If you want to get the authentic feel of Maserati vehicles, the best place to drive them has to be around its headquarters in Modena, Italy. And when better than summer?
Maserati wanted to highlight its products to Asia Pacific-based journalists. That included reporters from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia and me from New Zealand.
A three-day drive programme, called Driven by Craft, included Ghiblis, Quattroportes and a Levante SUV with visits to companies and venues that had an association with the vehicles.
Read more: Maserati Quattroporte road test
The press fleet for the Maserati drive around Milan and Modena. Photo / Lorenzo Marcinno
Based in the northern Italian city since 1941, Maserati’s history includes a stint with its neighbour, Ferrari, before Fiat Chrysler took over the marque in 1993.
Its line-up includes the Quattroporte sports sedan, GranTurismo coupe and convertible, the smaller Ghibli sedan and the Levante SUV, launched to huge success in 2016.
The Quattroporte, launched in 1963, is the brand’s flagship with a 3-litre, V6 turbo diesel, its rear-wheel-drive producing 600Nm of torque (NZ price $179,990). Added to our press fleet was a 3.8-litre V8 GTS model, producing 710Nm of torque ($284,990).
The two Ghiblis included a V6 diesel ($136,990) producing 600Nm and a 3-litre V6 petrol ($135,990). The Levante range starts at $136,990 for the turbo diesel, while the V6 petrol is $174,990.
Read more: Maserati amp up the power in new Ghibli
The line up of vehicles outside Maserati, Modena, Italy. Photos / Lorenzo Marcinno
For Maserati, the Ghibli launch in 2013 saw demand increase before the Levante hit the showrooms — and that’s when things got really interesting. Last year, it represented 57 per cent of Maserati’s sales.
The success of the Ghibli and Levante has seen the company expand production, with its largest markets being Europe and the US.
In 2022, Maserati will be launching a compact SUV, while EVs are in the future. “We will include a number of cars step-by-step,” said a spokesman at Maserati HQ, “with hybrid and full electric models available.”
The brand limits production of its vehicles, with 50,000 produced last year and similar numbers for this year. “That’s because we want to keep exclusivity,” said the spokesman. “Whenever you drive a Maserati you must have fun.”
Maserati Ghibli diesel in Modena, Italy. Photo / Lorenzo Marcinno
They see their vehicles as “elegance, aesthetically beautiful with personality with excess”. Maserati’s products are famous for the large bonnet, three angles on the C-pillar and the grille with the prominent trident.
The company wants to promote its product to the Asia Pacific region and explain its heritage — hence our trip. The drive started at company HQ in Modena, heading to Sarnico and finishing in Trivero.
Partnered with Australian journalist Susan, who had never driven on the right-hand side of the road, I decided to start with the smaller Ghibli diesel so she could gain the confidence to try driving in Europe.
After a tour and dinner of the home of Modena hero and former Maserati ambassador, the late Luciano Pavarotti, on our first night in Italy, we headed to the Panini farm next day. No, it’s not a building devoted to pressed sandwiches; the Panini family owns the world’s most complete collection of Maseratis.
The classic Maseratis at the Pannini farm museum. Photo / Lorenzo Marcinno
The late Italian entrepreneur Umberto Panini — he and his brother made their fortune from books, comics, magazines and trading cards — bought the collection from Maserati in the 1990s when the firm had financial issues. Since then, the family has added to the treasure trove, including race cars and bikes.
On the drive from Modena to Sarnico in the Ghibli, I convinced Susan to get behind the wheel. Rather than the motorways we had driven on for the previous few hours, her stint was on the scenic road to Lake Iseo — but local drivers and narrow roads made her too nervous to try a long stint.
On the last day we headed to Casa Zegna in Trivero. This time we swapped between the two Quattroportes, including one with silk interior trims, seats and panels.
Ermenegildo Zegna is famous for tailoring men’s suits but Maserati realised that silk made an ideal seat fabric.
“Silk is a natural fabric and it is washable so ideal for seat inserts and it can also be heated,” said a Maserati spokesperson.
Both companies started production at the same time and have the same philosophy, a Zegna spokeswoman said.
Heading down from the Zegna factory’s mountain setting to Modena, we drove the Levante, with the SUV easily taking on the tight country roads.
It’s no wonder this SUV does well from Maserati – and its smaller sibling will broader the appeal for the Italian brand.
Hopefully next time I’m in Modena I’ll be able to try that baby Levante.
Read more: Maserati Levante S: the Ferrari-powered performance SUV
