A successor to Maserati’s Quattroporte is expected to arrive later this year. The company is also working on a luxury crossover and smaller sedan that’s targeted at premium German competitors. Insiders say that these two new models and the redesigned Quattroporte sedan may eventually boost Maserati's annual sales to around 20,000 units. In 2010, Maserati sold 5,675 cars during the recession and remained profitable. Maserati posted sales of nearly 8,600 units in 2008, giving us an idea of how ambitious Maserati's goal of 20,000 sales a year is. It’s likely that the M156 (Maserati's replacement for the Quattroporte) will be unveiled at this fall's 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, says Insideline.
This car, which draws from the design language of the current GranTurismo coupe and convertible, was designed in-house. It will still offer an improved and more efficient version of the current 4.7-liter V8, but other engines may be added to the lineup. Maserati aims to push the next-generation Quattroporte slightly upmarket and reposition it against the Aston Martin Rapide and the Porsche Panamera. Maserati is also developing a smaller sedan, code-named M157.
This model is aimed against the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class models but it will not be launched until closer to 2014. This new "entry-level" Maserati has a price target of about $75,000. Maserati is planning to offer a luxury utility vehicle in 2012-'13, an idea explored previously with the Kubang concept. The premium SUV will likely share architecture with both Jeep and Alfa Romeo models but it will boast its own distinctive style, more powerful engines (at least one will be shared with Ferrari) and a very stylish interior.
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