Maserati is a world-famous car manufacturer of Italian origin, founded in 1914. Currently, it specializes in the production of exclusive luxury cars. The headquarters of the company is located in the northwestern part of Italy in Modena. Today, the automobile brand is part of the large transnational association "FIAT".
Brand History
Starting a story about the history of the brand "Maserati", it is necessary to mention the family of founders. In total, six children were brought up in the Maserati family. The youngest of them, Mario (Mario Maserati), devoted his whole life to art, the middle one, Carlo (Carlo Maserati), could not imagine his own existence without auto racing. The four remaining brothers, Alfieri Maserati, Ernesto Maserati, Bindo Maserati, and Ettore Maserati, were employed in the automobile business, working for the small local company Isotta-Fraschini in Bologna.
In 1914, Alfieri decided to start his own business and opened the first family workshop "Officine Alfieri Maserat", as the location of which a suburb of Bologna was chosen. The brothers, Bindo, Ettore and Ernesto, support his initiative and will soon join the family business. By joint efforts, purposeful and ambitious Italians manage to build the first author's sports car. It was equipped with a two-liter engine and had good technical specifications at that time.
The workshop began to go uphill, and by 1926 Alfieri manages to conclude a rather profitable contract with a large Italian company, "Diato". With its funding, the brothers officially register their own automobile company, Maserati.
It was from this period that mass production of various lines of cars equipped with four-, six-, eight- and sixteen-cylinder engines was established.
In 1932, the main ideological inspirer of the brand, Alfieri Maserati, passed away, but the brothers continue the work he started.
The fate of the brand after the death of Alfieri
Suddenly leading the company, Bindo, Ettore and Ernesto were unable to continue their brother's undertaking, and a series of measures they had taken nearly drove the Maserati into crisis. In 1937, they decide to sell a majority stake in the Orsi family.
The new owners are rapidly reorganizing production, as well as changing the headquarters location, moving it to the country's largest business center - Modena on Viale Ciro Menotti. Orsi’s policy was aimed exclusively at mass production of sports segment cars.
Maserati brothers do not leave the company completely, they only relieve themselves of their leadership responsibilities and continue to work as design engineers and developers.
With the advent of the Orsi family, the Maserati team becomes an active participant in a variety of racing contests and competitions. So, in 1940, she managed to win her first official victory at the races in Indianapolis (Indianapolis). It is noteworthy that it was in this fight that the brand managed to move such car market giants as Audi and Mercedes off the podium.
From the beginning of the 1940s until the end of World War II, the company, like many other automotive companies of that historical period, was re-trained as a supplier of military equipment for the Italian army. The key rival to Maserati at that time was V16.
When all hostilities ceased and a peace agreement was signed, Maserati returned to its usual working track and was actively engaged in the development of a new series of racing cars from the A6 series. At this point, the contract concluded with the Maserati brothers also expired, and they had to leave the company.
Another change of power
In the late 60s of the last century, the company was waiting for big changes - so, in 1968, it once again changed its owner. A controlling stake in Maserati began to belong to the French-based car manufacturer Citroën.
Previous owner Adolfo Orsi, however, was in no hurry to finally leave Maserati, reserving the position of company president. And although nominally he was really considered as the head of the enterprise, the policy of the automobile brand has undergone dramatic changes. Firstly, cars began to be produced at an accelerated pace - up to two units in one day. Secondly, Citroen generously shared with Maserati its innovative technologies and accumulated experience, which allowed it to develop a unique range of cars, revolutionary for those years. One of the most significant inventions created in close cooperation between two world-famous brands is the hydraulic suspension, which made a splash in the world market.
In the early 70s of the twentieth century, the Maserati range was presented exclusively by prestigious car models: Merak, Bora, Khamsin and Quattroporte. That is why the oil crisis that erupted during this period caused irreparable damage to the financial well-being of the company. Expensive race cars sharply lost their demand and could no longer pay off. Citroën promptly filed for bankruptcy and resold Maserati shares in 1964.
Alessandro de Tomaso - the new heart of the brand
In 1975, there was another change of leadership within the company. Popular race car driver and design engineer Alessandro de Tomaso bought the bankrupt company, hoping to give him a second wind. In general, the Italian’s ideas were realized - in 1976, the presentation of a completely new model range of the brand took place. The public were presented cars "Kyalami" and "Quattroporte III", which made a splash among the masses.
In the early 1980s, Tomaso launched the Biturbo supercar, which was cheap compared to other brand cars. It was developed on the basis of the V6 engine, equipped with a dual turbocharging system, and also had a power of 180 hp.
"Biturbo" became a real sensation, literally forcing people to rethink and re-evaluate their attitude to supercars. The car had a very classic appearance, but its internal contents fascinated with its unintended luxury. The commercial success of this machine was ensured by its compactness and efficiency, because it was precisely these two properties that the Italian motorist of the crisis period of the eighties needed so much.
Maserati in the 1990s
In the spring of 1993, the car company was again sold. This time she came under the leadership of a major Italian concern "FIAT", a new historical era "Maserati" began.
In 1999, the first car from the 3200 GT line came off the assembly line. It was a coupe with two doors, which was equipped with a three-liter engine of the "V8" generation, a turbocharging system, and its power reached 370 liters. with. The car easily accelerated to 285 km / h.
Also, in 1999, another company specializing in the production of luxury cars, Ferrari, gained full control over the brand. After this transaction, a rapid expansion of the Maserati influence began - the construction of new plants, the opening of representative offices around the world.
Maserati today
"Maserati" today is not just a world famous automobile company; it is a symbol of luxury and prestige. Machines of this brand are not just vehicles, but real works of art, the creation of which the best designers and designers of today have worked on.
In 2011, the brand demonstrated the first Kubang concept car in its history, and in 2016, mass production of Levante crossovers was launched.
Today, the company has representative offices in more than 60 countries, and the number of employees exceeds the mark of a thousand people.
Among the produced models, the following can be distinguished:
- "Ghibli III";
- "GranCabrio";
- "GranTurismo";
- "Levante";
- "Quattroporte".
Maserati quattroporte
Under the name “Quattroporte”, four-door luxury luxury sedans are produced within the brand. Today, there are six generations of this model.
- The first generation - from 1963 to 1970;
For the first time, cars of this lineup were presented at the international auto show held in Torino in 1963. Their design was developed by the legendary car designer of the time - Pietro Frua (Pietro Frua). It is noteworthy that it was with this model that the serial production of Maserati sedans began.
The first copies of the car had an engine of the "V8" generation, the volume of which reached 4.1 liters. They could reach speeds of up to 250 km / h.
The main advantage of this model was not at all technical specifications, but its appearance. "Quattroporte" was distinguished by an unusually expensive and sophisticated design, which could most accurately reflect the status of its owner.
- The second generation - from 1974 to 1978;
Models of this generation were significantly different from their predecessors. This was due to the fact that the development of cars at this time was carried out in conjunction with the concern "Citroen".
So, sedans have increased significantly in length - now they reached 5200 mm. The wheelbase has also been increased to 3070 mm.
Cars were made on the basis of "Citroen SM" and were re-qualified as front-wheel drive.
- The third generation - from 1976 to 1990;
- The fourth generation - from 1994 to 2000;
- Fifth generation - from 2003 to 2013;
- The sixth generation - from 2013 to the present.
Maserati levante
The Levante range is literally a new word in the Maserati automotive world. These cars are unique crossover SUVs that perfectly combine both impeccable Italian style and breathtaking sports spirit.
The luxury SUV is equipped with the innovative new-generation V6 gasoline engine; its volume reaches 3 liters. Also, the car has a dual turbocharging system, has a relatively economical fuel consumption.
As for the interior decoration of the car, it is a true embodiment of luxury and presentability. The salon is decorated with first-class quality materials - the finest leather, natural delicate silk and expensive wood.
Maserati gran turismo
The official presentation of the cars of this lineup took place in the spring of 2007 during the Geneva Motor Show.
The car has a four-liter engine of the "V8 Ferrari" generation, which is capable of reaching a power of 298 kW. Also, it is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The car offers four seats (one of which is a driver). Since 2009, a convertible version of the model has been on sale.
Maserati ghibli iii
The Ghibli III is a premium sedan. It first went on sale in mid-2013. All of its production is focused on the original automobile factory of the brand, located in Grugliasco (Grugliasco). In total, up to twenty thousand cars belonging to this lineup come off the assembly line a year.
The starting price for the model is from 65,000 euros.
Among the technical characteristics of the car can be distinguished: three-liter diesel and gasoline engines of a six-cylinder type; eight-speed automatic transmission; front suspension multi-link anti-roll bar.
The official presentation of the model was held at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2013.
