Maserati Kubang SUV: Super luxury vehicles belie gloomy outlook

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  Lamborghini's racy Gallardo, Maserati's concept SUV and the new hardtop Ferrari 458 Spider on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show immediately dispel any gloom emanating from the European Central Bank tower across town where bankers are trying to salvage Europe's single currency.

  The super luxury automakers are coming out in force — pledging higher sales and offering ever sexier models despite growing economic uncertainty.

  Maserati showed off its new sport luxury SUV Kubang, which it plans to start building in 2013, completing a range that currently includes the GranTurismo four-door sedan and the QuattroPorte two-door coupe. Maseratihas also announced plans to add a small sedan to the lineup.

  Maserati CEO Harald Wester's goal is to produce 20,000 of the SUVs a year in an ambitious bid to boostMaserati's worldwide sales to 40,000 by 2014, from 6,400 in 2010.