Motoring Ahead

Maserati leaves the competition behind with the GranSport 

- James Davison

SHORTLY BEFORE THE release of the sixth generation Quattroporte, back in 2012, Maserati announced a five-year plan to reach sales figures of around 45,000 per year.

Now, we are all aware that manufacturers have to always plan years in advance, but those optimistic sales figures were greeted in the industry with a healthy dose of disbelief. Maserati had struggled through the 1990s to barely reach 500 vehicle sales per year. And in the slightly better 2000s they averaged about 5,000 units per year. We therefore all questioned the historic Italian marque’s grasp on reality concerning this seemingly unobtainable sales target.

What we didn’t know back then that we do know now is that marque with the Trident had a three-pronged attack lined up. First was the sixth generation Quattroporte, which was followed by the Ghibli, and sales did indeed increase. But just as all of us petrol-heads were getting hopeful and excited about a new coupé hitting the streets to replace the aging GranTurismo, Maserati threw us all a curve ball and dropped a performance SUV in our laps. But it is fair to say Maserati knew what it was doing.