Wednesday 28th September 2011

Maserati Kubang In Video Nasty

Blobby SUV plays the heritage card and loses...

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Blocking a pavement near you soon...

'We can do anything, we can be anyone if we beeeeeee-lieve...'

So runs the whining backing track to this just released video from Maserati, apparently intended to connect its ghastly new blot on the automotive landscape to the Maserati brand's occasionally illustrious racing history.

The supposedly uplifting message, it seems, is that if you believe you can build another gigantic and plug-ugly lump of an SUV to sell to footballers on the strength of its badge - you can make it happen. (Apologies to anyone out there who likes it! Ed.)

Or you could have it their way: "Maserati Kubang, a concept car that supersedes the past, while keeping faith with it." Chuckle.

(N.B. There are some nice moving pictures before the Kubang heaves into view.)

[philcray]

In fairness, does not look any worse than a Porsche Cayenne.....

[sleep envy]

I quite like it but then I do like the cayenne

[Cotic]

"Meet my cousin, she's got a lovely personality"

If you can get past the gag reflex, it's probably a nice place to sit.

[GT2CS]

it's better looking than most SUV's. Why the harsh comments? Next up it will be Ferrari doing an SUV...

[wl606]

philcray said:

In fairness, does not look any worse than a Porsche Cayenne.....

I'd argue that it looks far better than a Cayenne. Which isn't saying much admittedly.

[sleep envy]

GT2CS said:

Why the harsh comments?

the PH towers office day out

[mrclav]

Not keen on that particular wheel design but it's not actually as bad as I thought it would be! I like the head-light/tail-light "signature" a lot.

[mammamia]

Maserati ! don't do it. Don't make it. Don't make any money off those silly buggers that buy Cayennes, BMW X5,s Audi X7,s. Then you can fold up your business.

[Matt UK]

meh

maybe i stand alone on this, but the masarati name doesn't mean much to me anyway.

In my era they were weird square-looking things that were never best in class to drive and had awful reliability issues. The latest range is pretty but over sized and not exactly sporting.

If they want to build and suv and others want to buy it, life will continue as normal for me

[Turbo Harry]

It certainly must give Maserati a big sense of pride to see one of their cars take the chequered flag in a one-make race series.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Surely, as professional journalists, you should at least wait to drive it before rubbishing it. Otherwise it's just prejudice isn't it?

[anonymous-user]

The problem is that the car doesn't look even remotely Italian. All that's missing is the Kia badge on the front.

[soad]

St John Smythe said:

The problem is that the car doesn't look even remotely Italian. All that's missing is the Kia badge on the front.

True. Was going to say looks audi-like bland.

[cookie1600]

GT2CS said:

it's better looking than most SUV's. Why the harsh comments? Next up it will be Ferrari doing an SUV...

Yep, I can just see it now.....

[ZesPak]

St John Smythe said:

The problem is that the car doesn't look even remotely Italian. All that's missing is the Kia badge on the front.

Exactly my thought.

This is the first luxury SUV thingy coming out of Italy, right?
It should look at least different, like the Spyker, as this looks very generic Korean/Japanese/German/French/American. Pretty much everything out there.

[Twoshoe]

Isn't it basically a Jeep underneath the skin?

[[AJ]]

I didn't think it looked too bad and there's clearly a world wide market for this type of car. Thought the promo video was far better than the crap we had to endure from Lotus too!

[ZesPak]

[AJ] said:

I didn't think it looked too bad and there's clearly a world wide market for this type of car. Thought the promo video was far better than the crap we had to endure from Lotus too!

It's not that it's particularly "bad" looking, it's that it's particularly "bland" looking. A Masser should never be bland looking imho.

Look at the QP, it is imho the best looking four door saloon around, the only thing that comes close is the AM Rapide, and that's about twice the price.

This thing would fit into the volvo range, not bad looking but as bland as it gets.

Edited by ZesPak on Wednesday 28th September 10:20

[Chris-R]

Ex Boy Racer said:

Surely, as professional journalists, you should at least wait to drive it before rubbishing it. Otherwise it's just prejudice isn't it?

Are you accusing me of prejudice against lardy, over-weight and ugly SUVs? Guilty, m'lud...

In my defence, failing to be rude about a video marketing ploy that seeks to link the Kubang to Fangio and a glorious racing heritage would be a dereliction of duty... Shirley?

(And it's probably going to be fine to drive.)

[huwdm]

Excellent video if you fade to black by 2.06 seconds.
Go on check - you know you want to!!