| Author | Message | ||
| Andre Vieira (Goggles_pisano)
Junior Member Username: Goggles_pisano Post Number: 68 Registered: 5-2002 |
  Hello...my name is Luca--I live on the second floor... At the North American International Auto Show, the maker of high-priced, Italian sports cars revealed a Maserati crossover vehicle that combines the four-wheel drive and seating for five of a sport utility vehicle with a performance-oriented chassis and 390-horsepower V8. �We have every intention to produce this car,� said Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari Maserati. � . . . We like to transfer the dreams into products.� But a company spokespman said no development or production plans are yet in place. He added it would take at least 2.5 to three years to bring the vehicle to market. Called the Kubang GT Wagon after a wind on the island of Java, the silver-colored Maserati crossover is designed with a large, long liftgate and a short tailgate at the rear to help in loading cargo into the back. Split rear seats can be folded down to accommodate long items and bicycles. Maximum cargo space is nearly 53 cubic feet. �The concept of Maserati is to look ahead with a sports car . . . but with a car you also can drive every day,� di Montezemolo said. Riding on big wheels and tires that are at least 19 inches in diameter, the Kubang is long and has a center of gravity that�s 100 millimeters lower than in traditional SUVs. In addition, weight distribution in the vehicle is more on par with a sports car than an SUV. Specifically, 48 percent of the Kubang�s weight is in the front and 52 percent is in the back. Torque is substantial at 330 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm, which would allow the Kubang to zip from zero to 60 miles an hour in 5.4 seconds. Di Montezemolo noted Maserati�s return to the United States last year after a 12-year hiatus. He called sales of nearly 900 Spyder and Coupe models since Maserati sales resumed in North America in spring 2002 a �success.� And he said the United States already ranks as Maserati�s biggest market. More growth is planned�di Montezemolo said the company will add more dealers in the United States in 2003. |