Maserati: The (Recent) Past And The Future

Dial back the clock a few years. Maserati, one of the most iconic automotive brands in the world, had practically risen from the ashes in the early 2000s but even a decade later, the sales numbers of the Italian marque were far from satisfactory. In 2012, the company sold little over 6000 units in the entire year. The low sales can be attributed to the fact that Maserati only had two cars in its portfolio at the time: the Quattroporte  and the Gran Turismo. But when the Ghibli was introduced in 2014, the sales doubled to over 24,000 units in 2014 compared to 2013. Making it clear that the brand still held clout among its rivals and that customers were willing to shell out nearly Rs 1.5 crore to buy into the Maserati family. 

Where are you going with this?

All we’re trying to say is that Maserati, or rather Sergio Marchionne, realised that in order to make its mark in the world, the 104-year-old car company will have to expand its portfolio and be present in as many segments as possible rather than just play according to its strengths.

The Levante

Correct, the Maserati SUV made headlines the world over. Love it or hate it, it played a major role in helping Maserati breach the 50k per year sales record in 2017 and the numbers still seem to be going strong.

Where do they go next?

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That’s exactly what we are coming to. Maserati seems to have realised that today, SUVs are the hot product. In fact, according to the company’s own statistics, 26 per cent of the market is dominated by mid-size SUVs compared to 19 per cent by full-size SUVs, 14 per cent by full-size sedans, where the Ghibli sits, while the Quattroporte’s segment is only 3 per cent of the whole mix.

So it was only logical that Maserati announced that it will be bringing a new mid-size SUV to the market by 2022. It is likely that the SUV will compete with the likes of the Porsche Macan. Maserati has also confirmed that the car will be a plug-in hybrid and will feature a perfect 50/50 weight distribution along with best-in-class ride and handling.

Is that it?

Far from it. By 2022 Maserati will also debut new generations of the Quattroporte and the Levante. Both with be based on a new modular platform and will feature plug-in hybrid powertrains just like the yet unnamed mid-size SUV.

So that’s gotta be it..

Nope, still not done. You remember the Alfieri concept? The car showcased in 2014 named after one of the Maserati brothers? The 2+2 coupe will hit the markets in 2022 and is likely to go into production by 2020. The Alfieri will be Maserati’s halo product and will most likely be offered with PHEV and full electric powertrains only. Both PHEV and electric versions will be offered as a coupe and a cabriolet. Going by the Maserati presentation, the Alfieri will be an even bigger monster (albeit a cleaner one) than the car it will replace, the ageing Gran Turismo.

The Alfieri will be based on a modular aluminium spaceframe chassis and according to Maserati, the full electric coupe will be just 175kg heavier than the ICE model and will pack a serious punch. 0-100kmph, according to Maserati can be done away with in just 2.0 seconds, and it will have a top speed of over 300kmph. The car will be powered by three electric motors with an 800V battery pack providing the juice. It will also feature active aerodynamics. The PHEV, on the other hand, is likely to feature a V8 engine which could be sourced from Ferrari. But the main focus of the Alfieri will be the Tesla Roadster and the Porsche Mission E.

Phew, anything else?

Yeah, just about done. Maserati has shifted its electrification process into high gear and by 2022, the company plans to offer plug-in hybrids across the range, with Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte also being offered as full electric cars, along with the Alfieri of course.

If it all falls into place, and it looks like it will, the glory days of Maserati might not be behind them but still to come.