The Maserati at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2014
This centenary concept explores Maserati’s stylistic heritage and hints at the brand’s future design language
As a landmark event for Maserati in Thailand, Empire Motor Sport, the sole authorized dealer and service provider in Thailand, is proud to be a part of the Thailand International Motor Expo 2014. At this event, the current line-up of Maserati models will be on display including the newly launched Ghibli and Quattroporte Diesel models, new for the 2015 season as well as the iconic Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale.
In this, its 100th year, the Maserati company is racing forward. An ambitious plan that took off in 2013 with the presentation of the Quattroporte and Ghibli models is transforming the Italian manufacturer into a serious player in the premium sports car segment. In just one year, from 2012 to 2013, global sales increased by 150%, from 6,200 to 15,400 cars.
Today, Maserati, a global automotive player with a complete model range, will be displaying a sample of three four-door saloons and one two-door GranTurismo MC Stradale exhibiting four engine types (twin turbos 3.8L V8 and 3.0L V6, a 4.7L V8 and 3.0L V6 turbo Diesel).
Maserati Quattroporte Diesel
With the original Quattroporte in 1963, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports sedan and the new Quattroporte continues to be the benchmark for high quality engineering, supercar performance and limousine comfort.
Maserati launched the all-new Maserati Quattroporte in 2013. The sixth-generation model delivers a leap forward that not only sets the high-technology tone for Maserati’s upcoming new-model onslaught, but also remains faithful to Maserati’s long history. The flagship of the Maserati product range is larger, lighter, more luxurious and more practical than the globally acclaimed car it replaces.
The powerful engine and the large cabin are at the core of the Quattroporte’s design, dominated by a long, powerful nose and a concave Trident grille and providing a clear link to both the outgoing Quattroporte and the GranTurismo.
Maserati’s new diesel engine, a 3.0 litre V6 Turbo, has been specifically developed by VM Motori according to Maserati’s requirements in terms of performance, efficiency and driving satisfaction.
The excellent technological characteristics of this power unit are based on a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) with ball bearing to reduce internal friction and consequently turbo lag. Specific, high-efficiency injectors coupled with a 2000 bar fuel injection system optimise combustion, while variable geometry intake manifolds optimise output at all engine speeds. Specific steel double thin wall exhaust manifolds with Air Gap technology maintain a higher exhaust gas temperature, energise the flow of exhaust gas and contribute to the high specific power delivered.
These features lend this new Maserati the dynamic characteristics that have always distinguished all Maserati power units. The Quattroporte Diesel delivers 600 Nm of torque between 2000–2600 rpm and a maximum power of 275 hp at 4000 rpm. The engine accelerates the Quattroporte from 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.4 seconds up to a maximum speed of 250 km/h. With a CO2 figure of 163 g/km and fuel consumption of less than 6.2 l /100 km (combined) the Maserati Quattroporte is also highly efficient.
The characteristic Maserati exhaust sound is one of the most desirable features of any Maserati product. Thanks to the Maserati Active Sound technology the Quattroporte Diesel exhaust system produces a characteristic Maserati sound that underlines the sporting nature of the car and can be varied at the touch of a button. Two sound actuators, fitted near the exhaust tailpipes, accentuate the engine’s most distinctive tones and modulate them according to the way the car is being driven. When the driver presses the Sport button on the central tunnel, the sound becomes even more resonant and utterly inspiring.
Quattroporte Diesel
Engine: 3.0L V6
Power: 275 hp
Transmission: ZF Eight Speed Automatic Gearbox
Torque: 600 Nm
Top Speed: 250 km/h
Acceleration 6.4s 0-100km/h
Consumption combined / extra-urban / urban: 6.2 / 5.2 / 7.8 (l/100 km)
CO2 emissions combined / extra-urban / urban: 163 / 137 / 206 (g/km)
Maserati Ghibli Diesel
With the all-new Ghibli Maserati enters the E-segment by combining breath-taking design with exceptional handling qualities and outstanding performance. Making inspirational motoring more accessible, Maserati’s new 4-door sports executive sedan appeals to the heart, the head and the soul.
The Ghibli provides a cornerstone in Maserati’s plan to build 50,000 cars a year by 2015. It is the second model after the flagship, the Quattroporte, to be manufactured to new benchmark quality standards in Maserati’s new state-of-the-art production facilities in Grugliasco close to Turin.
The Ghibli Diesel is the first ever diesel-powered car in Maserati’s history. The 3.0 litre V6 has been exclusively developed for Maserati under the watchful eye of Powertrain Director Paolo Martinelli, a legendary ex-Ferrari F1 engine designer. This new engine produces a best-in-its-class power output of 275 hp, while still achieving a CO2 figure of 158 g/km. A fuel consumption of less than 6.0 l /100 km and a 70-litre tank ensure a long range of over 1,000 kilometres, making the Ghibli Diesel a real grand touring long-distance champion.
The Ghibli Diesel boasts a maximum torque of 600 Nm between 2000-2600 rpm (with overboost turbocharging). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds before going on to a top speed of 250 km/h.
The state-of-the-art engine includes a Common-Rail direct injection with a system pressure up to 2,000 bar. Multiple injections reduce fuel consumption and noise levels while also improving responsiveness and agility. In addition, the variable geometry turbocharger with variable nozzle turbine allows the engine to deliver both a high output and high torque from low revolutions.
The Start&Stop-System allows to further reduce consumption and CO2 emissions up to 6% (automatically disabled in Sport Mode and ESC OFF mode). It can be deactivated from the cluster display controls available on the right menu button of the steering wheel.
The Ghibli Diesel sounds like a Maserati should, thanks to the Maserati Active Sound technology. Active Sound gives an emotional sound signature to the exhaust note. Two sound actuators, fitted near the exhaust tailpipes, accentuate the engine’s most distinctive tones and modulate them according to the way the car is being driven. Depending on the requirement, the actuator is stimulated to produce the desired sound signature. The driver can select a more sporty and aggressive sound with the touch of a button.
Ghibli Diesel
Engine: 3.0L 60°V6
Power: 275 hp
Transmission: ZF Eight Speed Automatic Gearbox
Torque: 600 Nm
Top Speed: 250 km/h
Acceleration 6.3s 0-100km/h
Consumption combined / extra-urban / urban: 5.9 / 4.9 / 7.8 (l/100 km)
CO2 emissions combined / extra-urban / urban: 158 / 129 / 206 (g/km)
Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale
Maserati has turned its beautiful and potent GranTurismo MC Stradale into a machine that is just as fast but even more practical, technically advanced and even more beautiful.
First launched in 2010, the two-seat GranTurismo MC Stradale took development ideas from its Trofeo racing cars seamlessly blending them into its GranTurismo coupe. This year Maserati took those ideas and evolved its light-weight two-seat super coupe into the four-seat 2013 GranTurismo MC Stradale.
Its all-new carbon-fibre bonnet not only creates high-speed downforce and improves cooling, but also means the four-seat GranTurismo MC Stradale retains almost the same dry weight as the discontinued two-seat version (1700 kg.). This means it continues to be the lightest and fastest car in the Maserati GranTurismo range, even though it now offers comfort to four adults instead of two.
The ongoing development of the GranTurismo MC Stradale also proves that Maserati has not neglected the importance of its two-door coupe range even with the world’s focus on its all-new Quattroporte model.
Powered by the most potent version of Maserati’s 4.7-litre V8 engine, the GranTurismo MC Stradale hits 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 303km/h.
GranTurismo MC Stradale utilizes the most powerful 460CV (338kW) version of the 4.7-litre V8 and mates this to the lightning-fast gear shifts from its six-speed electro-actuated “MC Race Shift” transaxle gearbox.
Drawn from the GranTurismo Sport, this version of the classic 4.7-litre V8 benefits from diamond-like coating of its tappets and camshaft lobes as part of Maserati’s Low Friction Program to be both powerful and fuel efficient.
The transaxle gearbox layout not only helps the GranTurismo MC Stradale to retain an ideal 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution, but also incorporates the brilliant MC Race gear shifting strategy that allows it to change to higher gears in just 60 ms, 5 times faster than a blink of an eye. The transaxle layout means that it sits in the same housing as the asymmetrical limited slip differential.
The powertrain package also delivers its drivers the choice of Automatic, Sport and Race modes, with each level delivering additional rewards in the throttle response, the exhaust note and the skid-control systems.
In another lesson drawn from its racing experiences, the gearbox also offers Sequential Downshifting, where the driver can simply hold the downshift paddle in while braking and allow the car to change to sequentially lower gears until the paddle is released.
All of the dynamic performance the GranTurismo MC Stradale generates is backed up by some of the most powerful brakes in production, with enormous carbon-ceramic brake discs at all four corners.
The brake master cylinder has a diameter of 27mm to add consistent power and to deliver a shorter pedal stroke than the standard car. The front brake package has 380mm x 34mm brake discs and six-piston calipers, while the rear has 360mm x 32mm discs and four-piston calipers.
It also rides four 20-inch forged alloy wheels that are lighter than the standard wheels, while Pirelli has developed its PZero Corsa tyres (255/35 ZR20 at the front and 295/35 ZR20 at the rear) specifically to deliver more mid-corner grip and progression for this layout.
The suspension and chassis layout enhance the already-impressive track performance of the GranTurismo MC Stradale without losing any of its abilities as a day-to-day car.
Its chassis poise was developed to be easy to drive and as comfortable as possible to retain all of the inherent handling, ride and stability benefits of the GranTurismo’s long wheelbase.
This long (2938mm) wheelbase is the key which unlocks the GranTurismo MC Stradale’s broad range of handling abilities across different conditions, allowing it to switch from a super-aggressive track car to a city commuter or autobahn express in the time it takes for the driver’s mood to change.
It has the speed to be a road-legal racing car, with its ride height lowered by 10mm at the front and 12mm at the rear compared to the standard GranTurismo Sport, yet it has the progressive handling to be considered an extremely usable super-sports car.
The car has been developed specifically to be comfortable, progressive, balanced and entertaining for all drivers, while its Race mode is designed to deliver fast lap times in complete security.
Another key to the delivery of this potential has been the retention of the 2012 GranTurismo MC Stradale’s aerodynamic benefits with the addition of the sculpted carbon-fibre bonnet. With lessons take directly from the Trofeo and GT4 racing programs, the bonnet contains an air inlet vent and two hot air extraction vents and delivers the twin benefits of reducing weight and adding 25 percent more frontal downforce at 140 km/h.
Developed from both track feedback and complex computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research, the new bonnet adds high-speed stability without increasing drag, largely by relieving under-bonnet pressure.
The new carbon-fibre engine cover joins a host of other Trofeo-derived aerodynamic updates that add high-speed stability and efficiency through the air. These include a deep front splitter integrated into the front bumper, deep functional side skirts, a re-profiled rear bumper and a pronounced rear lip spoiler on the boot.
All of these units combine as one integrated aerodynamic device to use the entire length of the car to generate downforce and to refocus the air from the engine and brake cooling systems into areas of maximum downforce and minimum turbulence.
Its black grille and the red accents on the Trident mark it as one of Maserati’s MC range even to casual observers, but some of the biggest developments have been inside the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, where four lightweight seats replace the two seats from the discontinued 2010 two-seat version.
Front seats utilize carbon fibre back to achieve their low weight and also cater for Maserati’s traditional luxury with a combination of leather and Alcantara trims. All four seats also have integrated head restraints for safety and support.
The standard trims are soft black. The seats can be delivered with grippy Alcantara with “drilled” perforations to achieve a stylish, practical finish, coupled with red stitching to match the accents on the grille’s Trident.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale has three steering wheel options, all of which have multi-function buttons and a flat-bottomed section on the circumference.
They can be delivered in full leather, a combination of leather and Alcantara or a combination of leather and carbon-fibre.
To continue its more aggressive interior theme, the Maserati GranTurismo MC’s gearshift paddles are longer than those in other GranTurismos to facilitate easier gear shifting in more demanding driving situations, and come in concert with drilled alloy pedals.
Maserati Centenary
Maserati celebrated its centenary in September of 2014. One hundred years have passed since Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati opened their first workshop in Bologna on December 1, 1914.
Maserati celebrated 100th anniversary in grand style all over the world. Celebrations started on December 2, 2013, the day the company entered its 100th year and will last for twelve whole months until December 2014.
The epicentre of these truly global celebrations was held in Modena, the town to which Maserati moved in 1939 and where the company’s global HQ is still located.
From June through December the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari hosted a special exhibition dedicated to the Maserati centenary. In September, the official international Maserati gathered bringing to Modena at least 300 vintage Maseratis from all over the world.
