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.
But now it seems, according to a report from Top Gear magazine, that this may not be the case because the Italian V8’s high-revving nature is not as suitable for an SUV, which requires beefy low-end torque.
Marchionne’s solution to the problem? The Chrysler-built 6.4-litre and 465 hp Hemi, because it already fits the platform and seems like the obvious, and much cheaper choice than Ferrari’s V8.
In any case, don’t expect the Maserati SUV to display the Grand Cherokee’s off-road performance. It will instead be more performance-orientated with a plush interior and the emphasis given on on-road performance and handling.
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