This week, Maserati showed us what forms the core of its 2027 lineup. Wearing freshly painted and updated grilles, the facelifted Gran Turismo, GranCabrio and Grayscale represent the company’s “volume”, so to speak. Maserati is counting on him to propel the Italian luxury manufacturer forward in the near term. But then what?
During a question-and-answer session following the unveiling of these updated models, Maserati executives asked questions not only about the two- and four-door vehicles they showed us, but also about Maserati’s future – a future that, among other things, likely includes V8 power and a new, reimagined sedan.
“We have one of the best V6s, if not the best, in the world,” said Maserati chief operating officer Santo Ficilli.
And Ficilli said the team’s immediate goal was to fully exploit the capabilities of that six-cylinder. But he acknowledged there are segments of the market that won’t compromise for smaller engines, and many of those buyers are in the market for high-end luxury vehicles.
“Of course, we’re also considering a V8,” Ficilli said.
Engineering boss David Denesin echoed Fisili’s sentiment, pointing to the flexibility of the V6, but also acknowledging that it was worth keeping the V8 design on the table.
“We have the knowledge; we have the ability,” Denesin said.
And at this point, even without a V8 on the official roadmap, it’s more likely to happen than a plug-in hybrid. The company is actively exploring opportunities to expand its 48-volt mild hybrid architecture, which is likely to spread across the entire lineup over time. Densin tells us that full hybrid powertrains are also on the table. But PHEVs? Don’t trust it.
Denesin said that Maserati has access to all three levels of hybrid technology within the company’s broader “technology portfolio”, but dismissed the idea of plug-in hybrids as being compatible with its sales mission, citing both weight and the fact that many customers simply don’t plug them in, thereby wasting battery space (and mass).
So far so good, right? Now, what about the future of the Quattroporte?
Maserati’s iconic sedan is on indefinite hiatus. It was to be replaced by EV. But both Ficilli and the company’s chief marketer Cristiano Fiorio think the four-door has a future at the automaker.
“Absolutely yes,” Fiorio said. “I believe sedans will come back.”
Fiorio said both Gen Z and Gen Alpha are what the company refers to as “retro-seeking” buyers. They are beginning to reject the oversized and over-digitized cars that have become popular in recent decades. “The world is full of SUVs,” he said.
And while the Grekel helps Maserati fill the hole left by the Quattroporte, the company recognizes that there are buyers who want a true executive sedan. Fiorio thinks there’s room for a new entry, but the sedan concept may have to evolve a bit over time.
“Quattroporte is looking for something new,” he said.
We’ll have to wait to find out what that actually looks like.
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