2012 Maserati Mc Stradale on 2040-cars

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Maserati electrified the new Grecale SUV, and it's the top performer

Maserati is going electric, first with the announcement of the GranTurismo Folgore, its first electrified performance car, and now with the reveal of the Grecale Folgore electric SUV. The brand announced the vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show this week, along with the promise that all its models would offer electric options by 2025. The 550-horsepower electric SUV gets a dual-motor powertrain, which delivers 605 pound-feet of torque, and standard all-wheel drive. Maserati promises a range of around 311 miles (500km) and a top speed of 137 mph. Compare that with the gas-powered Grecale Modena’s 325 horsepower, and itÂ’s clear this will be the performance halo of the SUV line. Though electric, the Grecale Folgore retains MaseratiÂ’s signature grille look and trident logo up front. ItÂ’s a more traditional presentation than the weird closed-off nose many EVs carry, and the automaker left its iconic three-porthole styling element on the front fenders. Wheel sizes range from 19 to 21 inches, depending on the market, and the SUV gets gloss-black exterior trim. Maserati installed a 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster and said that many of the Grecale FolgoreÂ’s controls have gone digital in the infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto join a few Chinese-market apps like WeChat and Baidu CarLife, and the Maserati digital assistant system has been updated for the electric SUV. Grecale Folgore buyers can work with Maserati on home or public charging solutions, including facilitating charging across Europe and China. The automaker can facilitate home charging installation, including shipping a wallbox charger to buyersÂ’ homes or offices. The SUV itself comes with 400-volt electric architecture, as well as battery preconditioning and temperature management to ensure the fastest charging. We donÂ’t have pricing or a U.S. release date for the new SUV, but Maserati talked more about its first EV, the GranTurismo Folgore, at the show. The car features more than 750 horsepower at the wheels and an 800-volt electrical system for ultra-fast charging. Gas versions of the car are available with up to 542 horsepower from a twin-turbo V6. Green Auto Shanghai Maserati Electric

Maserati MC20 gets the Mansory treatment and a 720-hp V6

German tuner Mansory has added the Maserati MC20 to its range of heavily-modified exotic cars. Called First Edition, the coupe receives a body kit made largely of carbon fiber to keep weight in check, a completely redesigned interior, and a generous 99-horsepower bump. Power comes from an evolution of the regular-production MC20's excellent Nettuno engine. The twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 develops 720 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, up from 621 and 528, respectively, in the stock MC20. Mansory made several software changes and fitted a high-performance exhaust system developed in-house to achieve the increase. The mid-mounted V6 spins the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. It sends the coupe from zero to 62 mph in 2.7 seconds and on to a 205-mph top speed. Odds are you can hear the First Edition coming before you see it, and once it comes into sight it's impossible to ignore. The tuner fitted a body kit that includes wider front air intakes, an aggressive-looking front splitter, vents integrated into the fenders, a new engine cover with a scoop that gives the V6 additional cooling air, a massive rear wing, and a wide air diffuser. Some of the carbon fiber parts are left unpainted to give the First Edition an even more striking design, while 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels add a finishing touch to the custom look. Inside, nearly every component and surface has been redesigned to some extent. The seats, dashboard, door panels, and even the footwells are lined with what Mansory calls "glove-soft" leather upholstery. Most of it is yellow, which was chosen to echo some of the exterior trim, but the tuner added white accents for contrast and Italian flag-colored stripes to both seats and the two massive shift paddles.  Mansory hasn't released pricing details but nothing suggests the MC20 First Edition is cheap; the standard car carries a base price of about $220,000. Looking ahead, the firm plans to release a full range of modified MC20s including at least one based on the Cielo convertible.

2014 Maserati Quattroporte goes on a night run

While it was in development, Maserati rolled out its 2014 Quattroporte for a little testing, but rather than slather the big luxury sedan in gobs of camouflage to protect from it prying eyes, engineers used the cover of darkness to conceal the vehicle's design. Then they made a video about their cleverness and posted it on the Internet. The team spent some time whipping around the Balocco Proving Ground with chief test driver Fabrizio Galvan at the controls to evaluate the sedan's new drivetrain, noise levels and handling in the real world.
We got our hands on the 2014 Quattroporte last month for a first drive ahead of the vehicle's North American debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. You can read our impressions here, but first, take a look at the video below for a new glimpse at the machine's development.