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No surprise here, the Maserati Alfieri has been delayed again

It happened again. Maserati has reportedly delay the gorgeous Alfieri coupe, the concept version of which made its debut way back at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. According to a report by Autocar, the 2+2 sports car has been put on the back-burner and is now expected to arrive in 2020 – at the earliest. Giulio Pastore, general manager of Maserati Europe, told Autocar that the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio are more vital to the automaker's lineup than the smaller Alfieri. Once Maserati replaces those aging models, it will then shift its focus onto the Alfieri, Pastore says. After the Alfieri concept was unveiled in 2014, reports emerged that it got the green light for production and that a production model would hit the road as soon as 2016. Then the delays started happening, with China's weakening car market as the culprit. More recently, a report claimed that Maserati would have the Alfieri on the road in 2018. With that now pushed back a few years, and the chance for more delays, the car might need a redesign before it goes into production. Related Video: Featured Gallery Maserati Alfieri Concept: Monterey 2014 View 9 Photos News Source: AutocarImage Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL Maserati Maserati Coupe Future Vehicles Luxury Performance maserati alfieri maserati grancabrio

330-horsepower Ghibli Hybrid is Maserati's first electrified model

Maserati kicked off its electrification campaign by releasing a hybrid version of the Ghibli, its entry-level model. The sedan gains a mild hybrid system, subtle visual tweaks, and many technology upgrades inside. Unveiled online, the brand's first production-bound electrified car features a gasoline-electric powertrain built around a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It works jointly with a 48-volt belt-driven starter-generator and what the company calls an e-booster that's essentially an electric supercharger. The system's total output checks in at 330 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 332 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, and it channels its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential. Maserati quotes a 5.7-second sprint from zero to 62 mph, and a 159-mph top speed. While fuel economy figures are still being finalized, preliminary estimates peg the Hybrid's fuel consumption at about 27.6 mpg in a combined cycle, a figure which — if accurate — makes it less efficient than the 31.3-mpg diesel model it will replace. Adopting 48-volt technology was the best way to electrify the Ghibli, according to the brand. "We thought about a plug-in option for the Ghibli, but when you put a lot of batteries — and a lot of other stuff — into the car, it adds weight and it's going to jeopardize the performance and the fun-to-drive quotient that is key for Maserati. I'm not saying this to diminish the good points of the plug-in hybrid technology, but it's not the best solution here," Francesco Tonon, Maserati's head of global product planning and marketing, told Autoblog. Tonon pointed out making the Ghibli a hybrid wasn't an excuse to make it dull; it still needed to drive and sound like a Maserati. It's 176 pounds lighter than the diesel-burning model, and it offers better weight distribution because there is a lighter engine under the hood and some of the hybrid components are installed in the back. As for the sound, Tonon proudly explained his team gave the Ghibli a unique exhaust note worthy of the storied trident emblem without resorting to an amplifier, by tweaking the system and adopting resonators. Subtle design changes set the Hybrid model apart from the non-electrified Ghibli.

Maserati recalls 26k sedans for rear suspension failure

The Basics: Maserati is recalling all 26,464 examples of the 2014-16 Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans it manufactured between February 1, 2013, and September 18, 2015 and sold or leased to customers in the United States. The Problem: The bolt securing the tie-rod to the hub carrier assembly in the rear suspension may not have been properly tightened during manufacturing, which could cause the suspension to fail and the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Injuries/Deaths: The manufacturer reports that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries to have resulted from this issue. The investigation was prompted by reports of excessive noise. The fix: Dealers will check the bolts in question and replace the hub carrier assembly if necessary. If you own one: Look out for a letter from the manufacturer to arrange service at your local dealer. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Improperly Torqued Rear Tie Rod Bolt Report Receipt Date: MAY 02, 2016 NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V264000 Component(s): SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected: 26,464 Manufacturer: Maserati North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Quattroporte and Ghibli vehicles manufactured February 1, 2013, to September 18, 2015. During the assembly process, the rear tie-rod to hub assembly attaching bolt may not have been properly tightened. CONSEQUENCE: An improperly tightened rear tie-rod to hub carrier assembly attaching bolt may allow the tie-rod to separate from the hub carrier, resulting in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right rear tie-rod to hub carrier assembly attaching bolts to verify that they are properly tightened, replacing the rear tie-rod to hub carrier assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 1, 2016. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-201-510-2369. Maserati's number for this recall is 303. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. Featured Gallery 2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4: First Drive View 31 Photos News Source: National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationImage Credit: Copyright 2016 AOL Recalls Maserati Luxury Performance Sedan maserati ghibli