Maserati News

2017 Maserati Levante Q4 – Where Performance and Luxury Meet Practicality
Jul 19th
It’s up for debate if the world really needed another luxury crossover but Maserati sure seems to be making some waves with their Levante. With striking looks and its unique Italian character, the Levante is doing its part to stand out in a sea of homogenous boxes on wheels. Maybe we can chalk it up to Italian flair, but Maserati doesn’t really know how to build boring cars. Instead of the usual melting jelly bean shape we’re used to seeing on modern crossovers, the Levante trades bulbous proportions for chiseled, aggressive bumpers and bold character lines. But of course the Levante the way it does; with roots firmly established in Modena, just down the street from the hallowed grounds of Ferrari, there’s some sports car DNA in every vehicle they produce.

Say Hello to the new Maserati Levante!
Apr 12th
Last night, we had the pleasure of unveiling the brand new Maserati Levante SUV. This was one of the first public reveals in the country and we were honored to have so many friends and customers there with us to see it. We’re really excited to start selling Maserati’s new twin-turbo V6-powered SUV soon and can’t wait to get behind the wheel too. With either 350 or 430-hp on tap, the Levante should scoot down the road pretty well with the air-suspension and Q4 all-wheel drive system soaking up the bumps and maintaining traction and confidence in all conditions. Pricing will start around $72,000 and we’re taking orders now.
An SUV with the Heart of an Italian Sport Car
Feb 20th
Italian automakers have historically produced some of the most beautiful and best sounding vehicles, but they don’t often make Sport Utility Vehicles. Maserati has been delivering fun to drive, gorgeous cars to showrooms for years and they are now taking that recipe to the SUV market with the Maserati Levante. They have carried over the company’s design language with an aggressive front end highlighting the tapered headlights. The signature styling continues past the grill feature with three iconic air vents and trapezoidal C-pillar. The underpinnings of the Levante feature sophisticated air suspension with air springs and controlled damping. The Q4 all wheel drive system similar to the Quattroporte and Ghibli is adapted for unparalleled on road performance and low grip off road situations. An 8 speed transmission has been specially calibrated for the new SUV attaching to the gasoline powerplant.
Morrie’s Luxury Auto at the 2014 LA Auto Show
Dec 2nd
The Los Angeles Auto Show during the media press days is an extremely overwhelming, congested and an all out nightmare to navigate. That being said press days are some of the best times you can have at an auto show with all the new releases, food and media crews running every which way. With the vast amounts of luxury exotic vehicles, new models and some of the highest quality concept vehicles in the world it is certainly something to experience. More >
Maserati unveils Alfieri Concept at the Geneva Motor Show
Mar 5th
This year at the Geneva Motor Show Maserati unveiled their Alfieri concept which hints at a new design language that Maserati says will carry on to models in the future.
We’re not sure if this vehicle will go into production or not yet, and neither is Maserati. They are waiting to get more feedback on the concept before making that decision. “I sincerely can’t say that we’ll see this car in production in two years’ time, but I’m certain we’ll see something very similar,” said Lorenzo Ramaciotti, global head of design for Maserati’s parent company, Fiat.
The name Alfieri comes from one of the Maserati brothers who founded the company years ago. This concept is originally based on the GranTurismo chassis, with a bit of a shorter wheelbase that is 9.5 inches shorter. This concept is powered by the same 4.7-liter V-8 as the GranTurismo, but achieves 460 horsepower and 383 lb. ft of torque!
We’ll be sure to update you as soon as we find out more about this hot new concept vehicle from Maserati. Check back often for more info or head over to Morrie’s Luxury Auto website to check out some of the other great inventory we have on display!

Maserati Debuts the All-New Ghibli & 2014 Maserati Lineup in a 50th Anniversary Sports Illustrated Issue
Feb 25th
We’re not done celebrating Maserati’s exciting year with the arrival of the 2014 Ghibli, Quattroporte and GranTurismo. They just teamed up with the one and only Heidi Klum to bring you a 7-page editorial in the 50th Anniversary issue of Sports Illustrated. The idea behind the partnership with Heidi Klum is a salute to all the women who have achieved incredible things, beyond the swimsuit.
See official press release below.
Ghibli: A fiercely hot wind of Northern Africa
Feb 4th
On the 100th anniversary of the Maserati brothers opening their shop, the Ghibli arrived in Minneapolis. As the exclusive distributor for Maserati in Minnesota, Morrie’s Luxury Auto witnessed record sales during the last month of 2013. Customers are coming en masse to experience what is sure to be the car of the year.
Ghibli: A fiercely hot wind of Northern Africa. While the Ghibli name has been used to define such things as an AMX fighter jet, ultra-light bicycle wheel sets, and even a Japanese animation studio, one thing is evident… the Maserati Ghibli is an exotic sports sedan that truly embodies the fleeting wind and fiery temperament.
Not only is the Ghibli a magnificent example of beautiful Italian design, it has been rated as a top safety pick from the IIHS. The European equivalent, the Euro NCAP, claims that “Maserati’s level of protection would be available to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions.”
With the Ghibli being the first Maserati under $100,000, earning top safety picks, and featuring an elegant design; Maserati is set to take market share from the cookie cutter designs from the usual luxury manufacturers. Please browse these links to read more about recent crash testing.
http://www.euroncap.com/results/maserati/ghibli/539.aspx
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/maserati/ghibli
Morrie’s Luxury Auto at NAIAS 2014
Jan 17th
This week marked the celebration of the 25th Annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit and we were there getting coverage on some of the luxury brands!
We made sure to get a good spot for the Bentley press conference where they unveiled the all-new 2015 Continental GT V8S! This new model will have a 4.0 liter-twin-turbocharged V-8 producing 521 horsepower and 502 lb/ft. of torque! This is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that includes a Sport mode with sharper throttle response.
A higher-output 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 will give the vehicle 521 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This will be mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that includes an S mode with sharper throttle response and a more aggressive shift logic. The vehicle is said to reach 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds and hits top speeds of 192 mph!
This entire Continental lineup includes electronic climate control, Bluetooth, a DVD nav system, Google maps and an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, and the Naim audio system for an addition $7,000. You can also purchase the Mulliner package, which offers quilted leather interior, knurled chrome, and turned aluminum trim and lambs wool rugs as an option. Stay tuned for more information of the latest Bentley model revealed just this week!
We couldn’t attend the International Auto Show without making a stop at Porsche for the unveiling of the 2015 Porsche911 Targa! The all-new Targa is Porsche’s latest in a long line of Targa models. This model is known for having a lower, wider body and rear track. The Targa 4 will start around $102,595 and with that you can expect a 350-horsepower 3.4 liter flat-6 cylinder engine. You can also choose between a 7-speed manual and Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission. The Targa S on the other hand is equipped with 400 horsepower and the same flat-6 motor. But don’t forget the top, it was the talk of the show! The beautiful automatic Targa takes the top off and stores in away in the center with the push of a button. We hope to see the Targa 4 and 4s both on sale next summer.
While at Porsche we also spotted the 2014 918 Spyder again, but this time it was in Pearl We saw this beautiful vehicle for the first time at the LA Auto Show a few months back, but we sure were happy to lay our eyes on it again! The 918 Spyder is powered by a 4.6 Liter V8 engine which is backed by two electric motors that can achieve up to 62 mph in just 2.6 seconds.
Make sure to check out all of our photo’s below in the gallery and head over to YouTube for a playlist of all our Auto Show videos!
Morrie’s at the 2013 L.A. Auto Show!
Nov 22nd
We were thrilled to be able to bring you live coverage from the LA Auto Show where we saw hundreds of new vehicles from a number of different brands. We thought you would want to check out some of the luxury vehicles that made an appearance at the show, as well as the latest from Maserati and Bentley.
This year, Bentley presented the all-new Flying Spur at the L.A. Auto Show and displayed the Continental GTC V8 convertible and the flagship Mulsanne.
It was a big week for Maserati at the L.A. Auto Show with the live debut of their 2014 Maserati Ghibli. Although the Ghibli has already landed here at Morrie’s Luxury Auto, we thought you would love to see a few pictures from the unveiling and official debut. Stay tuned to our YouTube page for live video coverage on this beautiful new affordable Maserati.
We also made a stop at Porsche for all you luxury car fans to check out the beautiful 918 Spyder. This hot new vehicle gets its power from a 4.6 liter naturally aspirated V8gasoline engine backed by two electric motors and can achieve 62 mph in just 2.6 seconds! The 918 equipped with the Weissach package recently set a Nurburgring record for fastest street-legal car with a time of 6:57! Porsche will only be producing 918 of these model and each will be numbered on the back of the vehicle. Check out our picture below where you can tell that the one at the Auto Show was number: 000!
We hope that you enjoy our photos and other coverage from the Auto Show this week. Please be sure to like us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on everything going on at Morrie’s Luxury Auto!
2014 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4
Nov 13th
When someone offers you a chance to drive a brand new Maserati over a weekend, you’d be a fool to say no. From the moment you slide into the supple Italian leather driver’s seat and press the starter button on the left side of the steering wheel, you know you’re in something special. The twin-turbocharged 3-liter V6 whirrs to life with a guttural roar and quickly settles into a frenzied idle. It’s immediately clear that this engine can trace its heritage back to the Ferrari factory where the heart of this car is built alongside the fiercest engines in Maranello.
Speaking of which, the 3-liter V6 comes with a pair of turbochargers which boost power to 404 bhp and 405 lb-ft of peak torque available all the way from 1750 RPM to 5000 RPM. Although this is a 4,200 lb vehicle, it’s actually 150 lbs lighter than the outgoing model while offering similar power. What that means is that with all this power and style, the 2014 Quattroporte is significantly more fuel efficient than the previous generation, offering 15 city and 24 highway MPG. With the 8-speed ZF transmission, this car is definitely a great highway crusier. The huge range of gears allows for effortless high-speed cruising while sipping fuel. Of course, with the available paddle shifters, you’re never more than a few clicks away from flying at warp speed. On top of all that, the Quattroporte S Q4 features a clever all-wheel drive system that seamlessly transfers torque between the front and rear wheels, ranging from a 50/50 split between the front and rear wheels all the way to 100% of the power being sent to the rear of the car. All of this torque shuffling can be watched in real-time on the full-color instrument cluster display. With winter weather quickly approaching, there’s no doubt that this all-wheel drive system will help power the Quattroporte through all sorts of adverse conditions. In warmer, drier conditions, the Quattroporte S Q4 uses its all-wheel drive and wide, sticky summer tires to blast to 60 MPH in just 4.9 seconds.
While opinions vary on the new Quattroporte’s styling, in my eyes, it’s a much more refined and cohesive design compared to the outgoing model. The signature Maserati grille presents a menacing, snarling face which is framed by LED-lined headlights that give the Quattroporte an angry, aggressive look. It’s certainly more fearsome looking from the front than it is on the swoopy sides and contemporary rear end with quad tailpipes accentuating the wide hips. All in all, it’s an elegant design that exudes class and sets itself apart from the sea of BMW’s, Mercedes, and Audi’s out there. My only gripe is that the long, 125-inch wheelbase and curvaceous fenders are begging for some bigger wheels. Although I love the design of the standard 19-inch wheels, something in the 21 or 22-inch range would suit the car better, in my humble opinion. Luckily, there is an optional 21-inch wheel package available from Maserati that looks fantastic as well.
Turning our attention back to the inside of the Quattroporte, nearly everything you touch is beautifully trimmed in either buttery soft Poltrona Frau leather – which is the same supplier for Ferrari and Bugatti, among others – or suede-like alcantara for the headliner, sun visors, and pillars. Along with the Q4 all-wheel drive system there are four heated seats as well as a heated steering wheel, something I definitely appreciated during the chilly weekend I spent with the Quattroporte. Further down on the dash, we see shiny Erable wood trim – which is also integrated as a ring around the outside of the steering wheel – and a real aluminum bezel around the 8.4-inch touchscreen navigation screen. For those wanting a sportier look, real carbon fiber trim is available as well as three other types of wood including a really unique unfinished, open-pore Radica wood trim. It all adds up to a really nice place for passengers to sit back and relax, or hang on for dear life should you choose to set the engine mapping and suspension into Sport mode and let it rip!
Looking at the Maserati’s family tree, there is now a branch connecting parent company Fiat to Chrysler. The Italian giant took control of Chrysler a couple of years ago as they struggled in bankruptcy. As a result of the acquisition, we now see some parts sharing between Maserati and Chrysler, however the Quattroporte is nothing like Chrysler’s TC by Maserati from the early 1990s that was basically just a tarted-up LeBaron. Instead, Maserati has borrowed Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment platform, now called Maserati Touch Control and featuring navigation by Garmin. Now before you cry out against this parts sharing between the famed Maserati and lowly Chrysler, keep in mind that the Uconnect system is one of the most acclaimed infotainment systems on the market today. What this means is that not only is the infotainment system highly capable but it’s also incredibly user friendly. The 600-watt standard stereo sounded really nice but for those looking for a true world-class audio system, consider the 15-speaker, 1280-watt Bowers & Wilkins speaker package. For those who anticipate frequently driving rear seat passengers around, you may also want to consider the sleek rear seat entertainment system, with or without the folding tables built into the front seat backs. On top of that, there’s also an available WiFi hotspot which is a must for heavy tablet or laptop users.
So what is it actually like to drive a Maserati Quattroporte? Well, despite its size, this thing is built to hustle. Although the sport mode for the exhaust and suspension help contribute to the dynamic feel, I typically found myself driving in the default mode, enjoying the supple suspension and quiet, luxurious cabin. Regardless of the settings, dipping your right foot into the throttle will exude a sonorous crescendo of sound as the punchy V6 winds out to its redline. Although the power delivery is smooth and seamless, this is one car that will definitely push you back into the seat. After posting a few quick cellphone pictures of the Quattroporte on Facebook I suddenly found myself with a lot of friends that inexplicably needed rides and everywhere I went – from the gas stations, to restaurants, and even a simple beer run to the Four Firkins – the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte granted me VIP treatment at every stop. Now try to imagine that happening in your run of the mill BMW 7-Series, Audi A8 or Mercedes S-Class. From the moment you arrive, the Maserati exudes class and exclusivity that is unrivaled in its price range. Speaking of which, the 2014 Quattroporte S features a base price of $102,500. Add in the all-wheel drive and heating package for $4,710 and $1,500 for delivery from Italy and you’ve got a beautifully crafted, exotic sedan for $109,010.
Guest blog post written by: Alex Bellus – a well-known automotive photographer in the Twin Cities area and a frequent attendee of MN C&C at the Automotorplex. He is an Automotive Analyst for IHS Automotive and has a wide range of automotive knowledge. Keep your eye out for his next Blog Post where he will highlight another popular new vehicle!