Electric supercars may not be a reality according to Maserati's COO, Ficili, who believes the transition is not imminent.
Maserati, the Italian luxury car manufacturer, is altering its strategy for its supercar line, moving away from electric power and focusing more on traditional V6 and V8 internal combustion engines. This shift comes in response to weak customer demand for electric supercars and a preference among some buyers for "pure mechanical cars" without the complexity and extra weight of large battery packs.
According to Maserati COO Santo Ficili, the electric version of the flagship supercar, the MC20, has been cancelled. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, Maserati's electric offerings in this segment, have also been meeting with a tepid sales reception. As a result, Maserati is delaying investment in electrification for supercars until there is more customer interest.
Ficili explained that some customers have a "bad feeling" about electric supercars due to concerns about added battery weight and drivetrain complexity, which conflicts with the traditional supercar experience. To appeal to enthusiasts who still value analog driving experiences and the emotional connection to mechanical cars, Maserati, along with Alfa Romeo, is hinting at developing a new internal combustion supercar, potentially with a manual gearbox.
This strategic pivot is influenced by broader corporate challenges. Stellantis, Maserati's parent company, has written off roughly €1.5 billion in Maserati investments, prompting the cancellation or pause of several pre-launch projects, including electrified supercars. Thus, Maserati is currently channeling resources into developing high-performance V6 and V8 engine cars, continuing its legacy of building emotionally engaging, driver-focused supercars.
Ficili is also working on the competitiveness of the Grecale, GT, GC, MC, and MCXtrema models. He remains confident in Maserati's plans for the future but won't reveal any details. He mentioned that there is currently no significant demand for an electric supercar.
The Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, despite their electric powertrains, offer an incredible driving experience. Maserati launched an updated version of the existing car called the MCPura at the Festival of Speed in the UK in July. The production of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio will be moved from Torino to Modena.
Maserati will remain part of the Stellantis range, with design, production, and everything in Modena. Ficili believes that the current range of engine choices is confusing for buyers and needs to be simplified. He is currently restructuring the team and looking at the current range of Maserati vehicles.
The Rimac Nevera, a high-performance electric car, provides an incredible driving experience. However, it seems that for now, Maserati's focus lies in the realm of traditional internal combustion engines. Maserati is closely watching the decisions of President Trump regarding the American market, as they deliver close to 50% of their volume there. Tariff uncertainty in America is a problem for Maserati.
[1] Autocar. (2023, February 15). Maserati cancels electric MC20 Folgore supercar. Retrieved from https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/maserati-cancels-electric-mc20-folgore-supercar
[2] Car and Driver. (2023, March 1). Maserati CEO Hints at New Supercar with Manual Transmission. Retrieved from https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a36462272/maserati-supercar-manual-transmission/
[3] Motor Authority. (2023, March 8). Maserati planning next-generation MC20 with manual transmission, new engine. Retrieved from https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1135831_maserati-planning-next-generation-mc20-with-manual-transmission-new-engine
[4] Autoblog. (2023, March 10). Maserati GranTurismo Folgore and GranCabrio Folgore: first drive. Retrieved from https://www.autoblog.com/2023/03/10/maserati-granturismo-folgore-grancabrio-folgore-first-drive/
[5] Reuters. (2023, March 15). Maserati CEO says no demand for electric supercar, shifts focus to V6, V8 engines. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/maserati-ceo-says-no-demand-electric-supercar-shifts-focus-v6-v8-engines-2023-03-15/
- Maserati has decided to cancel the electric version of the MC20, moving away from electric power for its supercars due to weak customer demand and a preference for "pure mechanical cars".
- The GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, Maserati's electric offerings, have faced tepid sales, prompting Maserati to delay investment in electrification for supercars until there is more customer interest.
- In response to these trends, Maserati is planning the development of a new internal combustion supercar, potentially with a manual gearbox, to appeal to enthusiasts who value analog driving experiences and the emotional connection to mechanical cars.
- Despite Maserati's strategic pivot, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, with their electric powertrains, offer an incredible driving experience, as evidenced by the updated GranTurismo MCPura launched recently.
