Can someone kindly explain what is going on with Italian manufacturers? First Lamborghini unveils a barely facelifted Gallardo, then Ferrari wheels out a carbon-fibre tub that will eventually underpin the Enzo replacement and then Maserati reveals the GranCabrio MC - essentially a warmed up version of the existing GranCabrio. Has Italian innovation stalled?
Well not so if you believe Maserati's future plans. For starters it announced that an all-new Quattroporte is on its way (just not in time for Paris). The new car is expected to arrive next year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Quattroporte and it will take on young upstarts like the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS. However with those cars already on their second generations and having spawned 'Shooting Brake' models is it too-little-too-late for Maser?
Much more interesting is the announcement of the Ghibli - an E-segment four-door saloon that will compete with the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class when it arrives. When that is we cannot tell you but Maserati has hinted at a 'baby-brother' to the Quattroporte for a long time.
As it has spoken about a luxury SUV. The Kubang concept previewed what Maserati called a 'sports-luxury SUV' and now comes the confirmation that it is to go into production. The new car will be named the Levante - after the 'Via Emilia Levante' in Bologna where the Maserati brothers (Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore and Ernesto) first set up the company that bears their name. The centennial of the foundation of Maserati takes place in 2014 and it is then that we expect to see the Levante SUV.