Maserati confirms Levante SUV for 2015 and Alfieri Coupe for 2016

Maserati is planning to introduce the Levante SUV and Alfieri sports car in the next two years. The Italian manufacturer’s plans were announced by Harald Wester, the Chief Executive of Maserati, at the Fiat Group’s annual investor’s meeting this week. While the company’s first ever SUV, the Levante, will be launched next year, the Alfieri Coupe is expected to be ready by 2016, which will be followed by a cabriolet version a year later. 

 

The Alfieri sports car will be based on the Alfieri concept which was unveiled at 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Named after one of the founding brothers of the company, the concept was on the company’s 100th anniversary. The car will be offered with a V6 petrol engine in both rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions. While the RWD car will only get 410bhp, the AWD version will be offered in two power outputs- 450bhp and 520bhp. The Alfieri will sit below the GranTurismo in the company’s line-up and will rival the likes of the entry-level Jaguar F-Type and the Porsche 911. 

The Levante will be offered with a V6 engine producing 350bhp and 425bhp, while a high-performance V8 petrol is expected to produce in excess of 560bhp, which will also be seen in the Ghibli, Quattroporte and the GranTurismo. The Levante will also use the company’s 3.0-litre V6 diesel mill. 

The GranTurismo will also get a comprehensive makeover next year, while a replacement is due by 2018. With SUVs, crossovers and sports cars selling like hot cakes, an increasing number of car manufacturers have been expanding their line-up with new products to cover a wide range of audience. Expansion of its line-up is a key part of Maserati’s strategy to increase its global sales fivefold by 2018 and subsequently boost the Fiat Group’s profits. Maserati currently has three models on sale in India, the GranTurismo, Quattraporte and the GranCabrio. We expect the company to bring the new models here a few months after their international launch, through the completely-built-unit (CBU) route.