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- Since Maserati mounted the 4.9-liter V8 under the hood of its 5000 GT in 1959, the automaker says it has churned out over 100,000 V8-powered machines.
- The Italian automaker is set to celebrate its V8's departure with special editions of the Ghibli and Levante, which are going to be revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
- Maserati is doubling down on electrification and aims to have a fully electric lineup by 2030.
All good things must come to an end—at least, that’s the case for Maserati’s V8: The company has announced the 3.8-liter V8 will be phased out of production before the end of the year. That means there will be some V8-equipped models hitting dealer lots in ’24, but finding one of those 580-hp marvels will soon become a lot more challenging.
Since Maserati mounted the 4.9-liter V8 under the hood of its 5000 GT in 1959, the automaker says it has churned out over 100,000 V8-powered machines. This most recent 3.8-liter V8 has Ferrari origins and has been available in Ghibli and Levante models since 2020.
For those following closely, this probably isn’t a surprise. Maserati launched its MC20 supercar with the company’s new 90-degree Nettuno V6. The absence of a V8 in the company’s halo car certainly hinted that the 3.8-liter’s days were numbered. But don’t look to the Nettuno V6 as responsible for the older V8’s demise.
Instead, the company’s electric aspirations are spelling the end for the V8. In a release, the company says “the entire Maserati range will be available in a fully electric trim by 2025, and Maserati will be fully electric by 2030.”
This might be a sad day for V8 fans, but the company isn’t shipping off its eight-cylinder without a celebration. Maserati will honor the engine with the Ghibli 334 Ultima and Levante V8 Ultima, which are set to debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. There aren’t any performance details about these models, but a small send-off horsepower bump has been shown to make things more exciting.
Regardless, after those special editions roll off the assembly line, it’s going to be the end of the V8 era for Maserati. That said, the Nettuno V6 does have plenty of power to offer internal-combustion devotees until the company makes its pivot to all-electric powertrains.
Do you think people will look back fondly at this 3.8-liter V8? Tell us your thoughts below.
