Maserati could offer a V8 engine again
'We know the mood about V8s in the market of course, and would not say that we will never use again a V8 – maybe for special versions or some other models it's something we could consider,' Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin told media including CarExpert.
'But for sure, the Nettuno is very much at the centre of our propulsion strategy at the moment.
'It has a lot of innovation, it's super light, super compact, very high power density.
'So from a design perspective, the Nettuno engine, it really has everything we need to really deliver the best driving experience for the customer.'
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The MC20 and its derivatives are powered by the Nettuno V6 in a rear mid-engine layout, while the new GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio convertible will use it in a front mid-engine configuration.
'The only way we could execute a front mid-engine concept is by going to [a] super compact, super powerful V6, because you can slot it in behind the front axle and even allow for all-wheel drive – a big V8 block, you could have not done [in] a mid-engine car,' said Klaus Busse, Maserati's head of design.
'So yes, you can say 'I have a V8' for bragging rights, but the driving performance would actually be inferior to that of what Davide and his team executed with the V6.
Under its former CEO Carlos Tavares, Maserati parent company Stellantis shifted away from V8 engines – so much so that Maserati, long known for its sonorous V8s, dropped them entirely.
The brand's Ferrari-developed twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 was offered in the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans and the Levante SUV, but these vehicles recently exited production and took the bent-eight with them; the last V8-powered Maserati built was a special Quattroporte called the Grand Finale (pictured above).
The Nettuno V6 pre-dates the formation of Stellantis from the merger of Groupe PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, but it's no secret that V8s were de-prioritised during Mr Tavares' time at the helm.
The Hemi and Hellcat V8 engines were dropped from the Ram 1500 pickup lineup in favour of turbocharged six-cylinder engines – a move which Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis has subsequently reversed, calling it a 'mistake' – while the new-generation Dodge Charger moved to electric power and has the same Hurricane six-cylinder engines coming shortly.
Jeep has also been progressively phasing out V8 engines.
Given Ram is now returning the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 to its 1500 lineup, it appears there's more of an appetite for V8 engines under Stellantis' new CEO Antonio Filosa. Whether that means a bent-eight will return to the Trident marque remains to be seen, however.
Maserati is Stellantis' flagship brand, and other high-end brands are sticking with V8s, even amid tougher emissions regulations in key markets like Europe.
In many cases, rival brands are not only offering hybrid and electric powertrains alongside V8s, they're also using V8 engines as part of plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Luxury brands that continue to offer V8 power include Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
Jaguar is moving to an electric-only lineup, something Maserati has previously promised to do by 2030. Since this announcement, however, Maserati cancelled plans to launch an .
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"It simply doesn't make sense, to be honest – what is the differentiation factor, addition value for the for the customer, for [separate development of] the climate control?" he said."But if you look at the at the product defining components – and I can give you also really specific examples on the car – we have the full freedom for sure." The Temerario is loaded with 'product defining components', as Dr Mohr puts it. "The electric front axle was a standalone development … the battery is a standalone development – we are using only in the [VW] Group cell, because we are not developing cells, chemical cells, but the battery assembly and so on [is Lamborghini]." "Cooling concept is Lambo. Gearbox is only Lambo. Engine – people think it's based on the [Lamborghini] Revuleto [V12] engine – it has nothing to do with the Revuleto," Dr Mohr explains. "Because if you want to rev 10,000rpm, to be honest, you cannot start with the standard V8. 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As an organisation, we became focussed on the differentiation … we could balance what is important for the brand and what is make or break to make a difference" MORE: Explore the Lamborghini Temerario showroomMORE: Lamborghini Temerario: A deep dive with Lambo's chief technical officer Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Lamborghini Temerario supercar still benefits from broader Volkswagen Group expertise – despite there no longer being an Audi equivalent – according to the raging bull brand's chief technical officer, Dr Rouven Mohr. Due in Australian showrooms in the first half of 2026, the Temerario will be priced from $613,885 before on-road costs, sitting below the flagship V12 Revuelto, launched this year from $987,908 before on-roads. The Temerario uses a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol spinning to 10,000rpm and three electric motors as part of a hybrid setup, enabling a rapid 2.7-second 0-100km/h sprint and 343km/h top speed. The new supercar replaced the Huracan as the entry-level Lamborghini, which was powered by a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 petrol engine also used in two generations of Audi R8 supercar. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Huracan – like the Gallardo before it – was twinned to create the Audi R8 supercar for the fellow Volkswagen Group brand, giving both brands credible road-going models and sports car (GT3) racing competitors. Production of the R8 commenced in 2006 and ended in 2024. Yet the Temerario is the first entry-level Lamborghini for three generations not to share its underpinnings with Audi – making it the first since the 1988 Jalpa – with the German brand quitting sports car racing to join the Formula One grid in 2026. This doesn't mean the Italian brand was left to develop the Temerario alone given there's no Audi-equivalent this time around – but nor is it a Volkswagen parts bin special, either. "This [being part of the Volkswagen Group] is an absolute strength," Dr Mohr, Lamborghini's chief technical officer, told CarExpert. "For sure, we are discussing synergy [with other VW Group models], this is clear … [but] for me, I'm fully convinced the Volkswagen company is the only group that lets the brands lead their own events." The Lamborghini tech boss explained developing parts which have limited impact on the customer's experience is not an intelligent business approach. "It simply doesn't make sense, to be honest – what is the differentiation factor, addition value for the for the customer, for [separate development of] the climate control?" he said."But if you look at the at the product defining components – and I can give you also really specific examples on the car – we have the full freedom for sure." The Temerario is loaded with 'product defining components', as Dr Mohr puts it. "The electric front axle was a standalone development … the battery is a standalone development – we are using only in the [VW] Group cell, because we are not developing cells, chemical cells, but the battery assembly and so on [is Lamborghini]." "Cooling concept is Lambo. Gearbox is only Lambo. Engine – people think it's based on the [Lamborghini] Revuleto [V12] engine – it has nothing to do with the Revuleto," Dr Mohr explains. "Because if you want to rev 10,000rpm, to be honest, you cannot start with the standard V8. You can reach a 10,000 because you start everything based on the mechanical configuration of the engine with this [10,000rpm] point [in mind], so this is completely standalone." The V8 includes a 'hot vee', the term used to describe turbochargers mounted within the 90-degree cylinder banks, which again aren't taken from another Lamborghini or Volkswagen Group powertrain. "[The Revuleto's] turbochargers are not used [the Temerario's are smaller for better response], but there is a pump for the cooling circuit – something like that is carryover – but the rest is standalone," the tech boss explained. "This [synergy], I have to say, is one of the strengths. As an organisation, we became focussed on the differentiation … we could balance what is important for the brand and what is make or break to make a difference" MORE: Explore the Lamborghini Temerario showroomMORE: Lamborghini Temerario: A deep dive with Lambo's chief technical officer Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Lamborghini Temerario supercar still benefits from broader Volkswagen Group expertise – despite there no longer being an Audi equivalent – according to the raging bull brand's chief technical officer, Dr Rouven Mohr. 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Yet the Temerario is the first entry-level Lamborghini for three generations not to share its underpinnings with Audi – making it the first since the 1988 Jalpa – with the German brand quitting sports car racing to join the Formula One grid in 2026. This doesn't mean the Italian brand was left to develop the Temerario alone given there's no Audi-equivalent this time around – but nor is it a Volkswagen parts bin special, either. "This [being part of the Volkswagen Group] is an absolute strength," Dr Mohr, Lamborghini's chief technical officer, told CarExpert. "For sure, we are discussing synergy [with other VW Group models], this is clear … [but] for me, I'm fully convinced the Volkswagen company is the only group that lets the brands lead their own events." The Lamborghini tech boss explained developing parts which have limited impact on the customer's experience is not an intelligent business approach. "It simply doesn't make sense, to be honest – what is the differentiation factor, addition value for the for the customer, for [separate development of] the climate control?" he said."But if you look at the at the product defining components – and I can give you also really specific examples on the car – we have the full freedom for sure." The Temerario is loaded with 'product defining components', as Dr Mohr puts it. "The electric front axle was a standalone development … the battery is a standalone development – we are using only in the [VW] Group cell, because we are not developing cells, chemical cells, but the battery assembly and so on [is Lamborghini]." "Cooling concept is Lambo. Gearbox is only Lambo. Engine – people think it's based on the [Lamborghini] Revuleto [V12] engine – it has nothing to do with the Revuleto," Dr Mohr explains. "Because if you want to rev 10,000rpm, to be honest, you cannot start with the standard V8. You can reach a 10,000 because you start everything based on the mechanical configuration of the engine with this [10,000rpm] point [in mind], so this is completely standalone." The V8 includes a 'hot vee', the term used to describe turbochargers mounted within the 90-degree cylinder banks, which again aren't taken from another Lamborghini or Volkswagen Group powertrain. "[The Revuleto's] turbochargers are not used [the Temerario's are smaller for better response], but there is a pump for the cooling circuit – something like that is carryover – but the rest is standalone," the tech boss explained. "This [synergy], I have to say, is one of the strengths. As an organisation, we became focussed on the differentiation … we could balance what is important for the brand and what is make or break to make a difference" MORE: Explore the Lamborghini Temerario showroomMORE: Lamborghini Temerario: A deep dive with Lambo's chief technical officer Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
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