Italie
Maserati
Maserati is a prestigious Italian automaker founded on December 1, 1914 in Bologna by the Maserati brothers. Before creating their own brand, Alfieri, Bindo, and Ernesto Maserati had designed and prepared racing cars, notably for Diatto. When the latter ceased producing competition cars in 1926, the brothers launched their brand under their own name, adopting as its emblem the trident drawn by Mario Maserati, inspired by the Fountain of Neptune on Bologna's Piazza Maggiore. In 1940, the headquarters was moved to Modena, the city that remains the historic heart of the brand to this day. Maserati first made its name in competition, notably winning prestigious races during the 1930s through the 1950s, before turning toward road-going grand touring cars. Over the decades, ownership of Maserati changed hands several times: the Orsi family, then Citroën, De Tomaso, and from the 1990s onward the Fiat group. The brand was for a time associated with Ferrari before being integrated into the Fiat group and then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Since 2021, Maserati has belonged to Stellantis, the multinational group born from the merger of FCA and the PSA group. Within Stellantis, Maserati plays the role of a luxury, high-end brand. In North America, Maserati is sold through a network of official dealers in Canada and the United States, where it competes against German luxury automakers and Italian sports brands. The modern lineup includes sedans (Ghibli, Quattroporte), grand touring coupes and convertibles (GranTurismo, GranCabrio), SUVs (Levante, Grecale), and the MC20 supercar. Maserati has also begun a shift toward electrification with its Folgore line. The brand relies on Italian craftsmanship, design, and the sound of its engines to maintain its image of exclusivity.
ActiveLuxePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideEuropéennes
History
History of Maserati
Maserati is a prestigious Italian automaker founded on December 1, 1914 in Bologna by the Maserati brothers. Before creating their own brand, Alfieri, Bindo, and Ernesto Maserati had designed and prepared racing cars, notably for Diatto. When the latter ceased producing competition cars in 1926, the brothers launched their brand under their own name, adopting as its emblem the trident drawn by Mario Maserati, inspired by the Fountain of Neptune on Bologna's Piazza Maggiore. In 1940, the headquarters was moved to Modena, the city that remains the historic heart of the brand to this day. Maserati first made its name in competition, notably winning prestigious races during the 1930s through the 1950s, before turning toward road-going grand touring cars. Over the decades, ownership of Maserati changed hands several times: the Orsi family, then Citroën, De Tomaso, and from the 1990s onward the Fiat group. The brand was for a time associated with Ferrari before being integrated into the Fiat group and then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Since 2021, Maserati has belonged to Stellantis, the multinational group born from the merger of FCA and the PSA group. Within Stellantis, Maserati plays the role of a luxury, high-end brand. In North America, Maserati is sold through a network of official dealers in Canada and the United States, where it competes against German luxury automakers and Italian sports brands. The modern lineup includes sedans (Ghibli, Quattroporte), grand touring coupes and convertibles (GranTurismo, GranCabrio), SUVs (Levante, Grecale), and the MC20 supercar. Maserati has also begun a shift toward electrification with its Folgore line. The brand relies on Italian craftsmanship, design, and the sound of its engines to maintain its image of exclusivity.
Public founding or origin of Maserati.
Ghibli: launch or first listed period.
GranTurismo: launch or first listed period.
Levante: launch or first listed period.
Quattroporte: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
For a long time Maserati relied on high-performance gasoline engines, including a twin-turbo V8 (notably in the Trofeo versions of the Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte), whose production ended around 2023. The recent lineup has been built around mild-hybrid four-cylinder engines, V6 engines, and the Nettuno engine, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 designed and assembled in Modena, featuring a pre-chamber ignition technology derived from Formula 1 to improve efficiency and power. The brand launched its 100% electric Folgore line: the GranTurismo Folgore introduces an 800-volt architecture, three electric motors, and a battery of roughly 92.5 kWh, with technologies derived from Formula E. Maserati planned to offer an electric version for every model and a gradual transition to all-electric.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A prestigious Italian brand focused on grand touring, design, and character, combining sporting heritage with exclusive luxury.
Reputation
Maserati's reputation rests on prestige, design, and character, but reliability is often judged average to low among luxury brands. Feedback from owners and specialized websites reports electrical, suspension, transmission, and build-quality issues, as well as high maintenance and parts costs. Depreciation is steep: a sedan like the Ghibli can lose more than half its value in five years, and the Levante also depreciates sharply, though sometimes a little better. This makes used models affordable, but calls for caution regarding service history and repair costs.
Strengths
Maserati stands out for its sporting heritage, its image of exclusivity, and a striking Italian design. The powertrains, including the Formula 1-derived Nettuno V6 and the former twin-turbo V8s, deliver a character and sound that owners appreciate. The brand offers refined grand touring, artisanal finishes, and extensive personalization. The strong depreciation also makes used examples attractive to certain buyers.
Points to watch
Reliability remains the main point of concern: electrical failures, suspension troubles, and transmission issues are regularly reported. Maintenance, parts, and repair costs are high, and the very rapid depreciation hurts resale value. The dealer network is more limited than that of the German brands, and some models had aged before being renewed. Buying one requires a rigorous service history.
Models
Maserati models
Current or active models by market
GranTurismo 2007 - actif GT Levante 2016 - actif selon marchés VUS Quattroporte 1963 - actif par générations berline luxe
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Maserati's production is concentrated in Italy. Modena remains the nerve center: it is where the MC20 supercar, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio (whose manufacturing has returned to Modena), as well as the Nettuno engines—machined, assembled, and tested on site—are built. The Levante SUV was produced at the Mirafiori plant in Turin until the end of its production. The Grecale SUV is built at the Cassino plant in Piedimonte San Germano. Maserati has no assembly plant in North America: all vehicles sold in Quebec and Canada are imported from Italy. The North American presence is limited to sales, distribution, and after-sales service networks.
Tires and wheels
Modern Maseratis generally run on large wheels: 18- to 21-inch sizes are commonly found on the sedans (Ghibli, Quattroporte) and SUVs (Levante), with some special editions reaching 21 or 22 inches. These vehicles often use low-profile performance tires, frequently fitted in different front and rear sizes (staggered setups). In Quebec, dedicated winter tires are essential and mandatory; it is often wise to plan for a second set of winter wheels in a more modest diameter to reduce costs and improve traction. Always verify the exact size, load and speed ratings, and bolt pattern specific to the model.