2011 Maserati Granturismo Convertible on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Maserati Grecale and Alfa Romeo Tonale delayed

MILAN — Maserati on Monday delayed the launch of its new Grecale SUV until the spring of 2022 from November this year due to a global chip shortage. The announcement by the luxury brand, part of Stellantis, comes as a shortage of semiconductors forces automakers around the world to slow or suspend production. Maserati said its decision stemmed from ongoing disruptions in the supply of parts. "In particular, due to a scarcity of semiconductors, production volumes would not adequately meet expected global demand," Maserati said in a statement. A global premiere for the Grecale, which will be produced in Cassino in central Italy, was initially scheduled for Nov. 16. Stellantis this month also confirmed it would present the Tonale, the new Alfa Romeo SUV, next March after it had been expected at the end of this year. Stellantis, formed this year though the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, has halted production at several plants, including in Europe and Canada, due to the chip shortage. It has forecast it will produce 1.4 million fewer vehicles this year. The FIM-CISL union has said the impact of a semiconductor shortage on Stellantis' Italian production this year will be worse and longer-lasting than the damage to output caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Related video:

Maserati recalls 135 GranTurismos over door latches

Maserati issued a recall for faulty door latches on the GranTurismo. Only 135 examples are affected, though the GranTurismo is a low-volume product. The problem with the door latches is that they may not have been properly heat-treated, which means that in the event of a crash, the door could swing open. All of the affected GranTurismos (both coupes and convertibles) are from the 2016 model year and were produced between June 24, 2015, and September 2, 2015. While Maserati's sales figures (thanks largely to the introduction of newer models) continue to climb, the GranTurismo accounts for only a small portion of the company's overall production. Last year the company sold an all-time high of 36,500 units around the world, of which only 3,500 (or less than one tenth) were from the GranTurismo line - which remains the oldest in the Maserati lineup. Since introducing the GranTurismo in 2007, the Modenese automaker has rolled out the Ghibli, replaced the Quattroporte, and is preparing to delve into the SUV market with the forthcoming Levante. A new two-door model is expected to arrive in the form of the Alfieri, which won't replace the GranTurismo, per se, but we wouldn't expect the GranTurismo to stick around for long after the Alfieri comes along. RECALL Subject : Passenger Side Door Latch Not Heat Treated Report Receipt Date: NOV 10, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V744000 Component(s): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES Potential Number of Units Affected: 135 Manufacturer: Maserati North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain model year 2016 GranTurismo and GranTurismo Convertibles manufactured June 24, 2015, to September 2, 2015. The affected vehicles were built with passenger side door latch components that were not heat treated. CONSEQUENCE: If the door latch was not heat treated, in the event of a crash, the door latch may fail allowing the door to open, increasing the risk of injury. REMEDY: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side door latch assembly, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2015. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-201-816-2600. Maserati's number for this recall is 292. 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. Related Video:

Audi gets Q2 and Q4 badges in trademark swap with FCA

Audi has swapped trademarks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to snare the rights to the Q2 and Q4 badges for upcoming crossover SUVs. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler confirmed at the Detroit Motor Show that the automaker had finally persuaded FCA to release the two names that would let Audi lock up the Q1 to Q9 badges for its growing SUV family. Audi already plans to drop the Q2 name onto its MQB-based city crossover five-door this year, while the Q4 badge will slot onto the rump of a coupe-like version of the next Q3. It will also reserve the Q1 badge for a 2018 baby crossover, based around the architecture of the next A1 hatch. The A1 will share a lot of its engineering with Volkswagen's Polo-based soft-roader, dubbed T-Cross in concept form. The German company has also pounced on the naming rights for SQ versions of all of its Q-cars, along with F-Tron to cover the day when it pushes hydrogen fuel cell cars into production. Stadler insisted that no money had changed hands in order to pry the two badges off FCA, admitting that they had "each found something we needed." "We promised each other we wouldn't disclose what it cost, but it was not something they were willing to sell," Stadler said. "We tried to get it years ago and they said 'No, never,' but there is never 'never' in business. ... This year I went back to them with a proposal and we talked and there were some negotiations and then we agreed to it." Those negotiations are believed to have centered on a trademark swap with a Volkswagen Group name that FCA desperately (evidently) wants to use on a Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge or Maserati. Asked if Audi had given FCA a trademark in return for Q2 and Q4, Stadler replied, "Something very much like that, yes." Audi has used Italian names on past concept cars that FCA could be interested in, such as the 2001 Avantissimo concept and the 2003 Nuvolari coupe. The latter was named after legendary pre-war racer Tazio, who won grands prix for both Alfa Romeo and Audi's forerunner, Auto Union. Both are unlikely trade chips, with laws in Europe preventing the trademarking of the names of actual people. There is always "quattro" (Italian for "four"), but after investing nearly four decades locking it in as an Audi all-wheel-drive name, it's just not anything like trade bait.