Words: Ouseph Chacko
Maserati is back in India via Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India and will initially set up shop in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore via three dealers – Bagga Luxury Motorcars, AMP Motors and Jubilant Auto Works respectively. On offer will be the new Ghibli, the sixth generation Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio.
The Ghibli, a four door sports sedan will rival the A6, E-Class and 5 Series and will be the entry point to the brand. It will initially be offered only with a 275bhp, turbo-charged 3-litre V6 diesel engine and Maserati has plans to introduce the twin-turbo, 3.0-litre petrol V6 by next year after homologation. However at a starting price of `1.1 crore the Ghibli technically rivals the S6, M5 and E 63 AMG.
The Quattroporte range starts at `1.5 crore for the diesel and goes on to `2.2 crore for the GTS petrol. Also on offer is the achingly beautiful GranTurismo and GranCabrio which will cost `1.8 crore and `2.0 crore respectively and plans are already afoot to introduce the Alfieri Coupe in India by 2016.
Keen on erasing their Indian history with importer Shreyans, Maserati is taking a dealership approach in India and aftersales will be handled by fully equipped workshops and personnel at the dealerships with a flying doctor service for customers in the neighbouring regions. The company is also extending service to the ten known existing customers (yes, you read that right!) as well as any other Maseratis that might have made their way to India through other channels. Also on the company’s agenda are expansion plans with new dealerships in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad by 2018.