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This is part of the ItalianCar.net archive - go to ItalianCar.net now NEWS ARCHIVE Maserati launches Kubang concept at Detroit
Maserati has chosen the recent Detroit Motor Show - the North American International Auto Show - to unveil a possible radical new direction for the luxury marque with the Maserati Kubang GT Wagon concept car. Designed by Giugiaro and - as with many Maseratis - named after a (Javan) wind, the Kubang is a 4 wheel drive SUV powered by a 390hp 4.2L Maserati V8. Maserati have stopped short of making a true off-roader, preferring to give the SUV a sporting twist, with a centre of gravity 10cm below the norm for these vehicles and a lower more sporty driving position but with very good forward vision for the driver. Seating capacity is from 4 to 6 with 1500 litres of luggage space (that's a lot for a Maserati!) and the Kubang has an innovative rear door with hinges high on the roof allowing rear loading easier. The Kubang comes equipped with a 6-speed (+ reverse) gearbox with mechanical electro-hydraulic control, making driving the automatic more comfortable. Giorgetto Giugiaro explains his approach to the task he was set by Ferrari/Maserati boss Luca di Montezomolo - " I decided that there was still something that could be done with the SUV concept. To me, they look more like off-roaders that have gradually been "civilised" rather than real automobiles. They've got a lot going for them, but for some reason they never really seem to offer the kind of sublime driving pleasure and all-round, all-weather and condition safety that are two givens of other modern cars".
"When Montezemolo (President of Ferrari/Maserati Group) talked to me about creating a whole new, ultra versatile Maserati, I decided we should do something that really pushed the envelope. We'd do a whole new take on the genuine Maserati GT that would make it perfect for sporty, dynamic modern drivers, and what we came up with was the GT Wagon concept. So that's how the Kubang came to be". " With the Kubang, we stretched the concept of the automobile as far as our imaginations would let us, without losing anything that would be expected from a thoroughbred GT." " I'm very happy with the design. As a constructor, Maserati has always had its finger on the pulse of what drivers right across the board want and that has often seen it marrying seemingly diverse features in a single car: just think of the way it combined the elegance and sophistication of the Maserati Mistral and the 3500GT with obviously racing-inspired performance. And so I was thrilled that Maserati gave me the brief to open a whole new chapter in a cutting edge segment that has completely changed the face of our roads in the last few years". With a 0-100kmh of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 250kmh+ this is one SUV that will stand out from the crowd.
SPECIFICATION Transmission 4WD, with torque control Weight distribution (front / rear) 48 - 52 % © italiancar.com.au 21/01/03
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