The rumor mill is going into overdrive with reports that Maserati plans to launch an SUV in 2012, aiming to capture the sportier side of the crossover market currently dominated by the likes of the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. While such a move may once have been considered outlandish news that Aston Martin plans to go ahead with its Lagonda SUV concept mean that all bets are on. Insiders tell Teamspeed that pricing for the vehicle will clock in at just under $100,000 with high-end models fetching more. Look for a dramatic introduction at a motor show helping to lead off orders with a bang.
Maserati has actually been thinking about entering the SUV market for some time. Way back in 2003 they debuted a Kubang GT Wagon concept, designed by designed by the legendary Italian stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro, which was basically a hopped-up version of the Coupé. The new SUV will most likely take its design cues from the Quattroporte, though Russian designer Andrey Trofimchuk Simeonych has come up with what he thinks could be a likely look for the all-wheel warrior. The Kubang was equipped with a 390 hp Maserati eight-cylinder ‘V’ engine but of course engineering has progressed since then.
