One of History’s Most Entertaining V8s Is on the Table for a Revival

One of the greatest and most entertaining V8s could be set for a comeback. Maserati recently held an important press conference, sharing some major updates to its lineup and future product strategy.

During the conference, executives went on record to say they’re very interested in reviving the company’s beloved gasoline eight-cylinder. And that’s not just great news for Italian car lovers, but for enthusiasts and V8 lovers in general.

Some of the best-sounding and most charismatic V8s, ever

Maserati

It was just a short time ago, in 2024, when Maserati ended its use of V8s. That last V8, the Ferrari-sourced twin-turbocharged “F154,” still currently powers every V8 Prancing Horse on sale today.

While the engine is a direct transplant from Ferrari, Maserati differentiated its version through a conventional cross-plane crankshaft (versus Ferrari’s flat-plane crank). Other differences included the intake and exhaust manifold designs, among tweaks such as engine management mapping.

Maserati

Those changes resulted in what is arguably one of the best-sounding V8s ever made, giving it its distinctive baritone bellow, both at idle and under throttle load. It’s a reputation that began when Maserati and Ferrari collaborated on the previous V8, the naturally-aspirated “F136.”

I mean, just listen to it.

The later twin-turbo F154 wasn’t all that different, just a little more muffled from the extra piping involved with the turbos.

To commemorate the V8’s final moment, the Italian Trident launched a special end-of-production edition of the Quattroporte called the Grand Finale. It not only marked the end of the previous-generation Quattroporte but also the end of Maserati’s use of V8s altogether.

Simultaneously, Maserati officially ushered in its replacement, the all-new Nettuno twin-turbo V6. Since then, fans have been wondering if the V8 would ever return for Maserati.

Now, it seems like there’s a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.

“Everything is possible”

Maserati

When the conference reached the Q&A portion for journalists, Australia’s Drive popped the magic question regarding the V8.

“The sky is the limit,” to which Santo Filici, Maserati’s chief operating officer, candidly replied. “Of course, we need to consider the fact that today we have already the fantastic V6 Nettuno that, in my opinion, is the best in the world”

“We are exploiting this engine in all our models, starting from Grecale to MCXtrema, to express the fact that the potentiality of this engine is so big that can we can do everything we want in terms of performance, also to respect the environment,” Filici continued. “But again, we are looking; everything is possible for the future.”

Maserati

But Filici further elaborated that a new V8 may present some challenges. And that’s because Maserati depended on its relationship with Ferrari for the F154 and the F136.

Today, Maserati operates completely separately from Ferrari, after ending its last cooperative partnership in 2023. That partnership is what gave Maserati the Ferrari-sourced V8s.

So, for Maserati to reintroduce the V8 to its portfolio, it would have to outsource the engine once again and adapt it to its own applications. Alternatively, it would have to come up with a ground-up new design.