Maserati is considering creating a supercar with a manual transmission
Italian automaker Maserati appears to have found an idea that could revive interest in the brand. Instead of continuing to produce SUVs that are not in high demand, the company is discussing the creation of a future supercar with a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. This comes at a time when most sports car manufacturers are betting on software and automatic transmissions.
Cristiano Fiorio, head of the Bottegafuoriserie division, stated that half of Maserati’s custom-order clients are specifically looking for a petrol engine and a manual gearbox. Currently, the brand, like most premium automakers except Porsche, does not offer such a combination. However, the situation may change.
“The day we are ready to introduce a new Bottega program for Maserati, I hope it will happen soon in the future. I believe we should have a manual transmission in our offering for the Bottega product,” Autocar quotes Fiorio as saying.
Potential flagship based on the Nettuno V6 engine
Maserati executives have hinted that a future low-volume flagship could become the most extreme internal combustion engine model since the MC12. Rumors suggest it may be co-developed with a future special vehicle from Alfa Romeo, continuing the tradition of collaboration between the two Italian brands.
If the project is realized, the main star will be the Nettuno V6 engine, which currently produces up to 621 hp (630 PS) without electric assistance. This twin-turbo unit is already used in the MC20, GranTurismo, and Grecale models. Company executives have repeatedly called this engine a central element of the brand’s identity and confirmed that it will evolve with mild and full hybrid versions (but not plug-in) in the coming years.
Will this change the market situation?
The release of a limited series of supercars with a manual transmission — the first since the Maserati Bora of the 1970s — will not dramatically change the company’s financial situation but will attract attention. Maserati sales remain weak, despite positive critical reviews of their cars. Even the arrival of the MC20 did not help the brand as expected.
Maserati CEO Antonio Filosa continues to insist that “Maserati is not for sale,” although parent company Stellantis is in talks with two potential partners regarding technological collaboration. One of them, according to rumors, is China’s BYD.
“We are clearly looking, we want, and we must find excellence in the market in electronic architecture, in the supply of specific parts… we are moving in this direction,” Reuters quotes Maserati executive Santo Ficili as saying.
Ficili also ruled out JLR as one of these partners, despite the recent collaboration of the British company with Stellantis for the production of Defender models in the USA.
While the idea of a supercar with a manual transmission looks appealing to enthusiasts, it is unlikely to be a panacea for Maserati. The brand needs not only image projects but also stable demand for its core models. Collaboration with third-party partners to develop electronic architectures could help reduce costs, but the question of whether Maserati can preserve its Italian soul in the era of electrification remains open. A manual gearbox on a limited series is a great way to remind people of its existence, but more systemic solutions are needed for survival.