Maserati and VW trade technology

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Maserati and the Volkswagen Group have agreed to share technologies in a move which could hasten the arrival of four-wheel-drive and diesel-powered cars from the Italian marque and help to develop high-powered luxury models from the Germans.

Maserati boss Luca di Montezemolo told What Car? that Volkswagen will take the platform from the new Quattroporte luxury saloon in exchange for the Germans’ four-wheel-drive system and future high-powered diesel engines.

Di Montezemolo said access to VW’ 4Motion technology would bolster its own research and help in the development of future high-powered models as well as off-roaders such as the Kubang concept seen at the Detroit Motor Show in 2002.

He promised an announcement on Maserati off-roaders would be made after Geneva this March, but said diesel-powered cars were still at least five years away.

Di Montezemolo said the VW Group is interested in the layout of the Quattroporte’s platform and suspension mountings for future high-powered luxury models. One likely recipient would be luxury sporting Audi, hinted at by the Nuvolari concept car unveiled at Geneva in 2003. There may be future Volkswagen models to benefit as well, despite slow Phaeton sales.