Iconic Italian sport-luxury marque, Maserati, have officially entered India with their entire portfolio.
The company, which celebrated their 100th birthday on December 1st, 2014, was earlier in India through an importer, whom they terminated relationship with back in 2012. Now, the company has come in officially, operating under the FIAT-Chrysler Alliance India, with fully-equipped dealerships and service centres complete with Maserati trained technicians.
Maserati have dealers in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and will follow it up with more four more in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. For customers in cities without Maserati presence, a flying technician will take care of every need that may arise. The company is more focussed on exclusivity than numbers; their targets for India are in the double-digit range. Globally, however, Maserati have seen their numbers grow from 6,200 in 2012, to 15,400 in 2013, and a whopping 36,500 cars in 2014. This year, they are targeting 75,000 cars.
Maserati is one of the oldest carmakers and knows that customers too will evolve. Thus, from offering just one engine-gearbox-drive combination, Maserati have launched newer models with down-sized engines, in multiple states of tune as well as options for rear- or all-wheel-drive. The diesel models at present make up 60% of sales in Europe, and Maserati hope to emulate that success in new markets as well.
The range in India comprises the Ghibli sport-luxury sedan, the Quattroporte sport-luxury super-sedan, the 2+2 fixed-head coupé GranTurismo and convertible GranCabrio, all of which will be imported via the completely built-up (CBU) route. The prices start from Rs 1.1 crore for the diesel Ghibli, going up to Rs 2.8 crore for the GranCabrio MC Stradale, all prices are ex-showroom. Maserati are also offering the limited edition Centennial Models of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.
The Ghibli turbo-petrol will be launched in 2016, in both V6 (330 PS) and V6 S (410 PS) guises, following completion of homologation procedures. The new Alfieri will also arrive, but one of the most significant launches will be the Levante luxury SUV. There’s a lot coming from the Italian icon, so keep your eyes and ears wide open.
Details and pricing of the cars on sale this quarter are below. All prices are ex-showroom.
Ghibli Diesel
3.0-litre, V6 turbo-diesel, 275 PS, 600 Nm
Rs 1.1 crore
Quattroporte Diesel
3.0-litre, V6 turbo-diesel, 275 PS, 600 Nm
Rs 1.5 crore
Quattroporte GTS
3.8-litre, V8 twin-turbo petrol, 530 PS, 700 Nm
Rs 2.2 crore
GranTurismo
4.2-litre, V8 petrol, 405 PS, 460 Nm
Rs 1.8 crore
GranTurismo Sport / MC
4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 460 PS, 520 Nm
Price TBC
GranCabrio
4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 450 PS, 510 Nm
Rs 2.0 crore
GranCabrio Sport
4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 460 PS, 520 Nm
Price TBC
GranCabrio MC
4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 460 PS, 520 Nm
Rs 2.8 crore
Story: Jim Gorde
