Latest news with #V8


Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Times
Lamborghini Temerario track test review: Italian flare, German engineering
How much power is enough? When the Lamborghini Huracán was launched in 2014 it boasted 610bhp, which at the time seemed like rather a lot. Enough to launch it from standstill to 62mph in 3.1 seconds. Adequate, one might say. But then hypercars came along with ridiculous horsepower and torque figures, well north of 1,000bhp. Some electric ones have more than twice that. Even hot hatches these days comes with 400+bhp. And so, in the macho world of super sports cars (supercars to you and me), the Huracán's replacement had to have more power and go faster. To make this happen Lamborghini has ditched arguably the best thing about the Huracán — its beloved naturally aspirated V10 engine. Instead the Temerario you see here has a new twin-turbocharged 4-litre V8 with hybrid assistance. • Read more expert reviews, news and insights on cars and motoring A Prius this is not, though: three electric motors provide additional thrust, with one attached to the engine itself and two more for the front wheels. But the front e-motors, borrowed from the Revuelto, do more than just propel the car: they capture electrical energy during braking and provide 'torque vectoring' — a fancy name for helping the car change direction quickly by slowing the rotation of the nearside wheels through corners. The electric motors also offer immediate torque delivery for instant acceleration, while removing any turbo lag whatsoever. And they 'torque fill' during the dip in revs while paddle-shifting up through the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Plus they provide linear power delivery through the mid-range of revs — making the characteristics of the powertrain more like a naturally aspirated engine than a turbocharged one. In short, they have a lot to do. But the headline is the petrol-powered engine itself. To make it interesting, and outdo the competition, Lamborghini designed it to be revved all the way up to 10,000rpm, which is unheard of in a V8 road car and makes it an absolute screamer. A truck engine this is not. • The Clarkson review: Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica — they've created a monster. I love it What's more, peak power comes between 9,000rpm and 10,000rpm, meaning that — on track, at least — you're egged on to keep the revs right up at the top of the band. All elements combined, the Temerario pumps out 907bhp. Which is — and do check my maths here — almost 50 per cent more than that original Huracán 610-4 coupé of 2014. It can also accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds, reaches 124mph after 7.1 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 214mph. To look at the Temerario is very much of the bloodline that includes the Huracán and Gallardo before that. Inspiration came from the Countach and Miura too. All of which are cars that send little boys and girls into paroxysms of excitement. Some never grow out of it. You get similar shrink-wrapped dimensions and short overhangs, the wedge shape with a continuous line from nose to tail. Temerario also gets the characteristic shark nose and a cut off back end that shows off its rear tyres, which is apparently inspired by the rear end of sports motorcycles but is also reminiscent of a flirty female tennis player lifting her skirt. Lamborghini has made a great deal of the Temerario's roomier interior, and to that end there's 37mm more headroom than in the Huracán. That's most welcome when you're over 6ft 4in tall but, put on a helmet for 'track work' and it all becomes familiarly tight inside. Giants like me will do themselves a huge favour by ditching the standard 'comfort seats' and having the optional sports seats fitted, as their carbon shell design has less padding and so you sit just that little bit lower in the cockpit — which is an accurate description given the interior is modelled on a fighter jet. Sports seats come as standard in 'Allegeritta' versions of the Temerario, which are 25kg lighter overall and feature subtle but effective bodywork upgrades for 67 per cent more downforce than the standard car. The version I tried out was bright yellow (giallo) on the outside, and black and yellow inside, which was appropriately reminiscent of another dangerous flying thing: a wasp. The cabin is also mostly excellent in layout, with a clever touchscreen that allows you to move widgets around and even flick them across to the main digital instrument binnacle or the passenger. The digital displays are nice and clear, with an interface that's simple to understand. The steering wheel can't be described as simple, though, as most of the cabin's switches have been collected from elsewhere and dropped here. Ferrari also has control-festooned wheels while McLaren has gone the other way, decluttering its offerings completely. I tend to prefer the latter for practical reasons, but the schoolboy in me thinks it's cool having a steering wheel adorned with more buttons, dials and switches than Lewis Hamilton gets in his Ferrari F1 car. And for the most part it is fine in the Temerario — the red drive mode dial on the left side and the hybrid mode dial on the right are simple and quick to use, for example. The various toggle switches and now-trademark engine start button housed under a red flap are designed not only to make you feel like a Eurofighter pilot but also as another nod to motorcycle design. Having the indicators as buttons, like on the bike, rather than a stalk behind the wheel is maddening, though. Equally so is having the windscreen wiper controls as buttons on the other side of the wheel, which I inadvertently activated twice while attempting to keep up with the racing driver leading me around Estoril circuit. Which is an experience I'd better describe, I suppose. The simplest thing to say is that you can tell this is a car with Italian roots designed and engineered by Germans (Lamborghini is owned by Volkswagen Group, with a CEO called Stephan Winkelmann, a technical director called Rouven Mohr and a rather stern design director called Mitja Borkert). It is undoubtedly still dramatic to look at but you could say the edges have been smoothed off. It's not quite as outrageous in look as the Huracán. And while the V8 does spin outrageously quickly, it doesn't make as outrageous a noise as the Huracán's V10. It uses less fuel and spews out less carbon too. What's more, the Temerario is more comfortable and more usable. It even has space for two flight cases under the bonnet, with storage space behind the seats. And to drive it's remarkably easy. Any apprehension about piloting a 907bhp Lamborghini around a racing circuit evaporated at Estoril's first corner. It was extremely fast, yes, and surprisingly loose underneath me on Bridgestone's bespoke-for-Temerario Potenza Sport rubber … as per Lamborghini's brief to design a tyre to make the car playful. (Side note for track enthusiasts: the optional Potenza Race tyres proved far grippier in the dry, and are designed not to fade even after 30 flat-out laps. They're also road legal, so you can keep them on for the drive home.) Even so, the Temerario is a supercar for people who don't know what they're doing, because you can feel the front e-motors and a clever electronic control unit getting you out of trouble every time you run out of talent. Carrying too much speed into a corner? No problem, it'll keep things stable and pivot the car. Accelerate too hard on the exit? OK, I've got this, the car says, and the front wheels drag you out of trouble. That's not to say you can't have fun. In fact, I really enjoyed throwing the Temerario around a circuit, and lap after lap I was growing in confidence and deriving more pleasure. This is a car that can still reward good drivers while flattering average ones. Technically it's a masterpiece and subjectively a whole lot of fun, and it would be unfair to suggest it can't tickle your erogenous zones in ways that only a Lamborghini can. But it does feel like a few of the edges have been smoothed off, and there will always be people out there who want a supercar to be raw, dangerous, scary. The Temerario, which is named after a fighting bull but the word itself translates as 'reckless', isn't like that at all. It's polished, high-tech and accessible. But one thing's for certain: it has enough power. Our driving was limited to the track — look out for one of our other writers on what the Temerario is like on the road later in the year.


Top Gear
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Lamborghini ditched its V10 for a V8 in the new Temerario. Here's how it sounds
Advertisement Video Watch Top Gear's review of the 907bhp base car: "This is what baby Lamborghinis should be about" 15 minutes 7 seconds 'I have to admit I loved the car because of the engine,' Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann told about the old Huracán. That 5.2-litre V10 - which also did fine, fine service in the Audi R8 - has been retired from very active duty, and in its place comes... a V8 . A turbo V8. What? How? Why? 'We had to decide years ago, from scratch, to do something exceptional, completely new,' Winkelmann added, noting how the Temerario's ambitions for outright power wouldn't have 'been feasible' with the old nat-asp V10. And this new 'baby' Lambo has a tonne of power: 907bhp to be precise, delivered right up to 10,000rpm. That's mad. Advertisement - Page continues below Finally, we've had our first go in the new, more comfortable, still nutjob-quick supercar. How does that sound compare to the old screaming V10? And what's it like around a track? Over to Top Gear's Tom Ford for the answers... Read the full Lamborghini Temerario review here You might like Advertisement - Page continues below Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Lamborghini Temerario Video Supercars News See more on Lamborghini

Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Rare 1970 Plymouth Superbird For Sale With Just 5,447 Miles
Imagine living in the late 1960s to early 1970s, and being used to the relatively square muscle cars of the time. Sure, a 1968 Dodge Charger is a damn hot car, but it's not exactly shapely. Enter the Plymouth Superbird, a one-year-only, highly modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner. This particular one is for sale on Exotic Car Trader, and you can check out the listing by clicking here. The Superbird was Plymouth's reply to other stock car racing designs of the time, including the Dodge Charger Daytona, Ford Torino Talladega, and Mercury Cyclone. The Superbird has become famous for its sloped, aerodynamic nose cone and massive, park bench-like wing on the rear. Engine choices were either a 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi V8 or the "V-Code" 440 cu in (7.2 L) Super Commando V8 with either a four-barrel or six-barrel carburetor. Only around 1,935 Superbirds were produced for the U.S. market, and believe it or not, Plymouth had trouble selling them as their design was too extreme for the time. Production numbers seem to be split between 135 Hemi V8 Superbirds and 716 440 cu in six-barrel Superbirds, with the rest being powered by the 440 cu in four-barrel engine. This particular example is one of the 716 Superbirds equipped with the 440 cu in engine and a six-barrel carburetor. Not only is it an unrestored, numbers-matching car with a mere 5,447 miles on the odometer, but it's also reportedly the 200th Superbird completed and the 100th one to be equipped with the V-Code 440 cu in V8. Everything on this car is complete, from the interior to the decals to the factory wheels. Not only does it come with ample documentation to prove its worth, including its original window sticker, factory invoice, shipping notice, warranty punch card, MSO, and two broadcast sheets, but it also won a FIVA/HVA Preservation Award at Meadowbrook Concours of America in Rochester, Michigan. Even the history behind this example is pretty fascinating, with a storied ownership since new. The 440 cu in V8 even has its factory exhaust, hoses, and belts, the latter of which is probably not a great thing unless this car has been kept in a climate-controlled environment for the majority of its life. It might lose points with some enthusiasts for being equipped with the 3-speed Torqueflite 727 automatic transmission rather than the 4-speed manual, but it thankfully has the A36 Performance Axle package with 3.55 gears. Rare and sought-after cars tend to have unattainable prices for those like you and me, and this 1970 Plymouth Superbird is no exception. The seller is currently asking $574,999, so "cheap" is not a word I would even utter around this car. Is that too much? Well, this exact car failed to sell at Mecum's 2024 Kissimmee auction for $375,000, so it might be. If Hagerty's valuation tool is to be believed, a Concours-condition 1970 Superbird with this engine and transmission configuration is worth approximately $403,000. Regardless of its value, there's no denying that this is one damn cool Bird, and its future owner is going to be mighty lucky to have this in their garage. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Peugeot, Ram parent posts A$4.1 billion loss, forecasts more tariff trouble
Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Dodge and many others, has posted a €2.3 billion (A$4.1 billion) loss for the first half of 2025. In the same period last year, the company €5.6 billion (A$10 billion). The automaker released unaudited financial and vehicle shipment numbers this week ahead of a call with investors at the end of the month. The numbers include €3.3 billion ($5.9 billion) in charges relating to restructuring and cancelled model programs, including its recent axing of hydrogen fuel-cell development, investments in hybrid for Europe, and returning the Hemi V8 to the Ram pickup range. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. In a letter to employees seen by Reuters, CEO Antonio Filosa said 2025 would be "a year of gradual and sustainable improvement". He noted the first half of the year was "tough", and warned there would be "increasing external headwinds". According to the company, tariff uncertainty caused by President Trump cost the company around €300 million (A$530 million) in the first half. Doug Ostermann, the automaker's chief financial officer, told analysts and Reuters tariffs are expected to cost the company between €1 and €1.5 billion (A$1.8 to A$2.7 billion) this year. These figures show new CEO Antonio Filosa has a lot of work to do to right the French-Italian-American automaker. That said, front-loading as much of the bad news and numbers into this half will give the CEO more room to make changes and to paint any upswing in a more positive light. Vehicle shipments — which are cars invoiced to dealers, importers and buyers — dropped 90,000 or 6.0 per cent compared to the same time last year. The biggest fall occurred in North America where shipments dropped 109,000 units or 25 per cent to 322,000 vehicles. Stellantis said this was partially due to reduced manufacturing and imports due to tariff concerns, as well as lower fleet sales. It was keen to point out Jeep and Ram sales were up 13 per cent collectively. In Europe shipments fell 50,000 vehicles or 6.0 per cent to 722,000, with the automaker citing "product transition" as the reason. It notes that production is still ramping up of the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, and Opel Frontera, which are all based on the Smart Car platform. Also, the Fiat 500 (above) has lost its Italian sales crown as production of the petrol-powered second-generation model has stopped due to the EU's cybersecurity legislation. Fiat has reworked the third-generation 500, launched as an EV-only model, to accept a mild hybrid drivetrain, but volume production won't begin until next year. Strong growth elsewhere helped to mitigate the losses in Europe and North America. South America, where Stellantis is a market leader, was up 20 per cent to 260,000 cars thanks to demand in Brazil and Argentina. The Middle East and Africa was up 30 per cent to 125,000 units on the back of good numbers in Turkey. Maserati, though, was down 7000 units or 22 per cent to just 2500 vehicle shipments. This will no doubt fuel more rumours about its potential sale. Content originally sourced from: Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Dodge and many others, has posted a €2.3 billion (A$4.1 billion) loss for the first half of 2025. In the same period last year, the company €5.6 billion (A$10 billion). The automaker released unaudited financial and vehicle shipment numbers this week ahead of a call with investors at the end of the month. The numbers include €3.3 billion ($5.9 billion) in charges relating to restructuring and cancelled model programs, including its recent axing of hydrogen fuel-cell development, investments in hybrid for Europe, and returning the Hemi V8 to the Ram pickup range. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. In a letter to employees seen by Reuters, CEO Antonio Filosa said 2025 would be "a year of gradual and sustainable improvement". He noted the first half of the year was "tough", and warned there would be "increasing external headwinds". According to the company, tariff uncertainty caused by President Trump cost the company around €300 million (A$530 million) in the first half. Doug Ostermann, the automaker's chief financial officer, told analysts and Reuters tariffs are expected to cost the company between €1 and €1.5 billion (A$1.8 to A$2.7 billion) this year. These figures show new CEO Antonio Filosa has a lot of work to do to right the French-Italian-American automaker. That said, front-loading as much of the bad news and numbers into this half will give the CEO more room to make changes and to paint any upswing in a more positive light. Vehicle shipments — which are cars invoiced to dealers, importers and buyers — dropped 90,000 or 6.0 per cent compared to the same time last year. The biggest fall occurred in North America where shipments dropped 109,000 units or 25 per cent to 322,000 vehicles. Stellantis said this was partially due to reduced manufacturing and imports due to tariff concerns, as well as lower fleet sales. It was keen to point out Jeep and Ram sales were up 13 per cent collectively. In Europe shipments fell 50,000 vehicles or 6.0 per cent to 722,000, with the automaker citing "product transition" as the reason. It notes that production is still ramping up of the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, and Opel Frontera, which are all based on the Smart Car platform. Also, the Fiat 500 (above) has lost its Italian sales crown as production of the petrol-powered second-generation model has stopped due to the EU's cybersecurity legislation. Fiat has reworked the third-generation 500, launched as an EV-only model, to accept a mild hybrid drivetrain, but volume production won't begin until next year. Strong growth elsewhere helped to mitigate the losses in Europe and North America. South America, where Stellantis is a market leader, was up 20 per cent to 260,000 cars thanks to demand in Brazil and Argentina. The Middle East and Africa was up 30 per cent to 125,000 units on the back of good numbers in Turkey. Maserati, though, was down 7000 units or 22 per cent to just 2500 vehicle shipments. This will no doubt fuel more rumours about its potential sale. Content originally sourced from: Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Dodge and many others, has posted a €2.3 billion (A$4.1 billion) loss for the first half of 2025. In the same period last year, the company €5.6 billion (A$10 billion). The automaker released unaudited financial and vehicle shipment numbers this week ahead of a call with investors at the end of the month. The numbers include €3.3 billion ($5.9 billion) in charges relating to restructuring and cancelled model programs, including its recent axing of hydrogen fuel-cell development, investments in hybrid for Europe, and returning the Hemi V8 to the Ram pickup range. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. In a letter to employees seen by Reuters, CEO Antonio Filosa said 2025 would be "a year of gradual and sustainable improvement". He noted the first half of the year was "tough", and warned there would be "increasing external headwinds". According to the company, tariff uncertainty caused by President Trump cost the company around €300 million (A$530 million) in the first half. Doug Ostermann, the automaker's chief financial officer, told analysts and Reuters tariffs are expected to cost the company between €1 and €1.5 billion (A$1.8 to A$2.7 billion) this year. These figures show new CEO Antonio Filosa has a lot of work to do to right the French-Italian-American automaker. That said, front-loading as much of the bad news and numbers into this half will give the CEO more room to make changes and to paint any upswing in a more positive light. Vehicle shipments — which are cars invoiced to dealers, importers and buyers — dropped 90,000 or 6.0 per cent compared to the same time last year. The biggest fall occurred in North America where shipments dropped 109,000 units or 25 per cent to 322,000 vehicles. Stellantis said this was partially due to reduced manufacturing and imports due to tariff concerns, as well as lower fleet sales. It was keen to point out Jeep and Ram sales were up 13 per cent collectively. In Europe shipments fell 50,000 vehicles or 6.0 per cent to 722,000, with the automaker citing "product transition" as the reason. It notes that production is still ramping up of the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, and Opel Frontera, which are all based on the Smart Car platform. Also, the Fiat 500 (above) has lost its Italian sales crown as production of the petrol-powered second-generation model has stopped due to the EU's cybersecurity legislation. Fiat has reworked the third-generation 500, launched as an EV-only model, to accept a mild hybrid drivetrain, but volume production won't begin until next year. Strong growth elsewhere helped to mitigate the losses in Europe and North America. South America, where Stellantis is a market leader, was up 20 per cent to 260,000 cars thanks to demand in Brazil and Argentina. The Middle East and Africa was up 30 per cent to 125,000 units on the back of good numbers in Turkey. Maserati, though, was down 7000 units or 22 per cent to just 2500 vehicle shipments. This will no doubt fuel more rumours about its potential sale. Content originally sourced from: Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Dodge and many others, has posted a €2.3 billion (A$4.1 billion) loss for the first half of 2025. In the same period last year, the company €5.6 billion (A$10 billion). The automaker released unaudited financial and vehicle shipment numbers this week ahead of a call with investors at the end of the month. The numbers include €3.3 billion ($5.9 billion) in charges relating to restructuring and cancelled model programs, including its recent axing of hydrogen fuel-cell development, investments in hybrid for Europe, and returning the Hemi V8 to the Ram pickup range. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. In a letter to employees seen by Reuters, CEO Antonio Filosa said 2025 would be "a year of gradual and sustainable improvement". He noted the first half of the year was "tough", and warned there would be "increasing external headwinds". According to the company, tariff uncertainty caused by President Trump cost the company around €300 million (A$530 million) in the first half. Doug Ostermann, the automaker's chief financial officer, told analysts and Reuters tariffs are expected to cost the company between €1 and €1.5 billion (A$1.8 to A$2.7 billion) this year. These figures show new CEO Antonio Filosa has a lot of work to do to right the French-Italian-American automaker. That said, front-loading as much of the bad news and numbers into this half will give the CEO more room to make changes and to paint any upswing in a more positive light. Vehicle shipments — which are cars invoiced to dealers, importers and buyers — dropped 90,000 or 6.0 per cent compared to the same time last year. The biggest fall occurred in North America where shipments dropped 109,000 units or 25 per cent to 322,000 vehicles. Stellantis said this was partially due to reduced manufacturing and imports due to tariff concerns, as well as lower fleet sales. It was keen to point out Jeep and Ram sales were up 13 per cent collectively. In Europe shipments fell 50,000 vehicles or 6.0 per cent to 722,000, with the automaker citing "product transition" as the reason. It notes that production is still ramping up of the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, and Opel Frontera, which are all based on the Smart Car platform. Also, the Fiat 500 (above) has lost its Italian sales crown as production of the petrol-powered second-generation model has stopped due to the EU's cybersecurity legislation. Fiat has reworked the third-generation 500, launched as an EV-only model, to accept a mild hybrid drivetrain, but volume production won't begin until next year. Strong growth elsewhere helped to mitigate the losses in Europe and North America. South America, where Stellantis is a market leader, was up 20 per cent to 260,000 cars thanks to demand in Brazil and Argentina. The Middle East and Africa was up 30 per cent to 125,000 units on the back of good numbers in Turkey. Maserati, though, was down 7000 units or 22 per cent to just 2500 vehicle shipments. This will no doubt fuel more rumours about its potential sale. Content originally sourced from:


Perth Now
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Peugeot, Ram parent posts A$4.1 billion loss, forecasts more tariff trouble
Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Dodge and many others, has posted a €2.3 billion (A$4.1 billion) loss for the first half of 2025. In the same period last year, the company €5.6 billion (A$10 billion). The automaker released unaudited financial and vehicle shipment numbers this week ahead of a call with investors at the end of the month. The numbers include €3.3 billion ($5.9 billion) in charges relating to restructuring and cancelled model programs, including its recent axing of hydrogen fuel-cell development, investments in hybrid for Europe, and returning the Hemi V8 to the Ram pickup range. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Camera Icon Supplied Credit: CarExpert In a letter to employees seen by Reuters, CEO Antonio Filosa said 2025 would be 'a year of gradual and sustainable improvement'. He noted the first half of the year was 'tough', and warned there would be 'increasing external headwinds'. According to the company, tariff uncertainty caused by President Trump cost the company around €300 million (A$530 million) in the first half. Doug Ostermann, the automaker's chief financial officer, told analysts and Reuters tariffs are expected to cost the company between €1 and €1.5 billion (A$1.8 to A$2.7 billion) this year. Camera Icon Supplied Credit: CarExpert These figures show new CEO Antonio Filosa has a lot of work to do to right the French-Italian-American automaker. That said, front-loading as much of the bad news and numbers into this half will give the CEO more room to make changes and to paint any upswing in a more positive light. Vehicle shipments — which are cars invoiced to dealers, importers and buyers — dropped 90,000 or 6.0 per cent compared to the same time last year. The biggest fall occurred in North America where shipments dropped 109,000 units or 25 per cent to 322,000 vehicles. Stellantis said this was partially due to reduced manufacturing and imports due to tariff concerns, as well as lower fleet sales. It was keen to point out Jeep and Ram sales were up 13 per cent collectively. In Europe shipments fell 50,000 vehicles or 6.0 per cent to 722,000, with the automaker citing 'product transition' as the reason. It notes that production is still ramping up of the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, and Opel Frontera, which are all based on the Smart Car platform. Camera Icon Supplied Credit: CarExpert Also, the Fiat 500 (above) has lost its Italian sales crown as production of the petrol-powered second-generation model has stopped due to the EU's cybersecurity legislation. Fiat has reworked the third-generation 500, launched as an EV-only model, to accept a mild hybrid drivetrain, but volume production won't begin until next year. Strong growth elsewhere helped to mitigate the losses in Europe and North America. South America, where Stellantis is a market leader, was up 20 per cent to 260,000 cars thanks to demand in Brazil and Argentina. The Middle East and Africa was up 30 per cent to 125,000 units on the back of good numbers in Turkey. Maserati, though, was down 7000 units or 22 per cent to just 2500 vehicle shipments. This will no doubt fuel more rumours about its potential sale.