2003 Maserati Kubang GT Wagon (ItalDesign)

The GT Wagon is the blend of a concept: to produce and ultra-high performing car with torque control on all four drive wheels, offering optimum distribution of masses (48/52% to front and rear respectively) and a centre of gravity approximately 100 mm lower than the average for SUVs, capable of meeting many sport and recreation-related needs.

The Maserati Kubang concept car, named after a Javanese wind in accordance with the Maserati naming tradition, is the result of combining a 390 hp Maserati V8 engine with a versatile yet effective car body that is safe as that of an out-and-out sports car. The lower and more sporty driving position also marks a departure from the SUV category, with outstanding front visibility.

The unconventional interior architecture offers plenty of space for its occupants and maximum modularity despite the fact that the car is high-performing with slender lines. The interior space can accommodate 5 occupants (2 front seats + rear bench seat accommodating 3), or just 4 occupants in “Executive” configuration (2 in the front seats + 2 at the rear). It can also house two additional seats behind the rear bench seat.

The user profile envisaged by Maserati is that of a versatile car, due to the 4WD, but not an off-road car because this would be at odds with the philosophy of a high-performing and always entertaining GT car. The 6 speed + reverse transmission unit is manual with an electro-hydraulic drive, developed specially for fully automatic use.

italdesign.it

Фирма Maserati мучительно, но радостно разродилась полноприводным спортивным универсалом Kubang GT Wagon. Почему мучительно? Потому что, во-первых, новые модели у этой прославленной итальянской компании рождаются весьма нечасто, во-вторых, кузов-универсал, скажем так, не является ее коньком - этот факт пару лет назад подтвердило появление концепта-универсала Maserati Buran, машины явно неудачной в силу ее стилистической неуклюжести. А почему все-таки радостно? Да потому, что Kubang получился на удивление всем хорош - несмотря на то, что за основу при его создании был взят мертворожденный Buran (видимо, в качестве образца того, как делать не надо). За великолепный стиль новой модели надо благодарить знаменитое ателье ItalDesign. А вот интерьерную и техническую начинку пока мало кто видел - на подиуме стояла не "живая" машина, а лишь ее кузовной макет с сильно затемненными стеклами.

Сергей Сорокин, "Вундеркинд" (Журнал "МОТОР" 3-2003)

GIORGETTO GIUGIARO “I decided that there was still something that could be done with the SUV concept. To me, they tend to look more like off-roaders that have gradually been “civilized” rather than real automobiles. They’ve got a lot going for them, but for some reason they never seem to offer the kind of sublime driving pleasure and all-round, all-weather condition safety that are two givens of other modern cars.
When Montezemolo talked to me about creating a whole new, ultra-versatile Maserati, I decided we should do something that really pushed the envelope. We’d do a whole new take on the genuine Maserati GT that would make it perfect for sporty and dynamic demanding drivers, and what we came up with was the GT Wagon concept.

So that’s how Kubang came to be. It all happened very fast. We didn’t have to research or review our ideas and concepts. There were no set parameters we had to keep in mind either. With the Kubang, we stretched the concept of the automobile as far as our imaginations would let us, without losing anything that would be expected from a thoroughbred GT.
I’m very happy with this design. As a constructor, Maserati has always had its finger on the pulse of what drivers right across the board want and that has often seen it marry seemingly diverse features in a single car: just think of the way it combined the elegance and sophistication of the Mistral and the 3500GT with obviously racing-inspired performance. And so I was thrilled that Maserati gave me the brief to open a whole new chapter in a cutting edge segment that has completely changed the face of our roads in the last few years.”

Athoroughbred GT and an authentic WAGON rolled into one: that’s the GT WAGON.

The GT Wagon concept involved designing a high performance car with torque control on all its four wheels, optimal weight distribution (48/52% front and rear respectively) and a center of gravity 100 mm lower than in the average SUV. It also had to be able to meet the demands of all kinds of sports and leisure-oriented activities.
Named after a Javan wind, as is traditional for Maseratis, the Maserati Kubang concept car is the result of the combination of a 390bhp Maserati eight-cylinder “V” engine and a versatile body that promises the same standard of safety and efficiency as a thoroughbred sports car.
Even the lower, sporty driving position stands out in the SUV category as it offers the driver a truly exceptional front view of the road.

GT HIGH PERFORMANCE - V8 - 390 BHP - LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY - 4WD
WAGON HIGHLY VERSATILE - ACCESSABILITY - SPORTY DRIVING POSITION - HIGHLY VERSATILE

Performance and leisure.

The roomy interior architecture is revolutionary too with plenty of passenger and driver space and maximum modularity - all wrapped up in a sporty-looking high performance package, of course.
The interior can seat five (two in front and three in back) or four in the Executive option (two front seats and two back). Two further seats can also be fitted to add a third row.

Personalisation: a finaltouch of exclusivity and pleasure.

Maserati’s trademark exclusivity and sophistication shines out among all the Kubang’s other features too. No idea has been left out when it comes to onboard comfort and electronics and yet the customer still has enormous freedom to personalize.
The Kubang drives home once again the fact that Maserati builds cars to be yours and no one else’s, courtesy of the “Officine Alfieri Maserati” personalisation program.

Highly versatile.

The Kubang principle of combining fun behind the wheel, performance and maximum versatility even extend to the trunk.
The rear door hinges high up on the roof to make loading up the trunk comfortable even when from above. But that’s not all:
its bottom section also flips down separately to make loading from a lower position easy. The maximum total trunk capacity is 1,500 liters.

A thrilling sporty drive.

Maserati wanted the Kubang to be a versatile all-rounder and so we gave it 4WD, but we stopped short of making it a true off-roader, as that would have gone completely against the whole GT philosophy. The six-speed plus reverse transmission comes with a mechanical electro-hydraulic control, developed especially with fully automatic use in mind.

By ITALDESIGN Press Dept.
Jan 16, 2003, 01:00 PST