Maserati & Alfa Romeo Could Bring Back Manual Supercars

Big news for fans of pure driving: Maserati and Alfa Romeo could soon collaborate on an all-new, limited-run super-GT — one that brings back a manual transmission and celebrates their rich Italian racing heritage.

In an interview with Autocar UK during the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Maserati and Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili hinted that both brands are considering a special new project. The new halo car would be powered by Maserati’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 engine and could debut as early as next year.

“We have infinite possibilities to customize products for our customers, for the entire range of Maserati,” Ficili told Autocar UK. “I’m imagining to do something like we did in the past, also considering Alfa Romeo.”

The project would echo past collaborations between the two brands, like the Alfa 8C Competizione, which was built on the previous-generation Maserati GranTurismo platform in Modena. More recently, Alfa Romeo’s 33 Stradale was built on the Maserati MC20’s carbon monocoque chassis and shares the Nettuno V6.

“We built the 4C and 8C in Modena, so why not?” Ficili said about the potential of another collaboration. “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.”

The new Maserati model is expected to be the most powerful internal combustion car from the brand since the MC12 hypercar. It will likely be based on the current GranTurismo and feature a bumped-up version of the Nettuno V6. This engine already makes 621 horsepower in the MC20 (now called the MCPura), and Maserati says they can increase its output without needing electrification.

Engineering chief Davide Danesin backed this idea: “There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars,” he said. “There’s a bad feeling about having a battery on board a supercar due to the added complexity and weight.”

He also praised the Nettuno engine’s advanced tech: “It’s getting to 210 horsepower per liter with very efficient combustion.” That figure allows Maserati to meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations while keeping the engine fully gas-powered.

Even more exciting? Danesin openly discussed the possibility of offering a manual transmission. “A manual gearbox is an opportunity,” he told Autocar UK. “I don’t see that in big series [production], but why not do a special version with a manual gearbox?”

He added: “By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter. So why not? It fulfills perfectly the brand. It fulfills perfectly our approach and the mindset. So honestly, I think one day we’ll do it.”

This new Maserati super-GT would almost certainly be built in Modena — the historic heart of Italy’s Motor Valley — where the GranTurismo and GranCabrio models will soon return to production after a brief stint at Fiat’s Mirafiori Assembly Plant.

Ficili emphasized the importance of Modena: “It’s the right place to build sports cars.”

If the timing works out, this new flagship could help celebrate Maserati’s 100th anniversary of the 1926 Tipo 26, the brand’s first race car. Likewise, a corresponding Alfa Romeo version could mark 100 years since the legendary 6C 1500.

Alfa has already confirmed it will launch a second model from its new low-volume Bottega division in 2026 — the same group behind the new 33 Stradale. Whether it shares bones with Maserati’s upcoming special remains to be seen, but signs point to yes.

Stay tuned — if this comes to life, it could be one of the most exciting analog supercars of the modern era.

Source: Autocar UK