RUMOR: Maserati To Build A Sub-Quattroporte Model - WHO Stands To Lose The MOST?

Word on the street is suggesting that Maserati is about to announce plans to take on a much larger piece of the luxury sedan market. Said to be working on a sub-Quattroporte model, this means it would take on cars like the higher-end BMW Audi A6, 5-Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

BUT, who stands to lose the MOST?

In other words, who's going to be effected by a vehicle like a Quattroporte in the mid-size sedan class. Would it be more like the cars like the Audi A7? Porsche Panamera six cylinder?

What say you, Spies?

Maserati is just over a year away from revealing the next model in its fast expanding line-up — a new saloon to take on high-end versions of the BMW 5-series and Jaguar XF.

The new sub-Quattroporte four-door, rumoured to be called Levante, is earmarked for a debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September next year. It will be closely related to an all-new Quattroporte that will be seen at the Detroit motor show in January.

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iamdabest1 - 8/10/2012 9:18:39 AM

+3 Boost

i dont think anyone will get affected. the Quattroporte isnt that much more expensive than an s550, 750, a8 or panamera ,besides the fact that the people who drive these cars CAN afford the Quattroporte if they wanted to.
the poor reliability, high maintenance, and crap resale value keeps people away from maserati.
if they had decent lease deals you would see them on the streets more.
the s550 is getting redesigned but either way its a 105k car that you can get now for about $950 a month with 2k out of pocket.
when i called about a 120k maserati they wanted 1700 a month with about 7k out of pocket..

JRobUSC - 8/10/2012 10:00:34 AM

+2 Boost

where can you get a $105k S-class for $950/mo with $2k out of pocket? You're hundreds of dollars light. I do agree with your point, just not the figures. For example, Benz is advertising a $1049/mo lease, plus tax, on a $92550 MSRP S350, with $5843 due at signing, and that's their cheapest S-class ad.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/special_offers/current

That's not to say you can't get a better deal than the ad, but you're not getting a $12500 more expensive S-class with $3800 less at signing for $100 less per month unless you have naked pictures of the owner of the dealership.

JRobUSC - 8/10/2012 10:05:08 AM

+1 Boost

I've seen articles about the "Maserati skinned Chrysler 300" popping up everywhere, and I'm pretty surprised no one has said anything about the fact that they're using a Chrysler 300 chassis. People were having a fit when they read the Kubank SUV was going to use a Grand Cherokee chassis. No one cares about a Chrysler 300 chassis in a Maserati? That bothers me more than the Grand Cherokee -- I think Maserati using a Jeep platform is shitty too, but at least that's actually a pretty darned good basis for an SUV.

JRobUSC - 8/10/2012 10:05:53 AM

+1 Boost

*Kubang, not Kubank.

85bmw745i - 8/12/2012 10:30:45 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, but the jeep chassis is actually a mercedes M class chassis, and the 300 is based on the mid to late 90's E class. Can't believe that they still use that chassis for their new 300/Charger/Challenger.

iamdabest1 - 8/10/2012 12:30:34 PM

+1 Boost

the lease deals are not at mercedes direct, its the middle man leasing companies.. from time to time they have e classes for $450, recently they had a 1 pay lease on the gl450 for 500 per month.. but the full amount up front