North America Premiere for Maserati Kubang, the new company SUV concept

Maserati officially unveiled the latest Maserati Kubang sport luxury SUV concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show that was recently held in Detroit. With the Kubang concept, the Trident marque aims to enhance the strengths and the modern lines of Maserati which aims to offer an Italian alternative to one of the most competitive segments in the market. Maserati aims to build the future sport luxury SUX in North America, which represents a relevant step in the future of the Maserati product range.

While the Maserati SUV Kubang concept creates discontinuity by having the Trident marquee entering a new segment, it still represents continuity with Maserati heritage and DNA’s integrity. The Italian manufacturer based in Modena unveiled this concept for the first time at the NAIAS in 2003. Nowadays, the synergy within the Fiat-Chrysler industrial group offers Maserati an ideal catalyst for its own sport luxury SUV interpretation. The model eventually produced will be unmistakably and unquestionably a Maserati: all major system components will be 100% Maserati in continuity with the brand values of sportiness, performance, elegance, luxury and craftsmanship. The essence of the Maserati Kubang SUV concept that makes it immediately recognizable as a true Trident vehicle has been directly created by the Maserati Style Center headed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

A new generation of Maserati engines has been designed at the Maserati Headquarter in Modena, under the direction of Paolo Martinelli, Head of Maserati Powertrain Development. Before undertaking this role at Maserati, Martinelli worked at the Ferrari Factory for almost thirty years, as the Head of the Engine Department for the Formula One Team at the era of Michael Schumacher’s World Championships. The production of the new Maserati engines will be done at the Ferrari Factory in Maranello, Italy where they will be mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Components featuring specific performance settings such as brakes, suspensions, steering and electronics will be exclusively developed by Maserati engineers at the headquarter located in Modena, Italy.

Maserati arrived at the 2012 North America International Auto Show in Detroit just few days after announcing the closure of a very positive year, where sales were up 10% in 2011 compared to 2010. North America is still the leading market for the Trident marque with 2,465 units delivered to Maserati customers in the last twelve months, which ultimately represents a 21% increase over 2010.

Maserati Beverly Hills is a Factory Authorized Maserati dealer providing new and used Maserati to Los Angeles’s affluent communities. Inquiry about the 2012 Maserati range including the Maserati GranTurismo, Quattroporte, GranTurismo Convertible as well as current Maserati for Sale today.

Maserati MC: race inspired luxury

The new GranTurismo MC is the pinnacle of the Maserati range and represents the ultimate quintessence of the Trident marque heritage in creating road and track cars for nearly over a century. The new Maserati GranTurismo MC is a road car with authentic racing DNA, a unique car with the GranTurismo inimitable style, performance and comfort which also embraces the heritage of Maserati Corse, the Trident racing department. With a limited production of only 250 GranTurismo MC for the North America market for model year 2012, this top performance Maserati is exclusively made for strictly selected car aficionados.

Maserati has embraced a strong racing and competition heritage since its foundation in 1914 and the acclaimed Maserati MC12 dominated the International GT Racing from 2005 to 2010. MC stands for Maserati Corse, and occasionally the Trident Marque develop a road car with such a strong racing influence such as for the new Maserati MC.

The new Maserati MC is currently the most sporting car in the Maserati line, whether you consider it as an homage to the Maserati racing achievements or a “more civilized” version of the GranTurismo MCTrofeo.

The 4.7 liter V8 Maserati MC is the most powerful and fastest production car in the entire Maserati history. Its engine encompassed numerous revisions compared to its predecessors in order to reduce friction and consequently improves power and efficiency. Enhancements such as the introduction of the super hard but slippery Diamond Like Coating (DLC) on the camshafts and tappets allowed to reach a maximum 444 HP power with peak torque swelling to 376 lb-ft together with a 6% improvements in fuel economy efficiency. The six-speed automatic transmission includes the MC Auto-shift: when the Sport mode is selected, the gear is hold all the way to the red line, shifts are faster and a double-declutch throttle “blip” is added on down-changes. The GranTurismo MC has a top speed of 185 mph and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in an effortless 4.8 seconds. The car has better handling: suspension is by single-rate coil springs over performance dampers with front and rear double wishbones. The Skyhook electronic adaptive suspension is also available as an option.

The MC exterior contributes in conveying the car sportier character: the aggressive noise is more boldly shaped and sculpted air intakes are added to cool the Brembo brakes. The hood has two vents aiming to extract hot air from the engine bay, hence the rear diffuser features two exhaust pipes centrally mounted. The GranTurismo MC has dark trim instead of chrome one as well as new MC Designed 20” wheels.

Maserati Beverly Hills is a Factory Authorized Maserati dealer providing new and Used Maserati to Los Angeles’s affluent communities. Call to inquiry about the 2012 Maserati range including Maserati GranTurismo S, Maserati Quattroporte, GranTurismo Convertible and the Maserati GranTurismo MC.