FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: If Maserati Builds The Kubang, Will It Make The Brand More MAINSTREAM - Is That A Good/Bad Thing?

At the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, Maserati unveiled the Kubang Concept, which is its sport-utility vehicle offering.

Always known as a brand that has built sports cars, it looks like Maserati is following a move from Porsche's playbook in that it will use an SUV to "Go mainstream." But is that a bad thing?

Think: Porsche was scrapping by with sales of its sports cars but it wasn't until the Cayenne that it became an extremely popular brand, in terms of sales. Sure, everyone knew about Porsche but not THAT many actually drove them.

With that said, now there are major expansion plans for Stuttgart's favorite sports car maker.

Could this be Maserati's gameplan, leading off with the Kubang?


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alpha_q2 - 9/14/2011 7:53:19 AM

-2 Boost

She bang Kubang, I bring my gang you bing Mustang. Manwut...

synx - 9/14/2011 8:29:52 AM

0 Boost

not bad looking but i dont think this is a good move. only time will tell...

internationalmanofmystery - 9/14/2011 8:43:19 AM

0 Boost

"Think: Porsche was scrapping by with sales of its sports cars but it wasn't until the Cayenne that it became an extremely popular brand, in terms of sales. Sure, everyone knew about Porsche but not THAT many actually drove them"

Huh??? Hyperbole much, Agent????

internationalmanofmystery - 9/14/2011 8:48:23 AM

0 Boost

This thing should never turn and walk out of a room, just back out slowly!

autobroker - 9/14/2011 9:17:54 AM

+1 Boost

From the side profile, you could convince me it's a new 5 passenger Buick. Look at the side front fender grill and the rising lines from the rear door backwards. Reminds me of the Enclave. Also, from the angle slanting forward from the rear, I can even see some Mazda CX-7 with the shape of the rear door. Aside from the nice front treatment, and LED taillights, without seeing the interior, just judging the exterior, looks like nothing special.

PUGPROUD - 9/14/2011 10:49:00 AM

+1 Boost

Looks like a Maserati Quattroporte mated with an Infiniti fx35...should have been aborted in its first term of pregnancy. Maserati can do better than this, you think ?

golfer38 - 9/14/2011 11:14:41 AM

+1 Boost

I think it looks more like a X6, which has been a huge success, lol. Very rakish backend, I just don't understand how these manufacturers don't learn from other's mistakes.

bmwdrvr - 9/16/2011 1:57:33 PM

+1 Boost

actually the X6 has in fact been a success for the company, so much so that Audi, and Mercedes are producing rivals......

MorePower - 9/15/2011 2:11:07 AM

+1 Boost

I see a lot of Infiniti design, FX37, in the front and Audi in the rear. The port holes on the front fenders remind me too much of a Buick, so they must go!

Also, either equip with larger diameter wheels or get rid of that tacky looking matte finish plastic around the wheel arcs.

mini22 - 9/16/2011 10:24:42 AM

+1 Boost

Maserati is building a lower price sedan then the Quattraporte. I doubt it will be in the 40 grand range though. Most likely it will be in the 60 to 70 grand range. As for the Kubang-yes the shape is slightly derivative. However it looks better then a Cayenne right out of the gate. It should sell well.