New 2007 Maserati Coupe

To be presented to the public at the Geneva carshow in March this is the new Coupe designed by Pininfarina with fifties Maserati sportscar retrolook sharkish front on a modified Quattroporte chassis (just a few centimeters shorter than the 4porte). As a result rear seating room will grow considerable. It has a 4.2 litre V8 with semi-automatic gearbox, to be followed by a 4.7 litre version. A 6-speed automatic gearbox will become available as well. It will be on the market starting next autumn.
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from that one angle, i like it. sounds kinda LARGE though.

 

I guess that this is just another idea...
It is close but not the final thing, yet.

I know that the coupé will be a lot shorter than th QP., not the same chassis.
The front will not be so radical as the one on the photo.
Though I like this one.

Regards,

Miguel

 

I do like that concave grille. Looks really nice overall.

 

You are wrong! This is THE CAR!!! It has a shortened QP-chassis! German AUTO, MOTOR and SPORT reported that the car will be offered first with the 4.2 L-engine and later increased to 4.7-L. CC- and an ZF-automatic will be optional!

Ciao!
Walter

 

It really seems to look terrific, if a bit large. So it will be like a Jaguar-sized GT car/competitor rather than a 911 competitor...guess that opens up the market segment for the dino...

In any event, it stands to be a masterpiece.

 

Bingo.

 

I found this link on another thread. http://www.egmcartech.com/2006/11/02/spy-shots-possible-rendering-of-maserati%e2%80%99s-new-gt/
I like how it's going to be a hard top/ convertible.

 

Here is the link to that thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116767

 

Damn it, why not the 4.7l engine NOW??? Don't they realise that the 4.2 litre engine gives neither enough power nor enough torque against today's competitors??? Despite a growing family, the only thing that is keeping me from getting a 4-seater Maserati is that it doesn't have enought grunt against the Porsche 997TT or against my own F550. I have been eagerly waiting for the 4.7l engine (which should get close to the magic 500HP target - and which will be easily achieved with a sports exhaust and some fine tuning ) and now they DELAY it??? What are they thinking??? This car will never have enough performance with the 4.2l!!!!

 

I do not think the intent of this car is to compete against the likes of Porsche, or even ay Ferrari. Maserati looks to be Fiat's luxury line, and this new coupe is to complete against cars like the Bentley Continental.

 

Yes, that's the marketing spin. But the reality is different: how many people would like being dusted by any anonymous 997TT or even by any Merc CL AMG at the traffic lights? Prestige is not only about looking good, it's also about performance. And today, 500HP is the benchmark for high performance coupes (the Bentley you cited has 550HP, even though it is a ridiculously heavy and ungainly thing). Besides, Maserati historically has been a competitor of Astons and Porsches, never of "grandad" Bentleys.

IMO the sooner the 4.7l engine arrives, the better to revive Maserati sales. Otherwise the new Coupe will be yet another half-baked, half-missed opportunity. Do these people never learn from past history?

 

I don't think the 4.2 engine is a bad engine, it's smooth, and revs well thanks to it's crankshaft configuration. The 4.7 will share the wet-sump technology being used on the Q.P auto, which means that the engine will have to sit higher in the engine bay, and affect handling.

 

The 4.2 is a wonderful engine. I've driven many exciting miles on a Spyder 4.2, on several Coupes and on a Gransport. It's just that today it feels out of breath in comparison to the monstrous "torquemeisters" coming from Germany. The 4.2l would be ideal on a coupe that weighed 1400 Kg, like a Porsche 997 Carrera (which gives excellent performance with only 355HP). But when you have a coupe (or a QP) that weighs close to two tons, you can't expect the 4.2l to feel as aggressive as a Porsche twin-turbo engine with 50% more torque.

Actually, Maserati would be much better off developing a twin-turbo variant of the V8. That's where technology is heading anyway.

 

Folks, I agree totally! But "mother" Ferrari is the King of Kings in Italy!!! Nothing, abolutley nothing is possible within the Italian car-industry against Ferrari (exception: Lamborghini - they are owned by Gerams and they don`t care about Maranello-cars!!).

So, you are right , it seems they will not learn!
But - I keep my mouth shut, as I know that someone from Italy is sometimes watching our posts (Hello L.D. ...!).
You can expect that Maserati gets the 4.7-Liter when Mamma Ferrari has her V8 upgrated to higher specs.!

Ciao!
Walter

 

Sad, sad, sad. I'm on only my first Maser, a 2003 Spyder, but I really, really like the combination of looks and performance. Now Maser is apparently going to compete with Jaguar and Aston Martin instead. I don't think the Bentley CGT is in their sights - diferent HP and price tag.
I am sure it will be a very nice car, and maybe hit a broader, richer demographic, but I'm with the majority of posters that a bigger car with a weak engine is just wrong.
Had Maser continued the line of the coupe/spyder I'd be buying them for years to come. Not likely now.
Mike

 

Maserati needs a real flashing B A N G !!!! Hope the new car will become such! They made the mistake even with the older 3200 GT (360 hp) when every M5 owner with its then time 400 hp started laughing.....!

Ciao!
Walter

 

Hi Walter,

Okay...Let's wait and see...

Mont

 

..."Actually, Maserati would be much better off developing a twin-turbo variant of the V8. That's where technology is heading anyway.[/QUOTE]

And that's what they do best... Turbos and Maserati is the same story. Isn't it?

Mont

 

Walter,

I'm sorry but I don't agree with you... As I understood your thoughts regarding the 3200 GT/A are not that good. Correct me if I'm wrong.

As you probably remember I'm a proud owner of a Shamal - a car that many wish but few get - and its 326 bhp are all there...and are enough to make me laugh.
Even though, I will not speak of the Shamal since the technology used is from the late 80's, pre 90's.

But regarding the 3200 GT series I think Maserati did a huge effort to make it as good as possible.
Currently I also drive a 3200 GTA, and to my surprise I think it is a marvellous Maser.
First, its automatic box is a must. Deliveries the power fast and smooth. On the other hand the engine is the glorious V8 32v - the same as the Shamal - but more refined in its handling and usability, you know the pop-off valves the Kaiser valve the fly-by-wire... Its 368 bhp are suficient to reach a top speed of 280 kph (tacho reading). I've reached this speed many times and in full safety. At this level I feel the car with a very neutral behaviour.

So, I think it is a great car and no, the M5 owner is not happier than me...

As you know, sometimes power is not the main issue... For me, it is the way you use it and how you use it that make the difference.
And Maserati know how to pass this emotions to owners and enthusiats like you and me.

Complimenti,

Mont

 

And that's what they do best... Turbos and Maserati is the same story. Isn't it?

Mont[/QUOTE]NO! Maserati exists since 1926. Please check for how many of this years to 2006 they procuced turbo-engines!

Maseratis is NOT synonymous with the Turbo. Connected with this word is a terrible build-quality from the mid-80ies until the Ghibli II which was -finally- a good car!

...and talk about that the Biturbo saved Maserati once! OK, that might be correct! But for price - they lost ALL customers who looked for spectacular high image car.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Mont,
yes, the Shamal was a very fast car - but every car had to be prepared correct before it went to its owner......!

Don`t compare please the 3200 GT with the Shamal - two completly different cars (chassis, suspension).

Lets talk about the early 3200 GT:

first cars had a terrible quality: a moving drive-train, the chassis was flexing and the brakes where only good for a VW-Golf performance!
Maserati used an acustic silencer package coming from the cheap FIAT-Uno!!!

Then the auto.-box: first cars had major problems as the system got terrible hot under high speed! Lots of gearboxes had to be changed! The complete car was NOT prepared for the US-marked!

The engine was fine - but sucked your hair off not matching ANY future gas-guzzling and emission-laws worldwide! The car was "old" when it was launched!

Ferrari was aware of this and improved the complete car: the chassis is much better now but the A-column of the Spyder is still "Rock n`Roll". Brakes are now near to perfect.

Good that the 3200 was there - but fine, that is in burried today!

But the rear lights were a GREAT design. Unfortunately some very important person in Italy thought that an high image car has to look like an Japanese car and changed that detail that made the car mostly unique from ANY competitor!

This was a MOLTO STUPIDO decision (A grat designer of a German car manufacturer of high performance car told me last year that when this foolish desicion was take, in all design departments of the image automotive industry the champagne bottles were opened....!)

Saluti!

Walter

 

With all due respect to the previous posters....
I do not think horsepower is the issue. The Maserati buyer is a sophisticate, not a hoodlum craving to do burn outs at the stop lights with vipers. It is not about clipping the apex of a back country road to edge past your pal in the Ferrari and take the glory home...or at least over breakfast at a Hardees in North Carolina...but that is a different story and I diverge.
A Maserati is a gorgeous Italian coupe with soul, character, and enough power to respectfully hold one's own in just about any situation. It is not a boy racer's car. I have a Gransport and the 4.2 is just right...perfect. The looks are perfect too, and I won't be rushing out to replace it.
I hope the new one is great...and I sincerly hope Maserati's rebirth is just beginning and the greatest days are to come!
Ciao.

 

NO! Maserati exists since 1926. Please check for how many of this years to 2006 they procuced turbo-engines!

Maseratis is NOT synonymous with the Turbo. Connected with this word is a terrible build-quality from the mid-80ies until the Ghibli II which was -finally- a good car!

...and talk about that the Biturbo saved Maserati once! OK, that might be correct! But for price - they lost ALL customers who looked for spectacular high image car.

Ciao!
Walter[/QUOTE]

Come on Walter...

You know that turbos are common in Auto world from the late 70's, don't you??
Maserati developed a biturbo engine from late 79 to use on a road car from 81.
From 81 to 2001/02 (+/-) makes twenty years using the (bi)turbo technology.
Need I say more?
They used the technology they sold the technology (Ex: SAAB used the MABC system)...
No other car manufacturer used for so long this technology.

Sure, they were not perfect cars. The biturbo range suffer from a lot of different troubles, mostly easy fixed.
From my experience from 8 years driving them, - 91 4.24v, 92 2.24v, 93 Ghibli, 93 Spyder 4v, 95 Ghibli Gt, 91 Shamal, 00 3200 GTA - I must say that I always had rewarding driving experiences.
I've driven morethan 400000 kms!!

You know, since I'm Portuguese probably we are a bit different. I do agree that Italians do it better but sometimes looking just to their "belly button".
I don't like perfect cars, so I learned to live with Maserati they taught me a lot and still make me feel unique.

I must say that you are not wrong when you say that they don't have top build-quality, but for me they are just different cars for different people. That's just what makes them perfect for me...

Regards,

Mont

 

... Walter I never compared the Shamal with the 3200... They don't have nothing to be compared besides the engine!! I know that!!
I own the Shamal from the day it did 9.120 kms. So I know what a Shamal is and how it should perform.

I would like to know were did you get the information that the ZF auto box suffer from heating wile pushing the car? Did you experience that yourself?
I never heard that before and would like to know more about it.
The things I know are, that its design is awsome the auto box is very easy to live with and the engine is a blast!!
Sure, the torsion is not a must and brakes are not "top of the pops" but, as I brake very few times, I can live with that.

...As for the Fiat uno silencer, that is simply not true. They look alike but not the same.

The 3200 GT/A is a fair sports car with its Gran Turismo Maserati look, behaves very well and will not let you down if you treat it well... Like your girfriend/wife...Parrot...

As for the 4.2, I have some driving experiences. I like it. It is much better that the 3200 in all aspects. Just the rear lights don't match.
I know that it was the American market (they are easier to see) that change the looks. Not anyone in special.
But, I must say that I prefer the mid range revs. of the Shamal and the 3200.

Complimenti,

Mont