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RPM TV Website | March 26, 2024

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Maserati Kubang will be produced in the US

Maserati Kubang
Adam Schoeman

Maserati Kubang

Maserati has shown a full version of its Kubang SUV at this year’s Detroit Motor Show, while confirming that the all-terrainer will be produced in the US.

While this makes a lot of sense, it also raises a number of questions: the Kubang is based on Chrysler’s Grand Cherokee, and Detroit is where the big SUV is currently produced, making side-by-side production of the Chrysler and its Maserati sibling almost a given.

The Kubang (which may end up being badged the Cinqueporto in production form) is also aimed squarely at the US market, which has traditionally favoured the size and muscle of SUVs over traditional sports cars. That should save Maserati a fair bit on shipping on a large percentage of their sold inventory, once the Kubang becomes available.

The question is whether the US really is the cheapest place to produce the Kubang. Detroit has a long-standing reputation as a centre of vehicle production, but with economic gloom still lurking, and the quick-to-strike atmosphere that was so prevalent a few years ago still on people’s minds, production of the Kubang could very well come under pressure.

Also, while the Maserati will use the shell of a Grand Cherokee, the engine will still be produced for Maserati by Ferrari in Maranello, and will have to beshipped to the US before being installed in the chassis.

This means there will still be a significant shipping cost, as well as a need for someone to actually install the engine – which we are sure is quite a precise procedure, especially when the block you are dealing with is that of the Prancing Pony.

Whether Maserati US will have the skills required to do so, or if the first few infants off the production line will be plagued by gremlins, still remains to be seen. But just to be safe, we would probably wait for the inevitable teething problems to be sorted before taking the plunge.

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