New Maserati supercar may bring back the manual gearbox
British publication Autocar has said the new flagship supercar – Maserati's first since the Ferrari-based MC12 sold between 2004 and 2005 – could be unveiled as soon as 2026 with a manual transmission.
"There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars," Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin told Autocar.
"By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter. 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."
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
Maserati has not offered a manual gearbox in a production car since 2019, when production of the first-generation GranTurismo wound up. The current model is offered with automatic transmission only.
The proposed new grand touring supercar, which would likely be a limited-edition flagship, would be co-developed with Alfa Romeo since both brands are owned by Stellantis and share the same CEO, Santo Filici.
The two Italian automakers have collaborated on numerous projects in the past, with Maserati most recently supplying the chassis from its MC20 sports car to produce the 2024 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar.
The 33 Stradale was a limited-run model, with only 33 units produced globally. None made it to Australia and each vehicle was priced at €3 million ($A5.33 million).
When asked about a new Maserati supercar, Mr Filici told Autocar: "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."
This could mean using the underpinnings of the second-generation Maserati GranTurismo, introduced in 2023, which is sold in Australia only with the company's 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol 'Nettuno' engine, but is also available in some markets with a battery-electric powertrain.
Mr Filici told the British publication the new limited-edition model would be a celebration of the Nettuno engine – which made its debut in the MC20 supercar – describing it as "a masterpiece".
"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," he said.
Manual transmissions have gradually disappeared from road cars – and been largely replaced by dual-clutch automatics – with Ferrari and Lamborghini not offering a traditional three-pedal production model for more than a decade.
Ferrari, which last offered a manual in 2012, has suggested the old-school transmission type may make a comeback in its cars, including a project led by its 2025 Formula 1 recruit, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
MORE: Everything Maserati
MORE: Ferrari F44? F1 legend Lewis Hamilton wants to make a manual supercar
MORE: The 10 cheapest new manual cars you can buy in Australia
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Ferrari and Lamborghini have all dropped them, but Maserati has suggested a manual transmission could be offered in a new supercar it may co-develop with fellow Italian brand Alfa Romeo.
British publication Autocar has said the new flagship supercar – Maserati's first since the Ferrari-based MC12 sold between 2004 and 2005 – could be unveiled as soon as 2026 with a manual transmission.
"There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars," Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin told Autocar.
"By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter. 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."
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
Maserati has not offered a manual gearbox in a production car since 2019, when production of the first-generation GranTurismo wound up. The current model is offered with automatic transmission only.
The proposed new grand touring supercar, which would likely be a limited-edition flagship, would be co-developed with Alfa Romeo since both brands are owned by Stellantis and share the same CEO, Santo Filici.
The two Italian automakers have collaborated on numerous projects in the past, with Maserati most recently supplying the chassis from its MC20 sports car to produce the 2024 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar.
The 33 Stradale was a limited-run model, with only 33 units produced globally. None made it to Australia and each vehicle was priced at €3 million ($A5.33 million).
When asked about a new Maserati supercar, Mr Filici told Autocar: "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."
This could mean using the underpinnings of the second-generation Maserati GranTurismo, introduced in 2023, which is sold in Australia only with the company's 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol 'Nettuno' engine, but is also available in some markets with a battery-electric powertrain.
Mr Filici told the British publication the new limited-edition model would be a celebration of the Nettuno engine – which made its debut in the MC20 supercar – describing it as "a masterpiece".
"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," he said.
Manual transmissions have gradually disappeared from road cars – and been largely replaced by dual-clutch automatics – with Ferrari and Lamborghini not offering a traditional three-pedal production model for more than a decade.
Ferrari, which last offered a manual in 2012, has suggested the old-school transmission type may make a comeback in its cars, including a project led by its 2025 Formula 1 recruit, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
MORE: Everything Maserati
MORE: Ferrari F44? F1 legend Lewis Hamilton wants to make a manual supercar
MORE: The 10 cheapest new manual cars you can buy in Australia
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Ferrari and Lamborghini have all dropped them, but Maserati has suggested a manual transmission could be offered in a new supercar it may co-develop with fellow Italian brand Alfa Romeo.
British publication Autocar has said the new flagship supercar – Maserati's first since the Ferrari-based MC12 sold between 2004 and 2005 – could be unveiled as soon as 2026 with a manual transmission.
"There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars," Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin told Autocar.
"By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter. 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."
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
Maserati has not offered a manual gearbox in a production car since 2019, when production of the first-generation GranTurismo wound up. The current model is offered with automatic transmission only.
The proposed new grand touring supercar, which would likely be a limited-edition flagship, would be co-developed with Alfa Romeo since both brands are owned by Stellantis and share the same CEO, Santo Filici.
The two Italian automakers have collaborated on numerous projects in the past, with Maserati most recently supplying the chassis from its MC20 sports car to produce the 2024 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar.
The 33 Stradale was a limited-run model, with only 33 units produced globally. None made it to Australia and each vehicle was priced at €3 million ($A5.33 million).
When asked about a new Maserati supercar, Mr Filici told Autocar: "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."
This could mean using the underpinnings of the second-generation Maserati GranTurismo, introduced in 2023, which is sold in Australia only with the company's 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol 'Nettuno' engine, but is also available in some markets with a battery-electric powertrain.
Mr Filici told the British publication the new limited-edition model would be a celebration of the Nettuno engine – which made its debut in the MC20 supercar – describing it as "a masterpiece".
"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," he said.
Manual transmissions have gradually disappeared from road cars – and been largely replaced by dual-clutch automatics – with Ferrari and Lamborghini not offering a traditional three-pedal production model for more than a decade.
Ferrari, which last offered a manual in 2012, has suggested the old-school transmission type may make a comeback in its cars, including a project led by its 2025 Formula 1 recruit, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
MORE: Everything Maserati
MORE: Ferrari F44? F1 legend Lewis Hamilton wants to make a manual supercar
MORE: The 10 cheapest new manual cars you can buy in Australia
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Ferrari and Lamborghini have all dropped them, but Maserati has suggested a manual transmission could be offered in a new supercar it may co-develop with fellow Italian brand Alfa Romeo.
British publication Autocar has said the new flagship supercar – Maserati's first since the Ferrari-based MC12 sold between 2004 and 2005 – could be unveiled as soon as 2026 with a manual transmission.
"There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars," Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin told Autocar.
"By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter. 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."
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
Maserati has not offered a manual gearbox in a production car since 2019, when production of the first-generation GranTurismo wound up. The current model is offered with automatic transmission only.
The proposed new grand touring supercar, which would likely be a limited-edition flagship, would be co-developed with Alfa Romeo since both brands are owned by Stellantis and share the same CEO, Santo Filici.
The two Italian automakers have collaborated on numerous projects in the past, with Maserati most recently supplying the chassis from its MC20 sports car to produce the 2024 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar.
The 33 Stradale was a limited-run model, with only 33 units produced globally. None made it to Australia and each vehicle was priced at €3 million ($A5.33 million).
When asked about a new Maserati supercar, Mr Filici told Autocar: "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."
This could mean using the underpinnings of the second-generation Maserati GranTurismo, introduced in 2023, which is sold in Australia only with the company's 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol 'Nettuno' engine, but is also available in some markets with a battery-electric powertrain.
Mr Filici told the British publication the new limited-edition model would be a celebration of the Nettuno engine – which made its debut in the MC20 supercar – describing it as "a masterpiece".
"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," he said.
Manual transmissions have gradually disappeared from road cars – and been largely replaced by dual-clutch automatics – with Ferrari and Lamborghini not offering a traditional three-pedal production model for more than a decade.
Ferrari, which last offered a manual in 2012, has suggested the old-school transmission type may make a comeback in its cars, including a project led by its 2025 Formula 1 recruit, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
MORE: Everything Maserati
MORE: Ferrari F44? F1 legend Lewis Hamilton wants to make a manual supercar
MORE: The 10 cheapest new manual cars you can buy in Australia
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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With three production cars set to launch from 2026, it remains to be seen whether the marque's relaunch will be successful, both critically and financially. Mr Mardell's upcoming departure is the latest in a series of leadership upheavals in the automotive industry this year. In March, Volvo hired its former CEO Håkan Samuelsson to lead it once again, and in May, Stellantis ended its long search for a leader by promoting quality boss Antonio Filosa to the top job. More dramatically, in June, Renault CEO Luca de Meo quit to head up the luxury conglomerate behind Gucci. His replacement, procurement chief François Provost, was only confirmed a few days ago. MORE: Everything Land Rover Content originally sourced from: Adrian Mardell, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has decided to retire and leave the automaker after 35 years at the firm. A spokesperson confirmed the news to Autocar Professional India, and added, "His successor will be announced in due course". It's unclear right now whether the automaker's new CEO will come from inside the company, another automaker or supplier, or from outside the industry altogether. Mr Mardell became Jaguar Land Rover's interim CEO at the end of 2022 after his predecessor Thierry Bollore quit suddenly "for personal reasons" after just two years in the job. Mr Mardell signed a three year contract in the middle of 2023. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Prior to becoming CEO, he worked largely on the financial side, was deputy chief financial officer (CFO) from 2008 before later adding chief transformation officer to his responsibilities, and then becoming CFO in 2019. During his relatively short time in charge, Mr Mardell trimmed the company's net debt to around zero, and brought the British automaker back into the black, with the company making a £1.8 billion ($3.7 billion) profit in the year to March 2025. The turnaround has come courtesy of strong sales from the Defender and Range Rover ranges, which have helped the firm achieve a strong profit margin of 8.5 per cent during the previous financial year. After taking control of JLR, Mr Mardell continued his predecessor's Reimagine plan to turn Jaguar into an Bentley-chasing EV-only brand, and introduce mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric drivetrains to Land Rover models. In April 2023 he renamed the firm JLR, and split Land Rover into three new brands — Defender, Discovery and Range Rover — to sit alongside Jaguar. Despite the automaker's rosy-looking financials, there are storm clouds on the horizon. Tariffs, which have seemingly been rising and falling on a daily basis in the US, caused the manufacturer to pause shipments to one of its more important export markets. While many countries are now slapped with a 25 per cent or higher tariff, there's now an agreement with the UK, which sees the first 100,000 cars per year from Britain taxed at just 10 per cent. A deal with the EU for a 10 per cent tariff is nearly complete, which will come as a relief to JLR as the Defender is produced in Slovakia. On top of this, Jaguar's new brand identity and design direction, as previewed by the Type 00 concept, has garnered plenty of attention and caused much gnashing of teeth on the internet. With three production cars set to launch from 2026, it remains to be seen whether the marque's relaunch will be successful, both critically and financially. Mr Mardell's upcoming departure is the latest in a series of leadership upheavals in the automotive industry this year. In March, Volvo hired its former CEO Håkan Samuelsson to lead it once again, and in May, Stellantis ended its long search for a leader by promoting quality boss Antonio Filosa to the top job. 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