Maserati and Ermenegildo Zegna, two of Italy’s most revered brands, have joined forces to create a limited line of luxurious, high performance automobiles that blend cutting-edge technology with century-old craftsmanship. “Our cars are uniquely Italian and designed and built in Italy,” says Al Gardner, president and CEO of Maserati in North America. “Our customers have a deep appreciation for the combination of Italian design and performance that only Maserati can deliver.”
Just 100 limited-edition Maserati vehicles with Pelletessuta interiors by Zegna have been made for the North American market, meaning they are some of the rarest cars in the world. Of these 100 automobiles, 50 will be Maserati’s 2020 Quattroporte S Q4 GranLusso sedan and 50 will be the marque’s Levante S GranSport SUV.
The Pelletessuta textile, which lines the seats and the interior, is made by the craftsmen at Zegna, melding their venerated tradition of luxury with a new, high-tech manufacturing method. To create the Pelletessuta fabric, the finest fibers of Nappa leather are woven together like cloth, resulting in an entirely new material: a lightweight, durable, exceedingly soft leather fabric. “We used the traditional method of how fabric is woven to create a durable, comfortable, stylish woven leather,” Gardner says.
The aesthetic appeal of the leather enhances the overall dramatic effect of the cars. The Quattroporte’s deep brown interior contrasts with the vehicle’s gleaming Blu Sofisticato exterior in an interplay of light and dark. Its sleek look is fitting for a car that traces its origins back to the Maserati Series I, which was the fastest sedan in the world in 1963. In the case of the Levante, which aficionados know as the brand’s first-ever SUV, a black interior sets off a Bronzo exterior to create an image of understated yet refined and meticulous excellence.
In each case, the overall feeling is that these cars are intended to be not merely conveyances from place to place, but statements of love for craftsmanship and tradition, as well as signifiers of modernity and avant-garde taste. This isn’t the first collaboration between the two brands—merely the latest in a relationship that goes back decades. In their previous joint project, in 2013, Zegna and Maserati broke new ground with a car interior made from silk. “Maserati and Zegna are both Northern Italian companies with a rich history of fine craftsmanship,” Gardner says. “We worked together to bring the first automotive silk interior to the market. This second chapter is richly textured woven leather interiors.”
Of course, there’s more to these cars than looks. Both the Quattroporte and the Levante are known for their performance. The limited-edition cars boast twin-turbo V6 engines. The Quattroporte infuses the heart and soul of an Italian sports car into one of the most luxurious sedans ever made. And the Levante blends the nimbleness of a car and the comfort of an SUV with shocking success. “Plus, the signature sound of a Maserati is something that has particular appeal to our customers,” Gardner says.
The Pelletessuta editions of the Quattroporte and Levante are available on a first come, first served basis with delivery in spring 2020, and inquiries should be made to your local Maserati dealer (maseratiusa.com).
