V12 Quattroporte

[Twin Turbo]

Today's Autocar has a scoop photo of what they claim to be a V12 engined Quattroporte. Seems this'll come with a "proper" automatic, although they don't give more details than that.

Now, whilst I welcome such a model for Maserati it does also beg the question as to whether or not the coupe/spyder replacements really have been axed (as reported in most of the mags). Why take the coupe/spyder downmarket using the new Alfa Romeo "premium" platform whilst taking the Q/porte upmarket with a V12?

This may be wishfull thinking, but I hope Maserati's future model line-up is something like this:

1 - Coupe/Spyder based on Alfa Brera platform (V6 engine)and low ££££ (BMW 6-series rival)

2 - Coupe/Spyder (different styling to cheaper car) based on new Q/porte plaform featuring both V8 and V12 engines (Aston DB9 rival)

3 - Quattroporte featuring both V8 and V12 engines

Guess time will tell

[McNab]

TT,

I admire your crystal ball! What you say is more or less along the same lines as my own best guess, and I was not convinced by Autocar's statement.

Why would they still be testing the new spyder if they had canned it, and why produce a V12 QP if there is to be a complete split from Ferrari? Doesn't make sense at all.

They may still be in the process of decision-making, but I don't think we've seen the last of top-line Maseratis. Fingers crossed!

[mal]

I still think the switch of Maserati to Alfa is purely a financial move to enhance Ferraris value ready for the flotation. Hopefully the long term deveolment of cars wont be too much affected.

[mr_tony]

mal said:

I still think the switch of Maserati to Alfa is purely a financial move to enhance Ferraris value ready for the flotation. Hopefully the long term deveolment of cars wont be too much affected.

the engineering agreement (tech sharing) between ferrari and Maserati is still being maintained as far as I have read which is cause for encouragement.

The announcement however of the potential 'New Dino' does seem to coincide with the announced demise of the Maserati 06 Coupe... Coupled with statements that the 'Dino' would run a deveopment of the 430 engine (itself a development of the 4200GT ...) you ahve to be suspicious that the 06 Coupe will just become a 'bargain' Ferrari...

[Twin Turbo]

But why not have both the "new Dino" and the '06 Maser coupe?

I thought platform sharing was all the rage in the car industry. It certainly makes for good economies of scale.

Frankly, Maserati need the new coupe more than Ferrari need the Dino, but I'm sure there's room in the market for both, besides the Ferrari would likely be at least £10-15k more.

[mr_tony]

agree mr turbo

however - given the reasons for the canning of the 06 was that the cost was too high (i.e. projected selling cost) - rebadging as a Ferrari and knocking the price into the 85-90k region would fit with the circumstances...

I'd love to see a V12 Masser coupe based on the QP chasis too, but I think we might be holding out breath for a long time... hope I'm wrong...