Skip to main content

Maserati may lead the charge for Chrysler's electrification efforts

maserati electrified 2019 emblem
Andrew Prayogo/Flickr
Following Volvo’s announcement that it will launch only electrified vehicles beginning in 2019, another premium automaker is reportedly considering a similar move. But this one — Maserati — may be a little more surprising.

Maserati is known for fast cars powered by big, loud engines, so its embrace of quiet electric power would be a major course change for the brand. But Sergio Marchionne, boss of Maserati parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, told Auto Express that Maserati may become completely electrified after 2019, leading the charge (pun intended) for a major FCA plug-in hybrid push.

Recommended Videos

“When it [Maserati] completes the development of its next two models, it will effectively switch all of its portfolio to electrification,” Marchionne said. Like Volvo, Maserati has the advantage of a small lineup, making the electrification effort more manageable. Volvo has said its electrification push will include mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric models, and it’s likely that Maserati will implement a similar mix of powertrains.

That means Maserati’s electrified lineup could include mild hybrids with very little electric assist, which would have a similar feel to regular internal-combustion cars. It’s also likely that Maserati will rely heavily on plug-in hybrids, possibly borrowing knowhow from corporate cousin Chrysler’s Pacifica Hybrid plug-in minivan. That would help Maserati compete with plug-in hybrids from German luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.

As an Italian luxury brand known for emphasizing performance and passion rather than efficiency, electrification would be an unusual move for Maserati. But it would also be unusual for its parent company, which has shied away from electrified vehicles. CEO Marchionne has been a vocal critic of electric cars, and FCA has adopted hybrid powertrains at a much slower rate than its competitors.

Yet Maserati is in need of a bold move. The automaker is more or less staking its future on the recently introduced Levante SUV, hoping to ride the wave of SUV popularity. Maserati is asking the Levante to do a lot of heavy lifting though, as the rest of its lineup is aging. The Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans were part of a push to make Maserati more mainstream that didn’t really work out. The GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio convertible are based on designs that date back to 2007, making them ancient by industry standards.

Maserati needs a shakeup. Electrification is certainly relevant in an age of tightening emissions standards and concern over climate change, so it’s as good a plan as any. But Maserati must implement it without sacrificing its core character.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Trump administration prepares to end Biden’s EV tax incentive, report says
president biden drives 2022 ford f 150 lightning electric pickup truck prototype visits rouge vehicle center

If you’re looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV) and benefit from the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax incentive, you’d better act soon.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is already planning to end the credit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Read more
Kia EV4: everything we know so far
Kia EV4 Front

Kia is continuing to expand its electric car lineup. The EV6 and EV9 have both been out for some time now, and the company is in the middle of rolling out the EV3 in Europe, with a North American release expected next year. After that, it's likely the company will turn to the EV5. But what about after that? Well, that could be where the Kia EV4 comes in.

Kia announced a concept version of the EV4 at its EV Day in 2023, showing off a futuristic-looking hatchback that's seemingly a little smaller than the EV6, but keeps many design elements. Since then, Kia has confirmed very few details about it, though we have seen it shown off at other automotive events. Here's everything we know about the Kia EV4 so far.
Kia EV4 design
The Kia EV4, or at least the concept version of it, is smaller than the EV6, and much smaller than the EV9. It's actually closer in size to a sedan than anything else, though with its open trunk, it could be considered a hatchback. Regardless, it certainly blurs the line between the two. So much so, that in recent months we've actually seen a full hatchback version of the EV4 being tested -- and it's possible that Kia is pivoting the design of the EV4 entirely to be a hatch, or will be releasing both hatchback and sedan versions.

Read more
Hertz is selling used Teslas for under $20K, Chevrolet Bolt EVs under $14K
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently nixed hopes of a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.

But he was talking about new models. For car rental company Hertz, the race to sell used Teslas and other EVs at ever-lower prices is not only still on but accelerating.

Read more