Maserati is evaluating the possibility of bringing the V8 engine back to its lineup, with the company’s engineering chief confirming that current vehicle platforms could accommodate an eight-cylinder powertrain. While no final decision has been made, the company says customer demand for V8-powered models remains.
Maserati Reconsiders Its Powertrain Strategy
Maserati no longer offers a V8-powered vehicle despite the engine having defined the brand for more than six decades.
In 2022, the Italian automaker pledged to offer an electric version of every model by 2025 and transition to a fully electric lineup by 2030, a target that was later moved to 2028. According to the original report, those plans have since changed as Maserati continues offering internal combustion engines alongside electric vehicles.
The shift follows slower-than-expected EV demand and financial challenges that prompted the company to revise its electrification strategy.
Engineering Chief Says V8 Could Fit Current Models
Maserati Head of Engineering Davide Danesin told CarSales that the company has already studied the possibility of installing a compact V8 engine in its current sports cars and SUVs.
Danesin said a V8 has not yet received approval for production, but confirmed that integrating the engine into existing Maserati models is technically feasible and that customer demand exists.
“My personal opinion is yes: I think the V8 could potentially be coming back… I’m sure that if we would be making it, we would be selling it [but] maybe not in big numbers,” Danesin told the publication.
According to the report, limited-production versions of the GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio convertible could be the most likely candidates if a V8 returns. A V8-powered Grecale is considered less likely, although Danesin noted that both the GranTurismo/GranCabrio and Grecale platforms were designed to accommodate alternative engine configurations.
Hemi V8 Is Not Expected to Be an Option
Danesin said the Hemi V8 engines currently produced in the United States would be difficult to package within Maserati’s existing vehicle architecture.
Instead, he indicated that a smaller engine design similar to a European-style V8 would be more suitable. However, developing an all-new V8 would require a significant financial investment.
Nettuno V6 Could Serve as the Starting Point
According to the original report, the most logical foundation for a future Maserati V8 would be the company’s Nettuno 3.0-liter V6 engine.
The engine features a 90-degree cylinder-bank angle commonly used in V8 designs. Even so, the report notes that developing a V8 from the Nettuno architecture would require extensive redesign of nearly all components.
If approved, a future Maserati V8 would likely produce more power than the current V6-powered Trofeo models, which deliver up to 582 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. Any V8-powered Maserati models would also be expected to carry higher prices than their V6 counterparts.
