Maserati Isn’t Ruling Out a V8 Comeback After All

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Maserati is known for many things. The Italian carmaker has withstood the test of time, outliving most automotive brands despite the naysayers. It seems that despite everything, there are still people who lust over a Maserati.

During the brand's resurgence in the mid-2000s and 2010s, the Quattroporte and Gran Turismo were powered by a Ferrari-derived V8, but Maserati made it their own, which became a calling card for the brand. Despite moving on from V8s in recent years, the door is apparently still open for the V8 to return.

V8 Maserati Comeback

During a media session, Santo Filici, Maserati's chief operating officer, was candid when asked about the V8, saying, "The sky is the limit," Drive reports. While the statement itself is somewhat vague, he went on to say that they are looking at everything regarding the future, not ruling anything out.

Filici, though, stressed just how proud they are of the current V6 Nettuno engine, the brand's in-house-built twin-turbo. Maserati spent a lot of money and development time on this engine, and it powers the whole range. Felici said that they are keen to "exploit" the engine for all it's got to express just how big its potential is. He says they can do whatever they want with it, performance-wise, but still respect the environment.

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These statements aren't ludicrous, considering the Nettuno V6 has applications ranging from the Grecale to the track-only MCrtrema. In the normal Grecale, it pushes out around 300 hp; with MCXtrema, it makes around 730 hp. While each version has differences in hybrid systems and other components, the common denominator is still the V6.

How far-fetched would Maserati's V8 dreams be? Well, currently within the Stellantis umbrella, the only V8's they have access to are the HEMIs. These aren't the most refined V8s on offer, built for raw muscle car power, as opposed to the controlled aggression a Maserati should exude.

It could develop its own, however, but that would entail a huge amount of resources and investment, which could prove tricky for a niche brand like Maserati.

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