Maserati – What’s To Come! Report By Larry Nutson

Maserati – What’s to come!

By Larry Nutson
Executive Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
THE AUTO CHANNEL

William F. Peffer CEO of Maserati Americas recently made a stop in Chicago. Peffer has been in the auto industry for almost 30 years and joined Maserati in 2021. I had the fortune to spend some time and chat with him at a reimagined showroom setup in an event space in Chicago.

Maserati has a strong Italian lineage, a recognizable trident logo as well as a historic motorsports resume. Maserati was once part of Ferrari. Today it’s part of the Stellantis portfolio of brands with its global headquarters in Modena, Italy.

Over the last couple years in a Maserati showroom one would typically see Ghibli and Quattroporte 4-door sedans and the Levante utility vehicle (UV). Today, things are a bit different. Recent additions to the Maserati lineup are the Grecale utility vehicle, the GranTourismo coupe and the iconic two-seat MC20 sports car.

“If you walked into a Maserati showroom 12 to 18 months ago, none of these cars existed,” said Peffer. Each of these new models feature a new Maserati-developed twin-turbo Nettuno V6 engine. What is more interesting is that moving forward each one of these models will also become available with full battery electric power fitted within the same platform architecture.

What interested Peffer to join Maserati and take the helm was the investment of billions of dollars to bring the new products. Maserati builds global products that are homologated for each region. These new vehicles are the future of the brand.

The MC20 supercar harkens back to Maserati’s past. MC stands for Maserati Corse (Racing). Its DNA will make its way into all new Maseratis. The MC20’s 3.0-L V6 will make its way into the top trims of the other vehicles. Further, each vehicle model will also be electrified with a full-battery electric technology within the same platform and body configuration. No hybrids or plug-in hybrids will be introduced.

Today the 2023 Grecale compact UV has joined the Levante. Grecale will offer a choice of three trims with a four-cylinder with two power outputs, one a mild hybrid, or a twin-turbo V6. Prices start at $63,500 and top out at $102,500.

The 2024 GranTurismo 2+2 kicks off the second generation of Maserati's sleek-looking coupe. Now on an all-new platform with twin-turbo V6 power and in two variants.

The all-electric, battery-powered GranTurismo Folgore (Italian for “lightning”) is due in the U.S. market later this year.

The MC20 is a two-seat mid-engine sports car, the first Maserati to use that layout since the MC12 nearly 20 years ago. A 621-hp twin-turbo 3.0-L V-6 sits behind the two seats. Prices start at $212,000 and climb quickly with added options.

The existing Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans, as they are today, will probably bow out in the next year or so. Replacements may be all-electric.

Maserati sells cars on emotion. The pillars of Italian craftmanship and design. Have a look at Maserati here: https://www.maserati.com/us/en

Maserati says, “We exist to move those who move the world through the best in luxury performance.”

Look for Maserati celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Grand Touring at Pebble Beach Concours.

Happy motoring!