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Maserati and Audi to Share Technologies in Future Models

Maserati May Offer Audi Derived All-Wheel Drive

Two rather unlikely suitors have just announced a marriage made in heaven; that is if you happen to love premium sport/luxury cars. Maybe its best described as an arranged union by two influential parents. Either way Volkswagen owned Audi and Ferrari owned Maserati (backed by Fiat) have joined forces to assist each other in the development of future models.

Maserati will benefit by the use of Audis acclaimed quattro all-wheel drive system in its latest Quattroporte sedan, if it chooses to do so, and Giugiaro-designed Kubang sport utility vehicle if it chooses to build it - the announcement for the latter should come sometime around

Maserati will possibly offer Audis quattro all-wheel drive system in their new Quattroporte sedan and future Kubang SUV, if it goes into production. (Photo: Maserati)
the end of the year with most analysts expecting a go-ahead. The Italian marque will also get use of the German companys turbodiesel as an option in the SUV.

Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari-Maseratis president, stated that there wont be a diesel or long wheelbase variation of the new Maserati sedan, but a sports package and an executive version may offer the AWD system.

Most importantly to Maserati, it will get use of Audis financial services arm to help boost sales in an ever more competitive market.

What does Audi get out of the deal?
Audi benefits by having access to the Quattroportes new chassis architecture and impressive 4.2-L engine. That begs the question, how much better in driving dynamics can the Maserati sedan really be over the already impressive A8? (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)
First and foremost is the profits earned off of the financial services "paper" from the sale of Maseratis, plus the use of the Quattroportes new chassis architecture (platform) as well as its impressive 4.2-L engine in yet unspecified future models.

There is no word if this includes its Ferrari F1 derived Cambiocorsa paddle shift transmission, but it shouldnt matter much to Audi considering it already offers a version of their own in the updated TT.

The Ferrari connection initially poses an interesting question. Being that Audi is part of VW AG, that also owned Ferraris chief competitor Lamborghini as well as supercar manufacturer Bugatti, it at first seems that sharing technologies could have dire consequences for the much smaller Italian firm. Not so according to the new deal, which allows component sharing between Audi and Maserati only.



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