in Italy that Ferrari will supply all future powertrains across every configuration, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles. The brand also announced that it will market full-electric vehicles under the Maserati Blue name. The goal for Maserati Blue is to offer battery-electric versions of four cars: the Alfieri, a convertible version called the Alfieri Cabrio, the Quattroporte and the Levante. All will feature three motors with e-all-wheel-drive, torque vectoring, 800-volt battery technology, long driving ranges and quick charging. They'll also be based on a lightweight modular aluminum platform. If the Alfieri sounds familiar, it should: It first debuted as a 2+2 sports coupe concept at the Geneva Motor Show all the way back in 2014. Back then, it was likely to use Maserati's turbocharged V6 and V8 engines and be rear-wheel drive only. But the concept has hit a series of delays on the way to production. Plans for the new version call for a new modular aluminum space frame to minimize weight gain — Kuniskis says it weighs only about 385 pounds more than the conventional combustion-engine version — and it will offer all-wheel-drive with full active torque vectoring. Top speed will be more than 186 mph, and it'll go from 0 to 62 mph in around 2 seconds. There's no name yet for the forthcoming midsize utility vehicle, which Maserati says will be offered in hybrid and PHEV configurations. It promises a best-in-class lightweight platform and power-to-weight ratio and 50/50 weight distribution. A high-performance Trofeo model will also be offered. New versions of the Quattroporte luxury sedan and Levante crossover will also be based on a new lightweight, modular platform and will include Level 2 autonomous-driving capabilities, with Level 3 available by late 2021 or early 2022, Kuniskis said. Both vehicles will get a Q4 all-wheel-drive system and come with a choice of three powertrains, including hybrid and PHEV.