2005 Maserati Gransport Spyder Silver With Navy Blue Interior Only 17000 Miles on 2040-cars

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2015 Maserati GranTurismo to show new styling language for brand

Despite the fact that Maserati has yet to officially mention the next generation of its grand touring lineup, it seems like we know plenty of details about the upcoming range of Maserati coupes and convertibles. First we heard that the GranTurismo line would be growing to include three models, then we heard that new, smaller two-seater (possibly named Gran Sport) could be here by 2016 and, most recently, reports indicated that the GranTurismo's successor will feature more compact dimensions to better take on the Porsche 911.
Now Edmunds is reporting that the 2015 GranTurismo will mark a major evolution in the design language for the Italian automaker, while the Levante SUV will get the current styling cues found on the 2014 Quattroporte and 2014 Ghibli. The article also says that Maserati is planning to offer its models with a wider range of available colors and that it will introduce new limited-edition models as well all in hopes of selling 50,000 units globally by 2015.

Maserati GranCabrio revealed in high-output Trofeo trim

As has been the tradition with Maserati over the past couple of decades, now that the four-seat GT coupe has launched, it's time for the drop-top version. And this latest convertible adopts the same name as its predecessor: GranCabrio. It is, in almost every respect, the same car as the GranTurismo, but with a fabric roof and a bit more weight. Said roof is available in five colors: a navy blue, dark red, black, grey and "greige." It is indeed fabric in order to fold more compactly and allow for cargo space with the top folded, though it will still take up a bit of trunk space when retracted. It also folds quickly at just 14 seconds, and it will come back up in 16. Operation of the top can be done at speeds up to 31 mph. To keep occupants comfy in all temperatures with the top down, the front seats have air vents in the seat backs to blow air onto the neck. Optionally available is a fold-open wind blocker that fits behind the front seats, though it can't be used with rear occupants. The soft top does bring some extra weight, around 220 pounds compared to the equivalent coupe. Maserati didn't specify exactly what contributes to the gain – whether it's more just top components or if some of it comes from chassis reinforcements (both seem likely). Interestingly, the extra weight actually gives the GranCabrio slightly better balance than the GranCoupe. The drop-top's front and rear weight distribution is 51/49 to the coupe's 52/48. Maserati is only offering the GranCabrio in the top-spec Trofeo internal-combustion trim for now. That includes the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 making 542 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The weight does ever so slightly blunt acceleration, dropping it by 0.1 second to 3.6 compared to the GranTurismo Trofeo. The same staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels and Brembo brakes carry over from the coupe, too. And while the Trofeo is the only version for now, Maserati notes that the chassis remains designed for internal combustion and electric power, so an all-electric Folgore and more entry-level Modena gas-powered models will likely be added later. Maserati did not give a specific time for when the GranCabrio will hit dealers, but it should be sometime this year. Pricing is also a mystery, but should carry a premium over the GranTurismo coupe. Related video:

Maserati to recall Quattroporte and Ghibli over shifter

On Thursday, documents on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website revealed that Maserati is preparing to recall 13,092 2014 Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans because of a "counter-intuitive" gear shift lever. The shifter may lead drivers to believe the car is in park while it's actually in reverse, potentially causing the car to roll away. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Maserati's parent company, has recalled 1.1 million vehicles worldwide for this same issue. The affected vehicles span several model years and all share a ZF-designed eight-speed automatic transmission. The shifter design in these vehicles is similar to but not exactly like the one in the two Maseratis. Currently, 41 injuries have been attributed to this issue. There seems to be no indication of hardware failure for any of these incidents. In the United States, the 2012-14 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 and 2014-15 Jeep Grand Cherokee were named in this first recall. Actor Anton Yelchin's recent death, caused when he was crushed by his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, may be related. As of the current model year, the Charger, 300, and Grand Cherokee have an updated shifter design. According to the documents, FCA is currently working on a software update that will remedy the issue. Because the solution must be tested and verified, the company doesn't expect it to be ready for another few months. Both recalls were brought about after a NHTSA investigation. In May, NHTSA suggested Maserati issue a recall and on June 1 the company agreed with the group's assessment, though Maserati did tell NHTSA that they have had no complaints of vehicles rolling away. We're currently waiting on comment from Maserati North America and will update the story when more information is available. Related Video: Recalls Maserati Luxury Sedan maserati ghibli