Maserati Diesels to Receive Simulated Engine Sounds

A few weeks back, we reviewed BMW’s Active Sound system, the system that pipes V-10 engine sounds through the stereo system. We dubbed this system a useless gimmick because a turbo V-8 is a damn fine sounding engine, but owners cannot opt to turn it off without pulling a fuse that also turns off the entire stereo system. Well, it looks like BMW is not alone in this game.

Starting In 2014, Maserati will be selling its first ever diesel-powered vehicle, the Kubang SUV to compete with the Porsche Cayenne diesel in the European market. What Car? asked Maserati’s Vice President of Product Development, Roberto Corradi, about the notoriously beautiful engine sounds that Maserati buyers know and love in their cars and its potential effect on the sales of this diesel SUV.

Corradi responded by stating that engineers are working on using the Kubang’s stereo system to give it a nice engine note. This can only be interpreted as Maserati piping in fake engine sounds through the stereo. Unlike the BMW M5, we see a purpose for this, just like we do in electric cars, as these economic diesel engines just don’t sound cool. This piping in sounds of a high-performance engine can make drivers feel more like they are driving a true Maserati rather than a slower diesel model.

All we ask of Maserati is to install an “On/Off” switch that allows its owner to shut this feature off if he prefers natural engine sounds. As long as that’s taken care of, we have no problem with this feature and actually find it pretty neat.

Maserati will expand line-up to five models

The current Maserati line-up includes the Quattroporte, the GranTurismo, and the GranCabrio, but things are about to get a little more populated with addition of a new sedan and a new SUV. The company has already begun developing these models and we should start see the fruits of their labor sometime in 2012, with the last model - the SUV - arriving in 2014. Before that, a new generation Quattroporte will be coming off of the production block, followed by a smaller model that will take on the likes of the BMW 5-Series.

Both sedans are being designed by Pininfarina and the Fiat Auto Centro Stile as we speak and they will be offered with either a 400-hp MultiAir-equipped, turbocharged version of the Pentastar V-6 or a 300 HP V6 turbo-diesel. The engines will be mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox that will help improve fuel consumption.

The new SUV arriving in 2014 - earlier said to be 2012 - will be the first one landing on the Maserati lineup and will be based on the Grand Cherokee platform. Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler Group and Fiat, has already confirmed that the new model will be fitted with a "rock and roll engine" from Ferrari, possibly in both V8 and V12 variants. The company has already invested $750 million for its production.

2020 Maserati GT Garbin Concept

Jaime Cervantes, Andrea Coccia, and Chetan Rajput, a trio of students from the Transportation Design at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, have come up with a design study that is fit to wear the Maserati crown. Under the guidance of Fiat, these students chose to create a design study of what a Maserati GranTurismo inspired vehicle would look like in 2020 with a throwback to the Maserati Ghibli produced in the late sixties/early seventies. It goes by the name of Maserati GT Garbin, but its look is anything but retro with some unique and modern interpretations.

The GT Garbin’s surface language features discontinuous shapes and luminescent fabrics as seen a fashion design concept called the Armani Collection Privé 2010. The modern edge was added through the use of dramatic, futuristic shapes inspired by the Opera Theatre of Valencia, by Calatrava. The sparkle comes in the form of various blue LED lights scattered throughout the exterior and unique doors that open outward and then slide forward. A typical Maserati grille was thrown in there for good measure.

The same design language was brought to the interior of the vehicle and is used to connect the door panels to the dashboard. The GT Garbin Concept can fit four adults in seats that seem to be a little awkwardly shaped. A long piano-black center console breaks up the look of the interior and houses the air conditioner, navigation, and entertainment system controls.

This concept was sponsored by Fiat, so the GT Garbin will use the same 4.7 liter V8 engine as seen on the Maserati GranTurismo. Not that we will ever see this concept out on the road. Then again, that’s what many people said about the Lamborghini Indomable Concept and now the Mostro DiPotenza SF22 is a major work in progress.