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Maserati targets 50,000 sales with new SUV and sedan

Maserati is aiming to dramatically boost annual production to 50,000 units by 2015 with its bold model expansion plan that includes a new SUV and mid-sized sedan.


The Italian sports-luxury brand sold only 6159 vehicles in 2011, but has announced that it expects to increase production almost 10-fold by nearly doubling its line-up in the next few years.

A production version of the company’s Kubang SUV concept, potentially to adopt the name Cinqueporte (Italian for ‘five-door’), is due in 2013, along with a new medium-size sedan in 2014, and a next-generation Quattroporte (‘four-door’) that arrives next year to again rival luxury limos such a the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Maserati’s Modena factory in Italy has insufficient capacity to assemble models beyond the GranSport coupe (above), GranCabrio convertible – and the compact 4C sports car for sister company Alfa Romeo – so production for other models moves to other plants.

The new Quattroporte and its smaller relative will both be built at a former plant of Italian coachbuilder Bertone, a factory that has received a 500 million Euro ($630 million) upgrade.

Maserati’s SUV, which will utilise the platform of the Jeep Grand Cherokee as part of the Fiat-Chrysler alliance, will be assembled at a Chrysler plant in Detroit.

Maserati insiders have told CarAdvice the company’s significant growth will be driven primarily by the SUV and medium-size sedan, segments it hasn’t previously entered but have huge growth potential.

The SUV - which would become a natural rival for the likes of the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport and an upcoming 4WD from Bentley - will account for nearly half the 50,000 target, with planned annual production of between 20,000 and 25,000 units.

The sedan that will be positioned below the Quattroporte will compete against higher-end versions of the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

It will still be a sizeable car at a rumoured 4950mm length, though it’s expected to start from about 55,000 Euros – nearly half the price where the Quattroporte will be positioned from.

The brand’s confidence also stems from the fact its Quattroporte (above), GranTurismo and GranCabrio models are continuing to grow in China, a “major volume market for these classes of car” and a market that is now Maserati’s second biggest after the US.

Maserati is planning to double its global dealer network by late 2013.

The Alfa Romeo 4C will become the third Alfa to be produced by Maserati when it hits the Modena production line in May 2013, but will be produced in much bigger numbers – about 2500 – compared with the limited edition 8C and 8C Spider.

The 4C will be the hero car behind Alfa’s return to the US market in 2013.

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