Latest news with #Modena
Motor 1
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Maserati Says People Have a 'Bad Feeling' About Electric Supercars
It's been a few months since Maserati canceled the fully electric MC20 after realizing customers 'are very keen on driving powerful ICE engines.' That's according to an official statement sent to Motor1 by a company spokesperson back in March. With that in mind, it's no surprise the Modena-based automaker is now channeling its efforts into gas-powered models. Davide Danesin, Head of Engineering, told Autocar that some people have a 'bad feeling' about supercars equipped with a battery. We'd add that the sentiment likely extends to most performance-oriented cars, from affordable hot hatches to seven-figure hypercars. He went on to admit that 'there are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars,' as evidencened by high-end buyers who had no interest in an EV version of the MC20. These concerns largely stem from the additional hardware EVs require, which increases complexity, adds weight, and introduces all the downsides that come with it. As a result, the plan is to give people what they want: a pure ICE experience via the company's Nettuno V-6. Beyond that, a manual gearbox could even make a surprising return. Maserati hasn't sold a three-pedal car since the mid-2000s. Yet, Danesin sees a stick shift as a real possibility for a limited-run model: 'By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter. It fulfils perfectly our approach and the mindset. So honestly, I think one day we'll do it.' Alfa Romeo and Maserati CEO Santo Ficili reiterates that the two Italian brands will collaborate more closely in the future, hinting at the prospect of a jointly developed gasoline supercar. The tie-up would follow the 33 Stradale, which partially borrowed the carbon tub and aluminum subframes at both ends from the MC20. Autocar speculates that a Maserati-branded supercar would likely be a Granturismo-based GT featuring an upgraded version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine, delivering more than the 621 hp available in the MC20 and its MCPura successor. The added power would likely come without any electric assistance. An equivalent Alfa Romeo is reportedly also in the pipeline, helping to achieve economies of scale and make a solid business case. However, the brand's marketing boss, Cristiano Fiorio, recently said a follow-up to the 33 Stradale shouldn't be rushed, as volume-oriented models are the current priority . We shouldn't fault automakers for channeling resources into hybrids and EVs. Increasingly strict emissions regulations make it harder to justify investing in gas-powered sports cars, especially those with large-displacement engines. Another challenge facing car companies and their customers is the higher taxation on pure ICE vehicles in certain parts of the world, particularly in Europe. To give you a weird example: the BMW M3 is €17,350 ($20,000) more expensive than the M5 in Ireland, due to the latter's lower emissions (at least on paper) from its plug-in hybrid setup. Catch Up With Maserati: Maserati Is Not for Sale Maserati Sales Aren't Doing Great Source: Autocar Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Car
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
New Maserati flagship could get V6 and MANUAL gearbox!
Maserati and Alfa boss reveals plan for two firms to collaborate once again on a limited-run supercar Close News Maserati is considering a new flagship super-GT with V6 power and a manual gearbox as part of a drive to emphasise its sporting heritage and strengthen the brand's luxury credentials. Set to be a limited-run creation, the new top-rung Maserati could be launched as early as next year as the most exclusive and powerful combustion-engined car the firm has produced since the MC12 landed two decades ago. It is tipped to be based on the Granturismo and will be twinned with an equivalent Alfa Romeo model, similar to the way in which the new Alfa 33 Stradale is based on Maserati's MC20. Speaking to Autocar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month, Santo Ficili, who is CEO of both marques, said: 'We have infinite possibilities to customise products for our customers, for the entire range of Maserati. I'm imagining to do something like we did in the past, also considering Alfa Romeo.' Ficili referenced previous collaborations between the two firms, highlighting that the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was based on the previous Maserati Granturismo and built alongside that car at Maserati's plant in Modena, where the later 4C sports coupé was also produced. More recently, Alfa Romeo turned to Maserati to provide the basis for the new 33 Stradale supercar, which shares its basic monocoque chassis and twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with the mid-engined MC20 (now rebadged MCPura). 'We built the 4C and 8C in Modena, so why not?' said Ficili of the prospect of another limited-run supercar tie-up. 'We can imagine a 'few-off' Maserati. It's easy, because you can look at the past of these two brands, and you can find a nice car like the 33 Stradale, and we can invent something like this.' Ficili stopped short of describing in more detail his vision for a new bespoke creation but suggested the aim is to use the new flagship to celebrate Maserati's Nettuno V6 engine, as used in the Granturismo, Grecale and MCPura. 'It's a masterpiece,' he said. It is likely that any V6-powered limited-run special would ramp up the Nettuno's output beyond the 621bhp of the MCPura, in line with a price that would be well in excess of that car's £230,000, but the firm is unlikely to use electrification to achieve that power boost. Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin said: 'There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars.' He added that there is a 'bad feeling' about having a battery on board a supercar, due to the heightened complexity and extra weight it brings. The Nettuno's 'super-advanced' pre-chamber combustion technology and twin injection system help to cut emissions and boost performance, he said, and the engine is 'getting to 210hp per litre with very efficient combustion'. That figure is why the MCPura can remain a pure-combustion car and it means Maserati can keep the V6 in production with the same power once Euro 7 regulations are in force. Giving further clues to what a limited-run Maserati supercar could look like, Danesin even dropped a hint that it could reintroduce a manual gearbox to Maserati's ranks for the first time in years. He said: 'A manual gearbox is an opportunity. I don't see that in big series [production], but why not do a special version with a manual gearbox? No reason to say never. It could be the right choice for a limited edition of a car.' He added that a manual gearbox would emphasise the 'pure', analogue ethos of a Maserati supercar. 'By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter,' he said. 'So why not? It fulfils perfectly the brand. It fulfils perfectly our approach and the mindset. So honestly, I think one day we'll do it.' Ficili said he plans to emphasise Maserati's Italian heritage going forward, adding that the company's headquarters in Modena – 'the middle of Motor Valley' – is 'the right place' to build sports cars. The firm will shortly begin production of the Granturismo and Grancabrio at its factory there once again, having built the current generation at Fiat's Mirafiori plant since 2023. Any new V6 special edition will be closely related to those cars. Neither Danesin nor Ficili gave any indication of when this new supercar could break cover, but next year will be the 100th anniversary of the launch of Maserati's first car, the Tipo 26 grand prix racer that won Italy's legendary Targa Florio endurance race on its first competitive outing in 1926. The following year, Alfa Romeo launched the venerable 6C 1500 sports car, which went on to win the Mille Miglia and the Spa 24 Hours. An Alfa Romeo version of Maserati's next limited-run sports car would no doubt celebrate the centenary of that seminal model. Alfa has already confirmed it will reveal a second supercar in 2026 from its new 'Bottega' division for limited-run cars, which launched with the 33 Stradale. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
The National
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The National
Guide to Maranello, the city where Ferrari was born
For any enthusiast of automotive greatness, or even a casual admirer of what happens when pure passion meets precision engineering, a trip to Maranello in Italy is less a holiday than a pilgrimage. This unassuming town in Emilia-Romagna is home to Ferrari, the crucible where the legend of the Prancing Horse was forged. Even the most indifferent visitor can sense how deeply the company is embedded in the fabric of the place. A visit to Ferrari Central isn't just a stroll through a museum; it's full immersion into a legacy. It's a living testament to Enzo Ferrari 's relentless pursuit of perfection. The two main attractions are the Museo Ferrari in Maranello and the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari in nearby Modena. The latter goes beyond motoring, offering a broader look at the life and vision of Ferrari's founder. Even non-car lovers are drawn in. The experience is engrossing and witnessing decades of evolution is deeply emotional. Inside, you're enveloped in an atmosphere charged with the echoes of thundering engines and celebratory podiums. Ferrari's vast collection includes famous Formula 1 cars, sport prototypes and road-going masterpieces that define the apex of performance and luxury. For racing purists, the connection to Grand Prix is the real magnet. The buzz around the new F1 film starring Brad Pitt - which grossed about $300 million in its first month - has only heightened the allure. Unsurprisingly, the museums in both Maranello and Modena lean into this momentum. The Hall of Victories is a shrine to Scuderia Ferrari's unparalleled F1 success. More than 110 trophies glitter beneath the lights, each representing a moment of global triumph. In the centre – championship-winning cars from 1999 to 2008, arranged in a proud semi-circle, all facing inward like predators about to pounce. But Ferrari isn't resting on its heritage laurels, it is looking to reassert dominance in the field. As F1 evolves, thanks to rule changes and real-time analytics, Ferrari has enlisted the help of Amazon Web Services to mine more than a million data points per second from hundreds of sensors. For Scuderia engineers, this data is gold. It fuels simulations, perfects car setups, and identifies issues before they arise. The goal – shaving off tenths of a second that win races. Visitors can get a taste of that pressure in the racing simulator at Museo Ferrari, offering a high-octane glimpse into what it takes to handle an F1 machine. For a hands-on thrill, Ferrari owners can enroll in the two-day Corso Pilota at the Fiorano circuit. From Sport to Evoluzione+ to Race levels, each stage builds toward competing in the Ferrari Challenge - the brand's single-make racing series dedicated to clients. Drivers are coached by pros, guided by mental trainers, and even fuelled by Scuderia nutritionists. The cars? Ferrari 296 GTBs lined up to greet you. Taking one around Fiorano's twisty track is a visceral, unforgettable experience. Designed with track days in mind, the 296 GTB responds to the lightest touch with breathtaking agility. And with a pro beside you - not to nanny you but to sharpen your technique - you feel at once safe and supersonic. While full factory tours are restricted to clients, media and F1 sponsors, those granted access board shuttles through the Fiorano circuit and Viale Enzo Ferrari. Along the way, you witness each painstaking step of car assembly, still done largely by hand. It's a sharp contrast to the robotic uniformity of mass-market plants. You'll see chunks of raw metal waiting to become part of one of the world's most upmarket vehicles. Even the buildings reflect Ferrari's fusion of art and function, with architecture by greats such as Renzo Piano and Jean Nouvel adding another layer of appreciation to the engineering prowess on display. A visit to Maranello is more than just seeing cars. Local pride in the Ferrari brand is off the scale, but the crowds are a truly international bunch – from aficionados who know exactly what they're after to the less initiated who will soon understand the fuss. Coming to this region and sampling what's on offer involves understanding a philosophy and appreciating a fusion of art and engineering, the relentless pursuit of speed, and witnessing the enduring passion that has made Ferrari a global name.
Top Gear
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
'I hope Enzo doesn't get angry': the tricky job of running the Ferrari museum
Supercars Creating a virtual museum in The Crew Motorfest harks back to Mr Ferrari's philosophy Skip 10 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Michele Pignatti Morano's job seems straightforward, until you really consider the details. As the director of Ferrari's museums, he ultimately decides what the 860,000 yearly visitors to the prancing horse's Modena and Maranello sites see when they get there. He's hardly short of options, given the manufacturer's storied history, and the infectious fanaticism of its fans. Surely it's a matter of picking a few stone-cold classics in rosso corsa , wheeling them out, and then sitting back for an espresso break? Possibly. But to big boss Enzo, the very concept of a Ferrari museum was an oxymoron. 'His mentality was, 'I don't want to keep the old one, because the next one is best,'' Pignatti Morano told TG in a mercifully air-conditioned corner of the Maranello headquarters during an unseasonal heatwave. 'So he literally would destroy the old cars. For him, they were not worth keeping.' Advertisement - Page continues below Enzo Ferrari's contention that his cars belonged on the track and not under a spotlight in a temperature-controlled warehouse creates a bit of nuance, and even tension, to Pignatti Moreno's job. Times have changed at Ferrari, of course. You won't see anybody breaking down old Californias and heaving them into skips outside the factory, but you will indeed see numerous precious cars exhibited. Not without consideration and concessions to Enzo's vision, mind. 'I understand the philosophy and I hope he doesn't get angry,' said Pignatti Morano. 'But now we are going towards our 80th anniversary, and obviously after 80 years a car deserves occasionally to be in a museum and have a rest.' You might like And rest they do. Arranged at dramatic angles and varying heights across two museum sites, a who's who list of desirable supercars from across the decades now enjoy adulation under a spotlight. But should anyone doubt their mettle, they're also primed to prove their performance all over again at a moment's notice. ' They basically all are in working condition,' said Pignatti Morano. 'Especially the ones that come from private collections. They are in perfect working condition because the people that look after them do so in a crazy way. Advertisement - Page continues below 'Each car is a masterpiece nowadays, so it is looked after as if it was a masterpiece.' Given the company's previous proclivity for binning old stock, around 80 per cent of the museum collection comes from private collectors. That includes vehicles that served their time on the track. 'Obviously, if a car is 70 years old and it's always been on the racetrack, there will be something that is not right, but that's the nice thing," said Pignatti Morano. "We have experts that come and recognise the cars that are at the museum by chassis number. So it's not just a matter of saying, this is a 166 MM, they come and they say, 'Ah, this is chassis number 40. It's the first car imported into Portugal. It was driven by this guy, and did this race. This part should not be there, but it should be there'. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. "Because in the past, cars in races were crashed, then they were fixed up in a simple way. And that for me is amazing.' Recently, Ferrari found another way to honour Enzo's museum philosophy. In addition to the race-ready models lining the hallways at Modena and Maranello, you'll now find virtual versions of them – along with vignettes from Pignatti Morano himself – in The Crew Motorfest 's Season 7's 'Ferrari Supercars' playlist. In a way, it's having your cake and eating it. A means of celebrating the manufacturer's historic supercars in a rare glance backwards instead of tearing forwards towards ultimate performance, without defanging the GTO, F40, F50 and LaFerrari that all once represented the pinnacle of supercar design. A playable museum exhibit. Given that for the vast majority of those vehicles' fans, they've only ever existed as posters on our walls and pixels on our screens, a videogame feels like the most fitting place to exhibit them. ' We tried to make something in a different way,' said Pignatti Morano, 'because a museum is something old-fashioned. Not everybody visits museums, especially the young generation that play videogames. So having the opportunity to actually talk to these people in a different way, I think was an opportunity that we couldn't miss.'
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
2026 Maserati MCPura revealed
There's more to the Maserati MCPura than meets the eye. It's only when parked alongside the MC20 you'll see how very different it is from the sleek five-year-old supercar it replaces. Claimed to be the result of more than 2000 hours wind tunnel testing and thousands more spent on advanced fluid dynamics simulations, speak to the wind wrangler, or aerodynamicist as they're more commonly known, and they will go to great lengths explaining how different the MCPura, compared to its predecessor. MORE: The Ferrari that ruins everything 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied Maybe they're right, after all the entire lower half of the body is new from the front bumper, rear diffuser, side skirts and underbody. Peek under a MCPura and there's supposed to be fancy vortex generators and less exciting-sounding air channels that carefully manage wind to that enlarged rear diffuser. MORE: New look for family favourite 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied At the same time other air benders were finessing how to extract hot air from an engine, while channelling cold fresh air to a hungry twin-turbo V6. â¨â¨If it all sounds complex, it is – and the result is a car that offers less lift and more downforce without any naughty speed-sapping drag. Pop open one of the still-glorious butterfly doors and you're greeted by wall-to-wall Alcantara – the suede-like material beloved by motorsport because it is light, hard-wearing and UV-proof. MORE: The new baby buy replacing the pram 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied Other changes include the introduction of a flat-topped steering wheel, which is unusual and apparently helps improve visibility ahead and links the new Maserati supercar with the GT2 racer that competes on the weekend. Under the rear bonnet, Maserati hasn't been foolish by adding any electrification to its already-advanced twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. In the latest Lamborghini Temerario the extra hybrid tech saw the kerbweight climb over the model it replaces by an astonishing 300kg. 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied Sadly, engineers haven't managed to liberate any more power from the 'Nettuno' engine's advanced twin-combustion tech, but both 470kW of power and 730Nm of torque seems to suffice and, compared with a swift-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, a 0-100km/h dash takes just 2.9 seconds, which is actually a few tenths off the pace in the new crazy age of electrified supercars. Along with the new downforce figures, Maserati hasn't announced what exactly has occurred when it comes to suspension changes but has said that the Android-powered 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen now comes with some of the same track-focused telemetry developed for the hard-core GT2 Stradale, suggesting more of a hard edge. 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied Enhancing agility both on road and track is the MCPura remains based around a full carbon-fibre monocoque, instead of the less exotic aluminium spaceframe favoured by the Ferrari 296, that means it weighs just 1475kg – the same as the MC20. There was little wrong with the way the old Maserati supercar demolished a cross-country sprint and the new MCPura is expected to only elevate near-class-best dynamics, although if we're honest the droptop Cielo roadster was always our pick and the new one now throws in some fancy electrochromic roof tech into the mix which can, at the touch of a button, turn the clear glass to opaque. 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied The same tech also enhances thermal insulation and ensures the Maser's cabin stays cool in hot weather and warm when it gets chilly, making the droptop even more desirable. Now available in ten colours, including the wild glass-prism-mimicking matte Ai Aqua Rainbow hue it was launched with, Maserati will allow owners to customise their new supercar using its bespoke Fuoriserie division which can realise even the wildest imaginations in automotive forms. 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied Available to order now with first deliveries expected to take place either before the end of this year or early in 2026, prices for the new Maserati MCPURA are expected to hover around the $500k mark, with the Cielo roadster commanding a premium of around $65,000. To sum up, the MCPura is a facelift that doesn't look like a facelift – normally we'd lambast any car-maker for not being brave enough to embrace change but when you remember the MC20 remains one of the most beautiful supercars any amount of money can buy, who can blame Maserari? 2026 Maserati MCPura. Picture: Supplied The new name, meanwhile, is less easy to forgive. Why would you want to plough half a million dollars into a car that sounds like a drink you get with a Happy Meal. 2026 Maserati MCPura⨠PRICE: About $510,000+ plus on-road costs â¨â¨ ENGINE: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6, 470kW/730Nm WARRANTY/SERVICING: Three years/unlimited km, 12 months/15,000km⨠SAFETY: Four airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, Matrix LED adaptive headlights THIRST: 11.5L/100km (WLTP Combined)⨠CARGO: 150 litres⨠SPARE: Repair kit
