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Maserati Alfieri: The Sports Car Promised Four Times
The Maserati Alfieri never reached production under its own name. The concept appeared at the 2014 Geneva show, and in 2015 Maserati confirmed a road version for about 2016. The date then slipped to 2020 and the plan changed from V6 power to hybrid and electric drive. In the end the design lived on in the second-generation GranTurismo, revealed in October 2022.
Key takeaways
- Shown at Geneva in March 2014 for Maserati's centenary and named after Alfieri Maserati.
- Production was promised in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019, each time for a later date.
- The concept used a 343 kW V8; the planned road car had V6 engines of about 300–380 kW.
- Its styling cues went into the GranTurismo of 2022, and the MC20 of 2020 took the sports-car role.
The 2014 Maserati Alfieri concept
Maserati was founded in Bologna in 1914, and the Alfieri marked its hundredth year. The car was named after Alfieri Maserati (1887–1932), the engineer who started the firm with his brothers. Its lines recalled the A6 GCS/54 of 1954, a Pininfarina-bodied racing car.
The concept was drawn at Centro Stile Maserati in Turin, under chief designer Marco Tencone. It sat on a shortened chassis from the GranTurismo MC Stradale, 24 cm shorter between the axles. Power came from a 4.7-litre V8 with 343 kW (460 hp) and 520 Nm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed MC-Shift gearbox.
What Maserati planned in 2015
| Plan detail | 2015 plan (old 1cars report) | What actually came |
|---|---|---|
| Body | 2+2 coupé first, open car later | GranTurismo coupé 2022, GranCabrio 2024 |
| Basis | Ghibli platform, rear or all-wheel drive | Rear or all-wheel drive |
| Engines | 3.0 V6 turbo: about 300, 330 and 380 kW (410, 450 and 520 hp) | 3.0 Nettuno V6: 360 kW (490 PS) and 405 kW (550 PS) |
| Electric | Not planned | GranTurismo Folgore, 560 kW, three motors |
| Rivals | Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type | Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG GT |
In September 2015 the Alfieri, about 4.59 m long, stood second in Maserati's five-year plan, behind the Maserati Levante SUV. It would sit below the Maserati GranTurismo rather than replace it. Managers promised a road car close to the concept. By our calculation, the strongest planned V6 would have had about 11 % more power than the show car's V8.
How the Alfieri timeline slipped
| Date | What was announced |
|---|---|
| 4 March 2014 | Concept revealed at the Geneva show |
| 6 May 2014 | Production confirmed for 2016 in the FCA five-year plan |
| October 2016 | Launch moved to 2020 at the earliest |
| 1 June 2018 | Alfieri to be plug-in hybrid and electric, replacing the GranTurismo |
| 3 May 2019 | Launch reported for Geneva 2020 |
| 2021 | Stellantis merger; no Alfieri built |
| October 2022 | Second-generation GranTurismo revealed with Alfieri styling cues |
Why the delays? The Levante and the Ghibli came first because they earned money, and the move to electric drive meant starting the engineering again. By 2021, prototypes of the next GranTurismo wore the Alfieri's long bonnet.
Where the Alfieri ended up
Two cars share its legacy. The mid-engined MC20, shown in Modena in September 2020, became the brand's sports car with a 463 kW (630 PS) Nettuno V6. The GranTurismo of 2022 took the Alfieri's front-engined 2+2 layout and look.
The first GranTurismo ended in December 2019 after 40,520 cars. Its successor came with V6 engines and the electric Folgore: roughly the 2018 Alfieri plan. Maserati's wider history is on the history of Maserati page.
Which Maserati to choose today: our verdict
If you wanted an Alfieri, the closest new car is the GranTurismo Modena with 360 kW. The Trofeo suits drivers who want the stronger engine, and the Folgore suits those who want an electric grand tourer. Compare it with the 911 using the comparison tool, check power figures in the 1cars rankings and see every model in the Maserati catalogue.
FAQ
Did the Maserati Alfieri go into production?
No. Maserati confirmed production several times between 2014 and 2019, but no car was sold under the Alfieri name. Its design and front-engined 2+2 layout went into the second-generation GranTurismo, revealed in October 2022.
What engine did the Alfieri concept have?
The 2014 concept used a 4.7-litre V8 with 343 kW (460 hp) and 520 Nm, a six-speed MC-Shift gearbox and rear-wheel drive. Plans in 2015–2016 switched the road car to a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6.
Why is it called Alfieri?
It honours Alfieri Maserati, who founded the company in Bologna in 1914 with his brothers. The concept was revealed at Geneva in March 2014 to mark the brand's hundredth anniversary.
Is the Maserati MC20 the Alfieri?
Not directly. The MC20 of 2020 is a mid-engined two-seater, while the Alfieri was a front-engined 2+2 coupé. The new GranTurismo is the closer descendant.
