Maserati wants to broaden its reach into new market segments which means venturing beyond its two core models — the Quattroporte and GranTurismo.
Auto News
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Maserati is letting a few more details out of the bag in regards to its upcoming sedan and the brand’s first SUV.
This years Beijing Auto Show marks the final stop for the Maserati Kubang SUV concept, as the next time we see the Maserati SUV, it will be in production form.
Remember the Chrysler TC by Maserati? It was an American car with some Italian influence and the end result was simply awful.
Let’s hope this alliance will bear better fruit this time around, as Maserati is set to unveil their Kubang SUV concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.
The Kubang, which will be the first SUV to wear a Maserati badge, will be based on the chassis of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. While power will be provided by an Italian engine (Maserati uses Ferrari engines in their cars), the vehicle is expected to be produced in America at Chrysler’s Jefferson North facility.
The Kubang concept was last seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September, and while we cannot confirm if the Detroit unveil will be of the same vehicle or something different, we do know that Maserati will unveil an SUV at the N.A.I.A.S.
Put the two together and its easy to figure out that possibly a more production ready version of the Kubang will bow in Detroit.
We will be covering the Detroit auto show and will bring you all the latest news from the show, as it happens.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Maserati gave us our first look at its upcoming Kubang SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It didn’t make out Top 10 list of show reveals. Not even close. While an excellent idea and vital for the survival of the brand, other than from straight-on, the luxury truck just doesn’t look right.
Perhaps the SUV’s biggest issue is that it’s hard to live up to designs as beautiful as the GranTurismo. Still, we expect more from an Italian automaker.
Based on the response there’s hope Maserati will re-jig the Kubang’s look. No official production details have been given, but with the car based on the same platform as the 2012 Mercedes ML (and Jeep Grand Cherokee), there’s little doubt it could hit dealers within a year.
To help keep interest alive, Maserati has released a video of the Kubang, some of which displays terrible CGI. But with added dimensions, is your opinion of the Kubang any different?