Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Turbo on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Maserati betting big on Levante SUV

In 2014, Maserati was booming thanks to a sales spike, and executives contemplated capping production. The company's fortunes, however, have changed quickly this year. Its sales dropped 13 percent globally to 8,281 cars in the second quarter, and earnings were down 30 percent, according to Automotive News. This performance has led the company to pin its future hopes on the launch of the Levante crossover. The Levante arrives in the first half of 2016. An official debut is scheduled for sometime this year, according to the company's five-year plan, though the unveiling might be pushed back until the 2016 Detroit auto show in January, Automotive News reports. The Levante shares a platform with the Ghibli and reportedly will use its V6 engines. The crossover also is expected to have all-wheel drive. Patent drawings suggest a look reminiscent of the earlier Kubang concept (pictured above). FCA explains some of Maserati's current weakness is due to problems in China. Deliveries were down 37 percent there in the second quarter, according to Automotive News, and the country's weak economy isn't expected to let up soon. Related Video:

Maserati GranTurismo Folgore design and key specifications revealed

The next-generation Maserati GranTurismo will spawn an electric, Folgore-badged variant with over 1,200 horsepower. While the coupe hasn't been fully unveiled yet, the Italian company published a video that shows it without camouflage and reveals key specifications. Shot on California's picturesque roads, the five-minute film provides a better look at the second-generation GranTurismo's shapely design. It's characterized by a long hood, a fastback-like roof line, and a relatively short trunk, while its front end borrows a handful of styling cues inaugurated by the MC20 and also seen on the Grecale. The model is instantly recognizable as a member of the Maserati portfolio. We already know that the first series-produced electric Maserati will ship with a three-motor drivetrain rated at about 1,200 horsepower. Design boss Klaus Busse (who is behind the wheel in the video) announced that the GranTurismo Folgore takes 2.6 seconds to reach 60 mph from a stop and reaches a top speed of over 200 mph. He added that the battery pack is housed in the transmission tunnel, a solution which allowed his team to give the car a relatively low profile, but details such as the unit's size and the driving range remain under wraps. Not interested in EVs? Maserati has you covered: it will position the Folgore at the top of the GranTurismo range but it will also offer at least one V6-powered version of the car. We're guessing that the engine will be related to the excellent 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 that powers the MC20. Maserati will release more details about the GranTurismo Folgore in the coming months, and the coupe's unveiling is scheduled for 2023. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green Maserati Coupe Electric Luxury Performance

Ferrari LaFerrari supercar to spawn Maserati LaMaserati?

CAR reports Maserati may benefit from the introduction of Enzo-succeeding Ferrari LaFerrari (shown below). According to unnamed parties, Maserati is keen to create a successor for the MC12 (above) based on the bones of the new Ferrari.
Details are about as scarce as they come, but CAR reckons Maserati has a few options when it comes to building its own supercar. Those include using the suspension, chassis and electrical systems of the Ferrari but with a unique carbon fiber body and without the LaFerrari's hybrid system. The new take on the MC12 could use a detuned version of the 6.3-liter V12 from the LaFerrari or stick a quad-turbo 3.8-liter V8 behind the front seats.
The latter option could see the next MC12 yield up to 900 horsepower, putting it within reach of its cousin as well as hardware like the McLaren P1. Of course, all of this - including our fanciful name in the headline - is just speculation for the time being. CAR says that if the machine makes its way to production, it would could cost well over $1.3 million.