by Maserati hints at the return of the Quattroporte in a new format
Maserati management has confirmed plans to create two new E-segment cars. One of them will likely become the successor to the Levante crossover. The other remains a mystery, but teaser images hint at a sports car, a grand tourer, or a four-door coupe.
The latter option seems increasingly likely after Maserati COO Santo Ficili, during a discussion of the updated Grecale and GranTurismo models, mentioned sedans. However, the future model is unlikely to be an exact copy of the previous Ghibli or Quattroporte.
According to Road & Track, Ficili stated:
“The modern interpretation of a sedan could change. I think there will be room for something like a sedan, a little more versatile, but still aggressive.”
This sounds like a hint at a model that blurs the lines between a classic sedan and a crossover. Ficili also added:
“I also believe the name ‘Quattroporte’ is looking for something new — because, after all, there is this bridge between SUVs and sedans that no one has built yet.”
It is worth noting that many companies have tried to create a convincing hybrid of these two body types, but not all have succeeded.
Historical parallels and a new approach
A classic example of this approach is the AMC Eagle, but it is far from the only one. Volvo released the S60 Cross Country over ten years ago, and Toyota tried something similar with the Crown model. There are also plenty of off-road wagons on the market, such as the new Audi A6 Allroad.
Beyond these hints, Maserati is signaling that their reimagined sedan could arrive relatively soon. As Chief Marketing Officer Cristiano Fiorio stated:
“Currently, we are not present in this E-segment, where we have the heritage of our history, namely the Quattroporte and the Ghibli sedan. We are developing a new model in this direction because there is a concrete request from customers.”
Both E-segment cars are expected to appear by 2030, although Maserati has not always been known for flawless adherence to deadlines. The company is currently in partnership negotiations, and more details can be expected in December.
Interestingly, Maserati seems to be trying to find a unique niche that will allow it to stand out from competitors. Combining elements of a sedan and a crossover could be an answer to changing customer preferences, who seek the practicality of an SUV but do not want to completely abandon the dynamics and elegance of traditional passenger cars. The success of such an experiment will depend on how well engineers manage to balance these seemingly opposite qualities, as well as on whether the brand can launch the new product on time, beating other manufacturers who are also actively experimenting in this direction.
