Novitec Powers up Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale with a Supercharger

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale was introduced at last year's Paris Motor Show as a lighter and more hardcore alternative to the standard model. However, the Italian firm left the Ferrari-sourced 4.7-liter V8 largely intact as it gained a mere 10HP over the S model producing 450-horses and 510 Nm (376 lb ft) of torque.

Famed German tuning house Novitec and its Tridente division, which specializes on Maserati models, decided to step in and offer owners of the GT MC Stradale an upgrade package that focuses on the performance aspect.

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Maserati Releases Confusing Video on New Kubang SUV [Plus New Photos]

There's no doubt the Fiat Group has done a pretty good job revitalizing Maserati since it acquired the famed brand from De Tomso in 1993.

And even though a much needed replacement for the Quattroporte sports saloon that has been on the market since 2004 has yet to be introduced, the Italians are already moving into new territory with the Kubang, the firm's first attempt in the SUV category.

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IAA 2011: Maserati's Jeep-Based but Ferrari-Powered Kubang SUV

For better or for worse, the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt hosted the world premiere of Maserati's second effort in the luxury SUV segment, the almost production ready Kubang.

For those of you wondering about the Italian firm's first stab at the popular category, that was the Kubang concept designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and introduced at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, never to be heard or seen after up until now.

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First Official Photos of Maserati Kubang SUV

Here's our first look at the Maserati Kubang SUV that will be making its world debut today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We'll soon bring you more details and live pictures from the reveal, but read on to see what we know so far.

The Kubang is believed to use the same platform architecture as the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, and which itself is based on the underpinnings of the new Mercedes-Benz ML.

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IAA 2011: Maserati SUV Photo Leaked or Photoshopped?

Here at Carscoop we are no strangers to purportedly leaked images that turn out to be photoshops so unless we have solid evidence to back up its authenticity, we treat these photos with skepticism.

The above picture of a Maserati SUV appeared in a pocket book catalogue for the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show made by/for Automotive News Europe, and it was quickly picked up by many news sites.

However, aside from the fact that the crossover model depicted here has one too many common design features with the BMW X6, we're under the impression that the same photo (the one on your right hand) appeared in an Italian magazine – the August issue of Quattroruote if we're not mistaken (maybe our Italian readers can help us out here).

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Black Card Holders Just as Likely to own a Hyundai as a Bentley or an Audi

If you are one of American Express’ very special customers, and have US$16.3 million in assets and an annual household income of around US$1.3 million, you may be granted the privilege of one of their black Centurion Cards.

Simon Cowell has one, as does Kanye West, Denzel Washington and Lindsay Lohan. Interestingly, and of more concern to readers of this blog, you might also be the proud owner of a Hyundai.

During the course of a presentation at the South Korean automaker’s Ann Arbor engineering and research centre, Hyundai’s U.S. Chief John Krafcik revealed that some 6% of “Black Card” holders own a Hyundai – a percentage shared with those who own Bentleys and Audis.

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Maserati SUV may get Hemi V8, not Ferrari V8 after all

Environmentalists may hate them, but SUVs have proved quite popular –that’s why even carmakers with no former experience are jumping in on the bandwagon, especially in the executive (and most profitable) market. The latest automaker to do so is Maserati which will launch its first ever crossover next year.

At first, Fiat-Chrysler’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, had revealed that that the Maserati SUV will be based on the new Grand Cherokee’s platform, which in turn is based on the quite capable Mercedes M-Class. However, Marchionne had also hinted that, like other Maserati models, it may get a Ferrari V8 –a very mouth-watering, and logical, proposal since the two companies belong to the same group.

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Aussie Supercar Buyers Paying More than Anyone Else

In today’s economy, AU$1.0 will get you US$1.06, but it seems Australia’s overseas automakers have yet to acknowledge this. A Lamborghini Aventador, for example, costs a hefty AU$754,600 – or more than twice the price you would pay for one in the U.S. of A. And its 51% pricier than a V12 powered Lamborghini Diablo was ten years ago. This was tolerable when the Aussie dollar was worth 64 U.S. cents a few years ago, but those days are over.

While TV’s, computers and mobile phones have all become more affordable, supercars have not. It’s so bad that one prospective Lamborghini buyer, businessman Ra Hazouri, has flat out refused to pay.

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Investigators Uncover Multi-Million Pound Tax Scam in India; European Exotics, Foreign Diplomats and Bollywood Actors Involved

In what sounds more like the plot of a The Fast and the Furious movie than real life, investigators at India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence office (a.k.a. India’s IRS) have uncovered a massive exotic car smuggling operation in the nation’s capital of New Dehli. It all has to do with India’s notorious 100% import tax on new luxury vehicles.

It began with one New Dehli luxury car dealer, Sumit Walia, importing brand new luxury cars on forged invoices. These invoices listed the cars as second-hand, which saved Walia – and his customers – some 40% on import tax. Some of the cars – which included Porsches, Bentleys and Aston Martins – were found to have been stolen from the streets of Britain, France, Singapore and Japan.

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MR Car Design Fine Tunes the Maserati Quattroporte Sports Saloon

For those Maserati Quattroporte owners seeking a bit more flair from the Italian sports sedan, German tuning house MR Car Design has prepared a mild performance package. Starting with a pre-facelift model, MR Car Design’s engineers tweak the 4.2-litre V8 engine’s software and add a custom exhaust system lifting output by 30HP and 29Nm for a total of 430-horses and 480Nm (352 lb-ft) of peak torque. Read more »

Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Limited Edition Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Maserati?s Quattroporte ?Collezione Cento? at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Maserati MC12 Corsa

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Black Maserati MC12 Corsa at the 2007 Essen Motor Show

Maserati MC12

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Maserati MC12 at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show

Maserati MC12

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Maserati MC12

Maserati MC12 at the 2007 Canadian International Auto Show

The Maserati GT Garbin is the GranTurismo of the Year 2020

The GT Garbin is a design study for a future Maserati sports coupe. Called Garbin, the Maserati GT is the project thesis of three students (Jaime Cervantes, Andrea Coccia, and Chetan Rajput) and was developed during their Master's degree in Transportation and Automobile Design, with a sponsorship from the Fiat Group. Read more »

Novitec Rosso Supercharges Alfa Romeo 8C Spider to 600-horsepower

It may not be the best sports car Italy has to offer us right now, but Alfa Romeo’s 8C Spider is certainly a prime candidate for being one of the most beautiful out there. That said, even Novitec Rosso is smart enough to know that you don’t mess with a good thing with the German tuner focusing its attention on improving the Alfa’s mechanical hardware.

The highlight of Novitec Rosso’s performance package is hidden under the 8C Spider’s hood with the adoption of a modified version of the supercharger system used on the firm’s Maserati GT tune. A new water-to-air intercooler with a dedicated radiator, custom injectors, a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system and an ECU optimization round off the changes to the 4.7-liter V8 engine.

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Softer 450HP Maserati GranTurismo MC Launches in the U.S.

Remember the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that was introduced last year at the Paris Auto Show? The Italian sportscar maker has brought a ‘softer’ version of the MC to the States that drops the “Stradale” word from its name. That is because the GranTurismo MC has a full automatic gearbox instead of the original Race Shift transmission and two extra seats in the back instead of a roll cage. Even so, the Granturismo MC is the fastest series production model Maserati has ever sold in America. Read more »

Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Limited Edition Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Maserati GranSport

Maserati are famous for their luxury sports cars but they have not always been popular candidates for customized car projects. As a result, most Maserati show cars have been either a tribute to Maserati's racing heritage, with cars such as the Maserati MC12or an unveiling of the Italian car company's latest models and special model derivatives.

Below is our gallery of some of the hottest Maserati cars from the car shows around the world...

Maserati GranSport at the 2008 Sydney Motor Show