2003 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa Convertible 2-door 4.2l on 2040-cars

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Maserati's next sports car shown in heavy camo

Maserati has started the process of re-tooling its historic Modena, Italy, factory to build a new sports car scheduled to come out in 2020. Full details about the model remain under wraps — even its name is a mystery — but the very first batch of images provided by Maserati and brought to you exclusively by Autoblog reveal several key points about it, including a few that we didn't see coming. The photos douse cold water on the rumors claiming Maserati's next sports car would be essentially a toned-down version of the Alfieri concept introduced in 2014. The test mule depicted in the images is heavily camouflaged, but its proportions, the size of its cabin, and the huge vents behind the doors suggest it's a mid-engined two-seater, not a front-engined model with a 2+2 interior layout. Autoblog learned the test mule is powered by a completely new drivetrain, but your guess is as good as ours when it comes to what it's made up of. Regardless, it was designed and built entirely in-house, and it will spawn a family of drivetrains that will exclusively power the company's vehicles. Starting from scratch is a huge undertaking. Engineers will closely analyze the data gathered during the testing phase, and use it to fine-tune the drivetrain on its research and development department's simulators. The improved components will in turn be road-tested. Maserati's new approach to vehicle design relies heavily on simulators, but head of product Joe Grace told us real-world testing remains hugely important. The company puts about 3 million miles annually on its prototypes. While the photos beg more questions than they answer, they confirm Maserati's renaissance is around the corner. The company will introduce its next new model during the Geneva Motor Show in March 2020, so we expect to learn much more about it in the coming months. It will be followed by the next-generation GranTurismo and GranCabrio, which will be available with the company's first electric powertrain, and by a new SUV positioned below the Levante. Featured Gallery 2020 Maserati sports car test mule spy shots Auto News Spy Photos Geneva Motor Show Maserati Coupe

Maserati's Levante crossover gets cold weather test

With winter in full effect in the northern hemisphere, automotive engineers from across the globe have flocked to the fjords and towns of northern Sweden for winter testing. That includes teams from Maserati, who are pitting a mule for the Levante SUV against the snow, ice and bitterly cold temperatures. The last time we saw a Levante mule was in August. That vehicle, though, was riding dirty without any license plates, meaning it's impossible to know if the vehicle shown above is one and the same. Both sport an eye-catching shade of blue beneath their shape-distorting camo, and the wheels and heightened roof are the same too. Beyond that, there's not a lot to see that's new here. Maserati's decision to move testing north to Sweden while still using a mule is an interesting one. As our spies point out, considering how long this particular vehicle has been testing, we'd imagine it's only a matter of time before we see a Levante testing with a more production-based body, rather than the Ghibli shell that's been fitted here. Take a look at the spy photos of the new Levante, available up top.

Maserati Ghibli revealed ahead of Shanghai debut

We knew it was coming, and here it is: the 2014 Maserati Ghibli. Maserati's plan of selling 50,000 cars per year by 2015 starts with the Ghibli, which will be positioned in a more volume-friendly market against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. The Ghibli will make its official debut later this month at the Shanghai Motor Show.
Although our first look at Maseati's newest sedan is limited to just three images, we can see that the car will have a sportier exterior design than its bigger brother, the Quattroporte, to go with an equally luxurious interior. Under its long, sleek hood, Maserati has confirmed that the Ghibli will utilize a pair of 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engines - one gas and one diesel - both mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions. A rear-wheel-drive configuration will be standard, and the Italian automaker's new Q4 all-wheel-drive system will be available.
Scroll down for the brief teaser press release.