Overview & Reviews

Italian sports-car excitement doesn't have to come at super-steep prices. Maserati has made a name for itself as a maker of lust-worthy exotics that, though costly, are bargains relative to their stratospherically priced competition. Maserati cars currently come in a number of configurations that range from an open sports car to a spacious luxury sport sedan.

The company was founded in 1914 by six Maserati brothers: Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto. Based in Bologna, Italy, the brothers were racing enthusiasts and planned to craft racecars for private use. Mario, an artist, was believed to have based the company's trident emblem on a statue of the mythological god Neptune found in a Bologna square.

Throughout the '20s and '30s, the Maserati brothers scored many wins around the globe in their custom-built racecars. In 1937, the surviving brothers sold their stake in the company to the Orsi family, who moved the company's headquarters to Modena. A couple of years later, one of the automaker's cars won the prestigious Indianapolis 500.

Postwar, Maserati continued to rack up impressive racing victories with cars like the famous Tipo 60 and 61 "Birdcage" models. The company didn't start building road cars until the A6 coupe, which was made from 1947-'57. With only 138 cars produced in that long span, most of Maserati's money came from its other products: spark plugs and car batteries. The Maserati 3500 GT, fitted with a double-overhead-cam inline six, debuted in the mid-1950s.

By the 1960s, the automaker had shifted its focus from racecars to road cars. The company rolled out sexy models like the Mistral Coupe and the Sebring. But it wasn't until 1966, with the introduction of the sleek Giugiaro-styled Ghibli, that Maserati fielded a truly powerful (330-horsepower V8) and sexy Italian sports car. In 1968, the marque was purchased by Citroën.

Throughout the 1970s, Maserati made the most of its partnership with Citroën, using some of that company's suspension and steering components in Maserati cars such as the V8 Bora and V6 Merak models. The decade's fuel crisis took its toll, though, wreaking havoc and killing demand for the sort of gas-guzzling sports cars that were Maserati's specialty. Citroën was driven into bankruptcy and Maserati was placed in liquidation. In 1975, the company was purchased by Alejandro de Tomaso, an Argentinean who had a previous life as a successful racecar driver. He quickly rolled out a new model, the Quattroporte III, a four-door luxury sedan.

The 1980s were an especially dark time for Maserati. Its main model for the U.S. market, the Biturbo, was bland and notoriously unreliable. In 1991, the company stopped importing cars into the U.S. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993 and variants of the Biturbo continued to be produced until the factory closed in 1997 for a total refurbishing. During this time, Ferrari bought 50 percent of Maserati and went on to acquire full control of the marque.

After the factory's rebirth, Maserati started production of a pair of world-class cars, the two-seat Spyder roadster and the four-seat Coupe. With powerful V8 engines, the availability of an F1-style gearbox, styling by Giugiaro and vastly improved build quality, the new Maserati cars were introduced to the U.S. market for 2002 and restored prestige to the Italian sports car company.

In 2005, Maserati was split from Ferrari but remained within the Fiat fold. That year also saw the reintroduction of the Quattroporte luxury sport sedan, which was followed a few years later by the voluptuous GranTurismo coupe and convertible. Today's Maseratis may lack the ultimate brand recognition of the marque's main rivals, but they hold the advantage of being considerably more affordable while still offering sexy Italian styling and impressive performance.

User Reviews:

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  2012 GranTurismo - 2011 Maserati GranTurismo
  By maser4me - July 23 - 7:27 pm

  I recently owned a BMW M6 for 3 years and looked at several cars (Jag XK-RS), AMG-C63, Porsche 911) before buying the Maserati. Other cars are faster, but the GranTurismo is an exotic compared to the rest. The interior is better than the other cars I looked at, only the Jag comes close. As far as gadgets the Maserati does not provide all that the M6 did (Heads Up Display, multiple levels of tuning the suspension and gear box). The engine is the difference with this car, exhaust note and torque. The sport mode can be felt instantly in the tighter suspension and throttle response. The paint finish is higher quality than the rest, leather is also a notch above. Color combo is great too !

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  Super Car - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By koban - July 23 - 4:20 pm

  This car has a mighty engine, superb handling, sexy design, great comfort, and a magnificient engine sound. It is heaven on wheels.

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  Best on the street... - 2006 Maserati Quattroporte
  By JP Newps - July 17 - 12:56 am

  Ive been searching for a sports car for the last two months. DIve driven everything from the new Bentley Continental GT, Porsche 911 4S, Mercedes S550, BMW M6, etc... Nothing compared to the styling, performance and price of the QP Sport GT. Its the hottest car on the road and turns everyones head, including my friends with Lambos and 430s...

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  Sexy Italian Beast - 2002 Maserati Spyder
  By Vinny Deglisitelli - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought this car trading in my 2000 Jaguar XK-Series. My Jaguar was a great car too but I did not care for the GPS. I paid more for this car then I should have due to the shipping in to the US from Italy. This is a great car, though it is not a family car. So for my wife I bought her the S80 T6, in my opinon it is one of the better luxury marquees. Supposedly Maserati will release a sedan around the same size as the Mercedes S-Class, which should be nice.

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  Excellent Automobile--Prefered over Z8 - 2003 Maserati Spyder
  By S. Ricardo - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I own a Z8 and a Cambiocorsa, and the Maserati is the winner by far. Much more responsive, powerful, and agile. I love driving around town and watching people stare at this beautiful car. It is very fun waiting at a red light and challenging people to a race by reving its massive engine. Scared a couple people off even while going slow. A+, EXCELLENT AUTO--HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

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  Dream Machine - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By kemitchell - April 20 - 10:00 am

  I have had my CambioCorsa for just a month and find myself constantly thinking of places to drive. I drove all legitimate competiors and they were all wonderful, but the Maserati was the one car that always brought a smile when i drove it. The sound, the feel, the power, the smell and the looks......all top notch. I prefer the sport mode which creates quicker gear shifts. The only nit is I still havent figured out how to get the Nav system to use English instead of Italian! On the other had, maybe it will help me pick up the language.

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  absolutely suprising!!! - 2009 Maserati Quattroporte
  By boyce h - March 27 - 9:16 pm

  Ive owned 6 bentleys, somewhere around 30 Mercedes, bmws, audis, jags, & even a jensen intercepter, but Ive never been as surprisingly pleased as I am with my new Maserati quattroporte s! Incredibly quick, quiet, smooth, & gorgeous! Only two minor complaints:1-the lane change lever is too far from the steering wheel and behind too large paddle shifters. 2-accelerator & brake are too close together. We havent been able to activate my bluetooth phone and Im 90 miles from the dealer so were dealing by phone!

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  Love it - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By jaynat - March 11 - 1:26 pm

  Love it...Im 63 and this car fits me to a tee, plenty of room,

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  A Year Later - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By woodman - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned the Maser Coupe Cambrio for a year now. Amazing Car. As good as it gets, period..... Break the mold

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  Excellemt - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By klp1505 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Its a keeper. Ill get other cars, but wount give this one up. Iver kept my other classics, like my 840Ci BMW & the Maz will also stay