Since 2001, a Ferrari engine has been installed in almost every pre-owned Maserati car. There aren’t many outliers, such the Maserati Quattroporte from 2013. All of the Maserati cars in the current 2021 lineup have Ferrari motors.
In This Article...
Here are some reasons why Maserati used Ferrari engines and what lies ahead.
But why did Maserati even start with Ferrari engines? Why did Ferrari decide to end the customary agreement at this time?
Maserati, one of the most sought-after vintage Italian automobiles, has been employing Ferrari engines since 2001. Both of them have previously shared a variety of engines, including a 4.7-liter normally aspirated V8 engine, a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, and a 3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. Sincerely, one of the most persuasive arguments in favor of purchasing a Maserati has been the Ferrari engines. This began in the 1990s when Fiat sold control of the upscale brand. Even after Maserati returned to the FCA, Ferrari continued to provide engines for them. However, things are set to change suddenly, reportedly as a result of the Mas models’ persistently poor sales volume. Ferrari recently disclosed that their engines will only belong to Ferrari and that they will eventually stop providing engines during their first quarter earnings call.
The business declared that it would stop producing engines for Maserati in November 2019. Mas’s refusal to extend their contract once the present one expires has been verified by Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri, according to a phone transcript of the company’s quarterly analysis that the Motley Fool posted online. If you believe the hushed rumors going about, everything makes sense. According to our sources, Maserati had announced an intention to produce their own engines a few days before to the announcement. However, they have not yet released an official statement or a detailed plan.
But why did Maserati even start with Ferrari engines? Why did Ferrari decide to end the customary agreement at this time? For all the juicy details of this intriguing story, read through to the end.
Are Ferrari engines found in all Maserati vehicles?
Maserati and Ferrari were fierce rivals in their early years, but after both were purchased by Fiat in the early 1990s, they went on to develop a creative alliance.
Since 1993, every Maserati produced, including the renowned Maserati Spyder, has had an engine built by Ferrari.
Maserati’s contract with Ferrari, however, won’t be renewed, therefore in the near future, expect to see Maseratis with other powertrains.
In the future, Ferrari will stop producing engines for Maserati.
Since 2002, Ferrari has built the engines for every Maserati. It’s a result of Fiat giving Ferrari ownership of Maserati in the 1990s. But since then, Ferrari was spun off in a 2015 initial public offering (IPO), and Maserati has returned to Fiat Chrysler’s (FCA) ownership. Ferrari has however been producing engines for Maserati, including a 4.7-liter normally aspirated V-8, a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8, and a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6. But those times are coming to an end.
During the brand’s 2019 first-quarter results call, Louis Camilleri, CEO of Ferrari, announced the information. According to a Motley Fool transcript of Camilleri’s conversation with an analyst, Maserati will not be renewing its engine contract with Ferrari.
In the future, Camilleri said, “we will stop providing engines to Maserati, which is actually a wonderful thing from our standpoint, both from a margin perspective and the fact that we can shift a lot of the labor that’s been concentrated on the engines to the car side of the company.”
It’s uncertain who will provide Maserati’s engines in the absence of Ferrari. The current V-8 engines for Maserati were both created by Ferrari, whereas the V-6 is an internal design that is closely based on the Chrysler Pentastar engine. For further information on this, we’ve gotten in touch with a Maserati spokesperson; we’ll update when we hear back.
By 2022, Maserati plans to update its current model lineup with a new small SUV, Levante, Quattroporte, and the Alfieri sports car. The 2.9-liter V-6 engine from Alfa Romeo, which is popularly thought to be based on Ferrari’s twin-turbo V-8, may be used by Maserati.
Ferrari will stop providing engines.
In May 2019, Ferrari CEO Loius Camilleri stated, “From our standpoint, it’s actually a positive thing that we won’t be supplying engines to Maserati any longer.” It was estimated that the two manufacturers’ engine partnership will cease somewhere around 2022. Some would therefore speculate that Maserati may have been caught off guard by the statement. However, Maserati has actually been creating its own engines since 2015.
The first completely new Maserati engine is the Nettuno one. It is being constructed at the Viale Ciro Menotti plant, where the manufacturer has been building automobiles for more than 80 years, and was created in Modena, Italy. It has a twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 621 hp. The new MC20 model from 2022 will serve as the launch vehicle for the new engine. The mid-engine Nettuno powertrain in that hypercar accelerates the 3,300-pound vehicle to 60 mph in under 2.9 seconds. More details about the MC20 can be found here.
F136 Ferrari engine
The F136, also referred to as the Ferrari-Maserati engine, is a family of 90-degree V8 gasoline engines designed by Ferrari and Maserati jointly and manufactured by Ferrari. These engines have displacements ranging from 4.2 L to 4.7 L and have outputs ranging from 390 PS (287 kW; 385 hp) to 605 PS (445 kW; 597 hp). All engines have four valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts, variable valve timing, and are naturally aspirated.
For the Alfa Romeo 8C as well as cars made by Ferrari and Maserati, the architecture was developed in a variety of variations. In 2001, production commenced. Ferrari has indicated they would not extend the deal to supply engines to Maserati by 2022 after being separated off from their shared parent company in January 2016.
Maserati Demonstrates Amazing Engine Building Capabilities Without Ferrari…
The Maserati brand previously declared its intention to end all ties with Ferrari, including the usage of engines made by Ferrari. Since 2002, the engine beneath the hood of every Maserati has been sourced from Ferrari. Thus, it represents a significant change from the brand’s course throughout the previous nearly two-decade period.
The 3.0-liter (F160) twin-turbocharged V6 engine covers power levels from 350 horsepower to 430 horsepower, and the 3.8-liter (F154) twin-turbocharged V8 engine covers power levels from 530 horsepower to 590 horsepower. Both engines were produced by Ferrari. Maserati will instead use two distinct FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) engines.
One of those engines, which will power the future Maserati MC20 super sportscar, was presented today in Modena, Italy. The vehicle will make its official premiere in September. The new engine is the outcome of a technological breakthrough that is shielded by global patents. A group of highly skilled technicians and engineers put their passion and dedication into the project, which is now their baby.
The new engine has a 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder twin-turbo, V90deg layout, and a dry-sump (a classic solution on super sportscars). It generates 210CV/liter (or 207 horsepower/liter) of specific power, which translates to 630CV (or roughly 621 horsepower) at 7500 rpm and 730 Nm (or 538 lb.-ft) of torque from 3000 rpm.
The pre-chamber is a combustion chamber connected by a series of specially shaped holes that is positioned between the standard combustion chamber and the central electrode. When the engine is operating at a level that doesn’t require the pre-chamber to engage, lateral sparkplugs enable conventional sparkplugs to act as a support to ensure constant combustion. Additionally, a new twin-injection system that uses 350bar of fuel pressure reduces noise low down on the rev range, all while lowering emissions and improving consumption.
This is the first time that certain Formula 1 technology have been incorporated into a passenger car engine. The Nettuno is a cutting-edge engine created by the experts and engineers at Maserati and is covered by numerous international patents.
The 2.0-liter GME-T4, or Global Medium Engine – Turbo Four-Cylinder, is the other engine joining the Maserati portfolio but it hasn’t been officially confirmed. Starting with the 2021 Maserati Ghibli, the engine will replace the base V6 in some vehicles and provide an estimated 330 horsepower. This 48-volt mild-hybrid system with belt-start generator technology will be the first electric Maserati powertrain. With its lineup of eTorque engines, this technology debuted on the 2019 Ram 1500. Naturally, Maserati will get some additional features, such as a new “coasting” mode.
The popular Giorgio architecture, which presently supports the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and upcoming next-generation Jeep(r) Grand Cherokee, will be the foundation for many future Maserati products, many of which will feature the 2.0-liter GME-T4 engine in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form.
The V-6 engine in the Maserati MC20 isn’t as special as the manufacturer says.
Maserati unveiled the MC20 supercar with the Nettuno twin-turbo V-6 engine. Although the manufacturer calls this engine brand-new and “100% Maserati,” it actually uses pieces from engines used in Ferrari and Alfa Romeo vehicles. The Nettuno engine is developed from a Ferrari V-8 and is identical to a V-6 that Alfa Romeo provides in high-performance versions of the Giulia and Stelvio, as was rumored even before Maserati introduced the car.
Does Ferrari own Maserati?
In July 1997, Ferrari, Maserati’s longtime adversary, purchased a 50% stake in the business from FIAT (Ferrari itself being owned by FIAT). Maserati became Ferrari’s luxury subsidiary in 1999, when Ferrari fully assumed ownership. The old factory, which was constructed in the 1940s, was replaced with a new one.
The upgraded Quattroporte Evoluzione was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1998 as a result of the new parent company’s actions.
When Maserati introduced the 3200 GT, a new era in the company’s history began. This two-door coupe is propelled by a Shamal-derived 3.2 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 370 horsepower (280 kW).
When the 3200 GT was superseded by the Maserati Coupe and Spyder, which were developed from the 3200 and had an entirely new, naturally aspirated, dry sump 4.2-liter V8 with a transaxle transmission, the last ties to the di Tomaso era were severed. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio respectively took the role of the Coupe and Spyder.
In the meantime, two new models have been unveiled to the public: the MC12 road supersports and successful GT racer with a chassis and engine inspired by the Ferrari Enzo and the new Quattroporte, a luxurious saloon powered by the Gran Turismo’s 4.2-liter V8 engine. Maserati is currently back in business and successfully selling cars on a global scale.
Ferrari made the decision to replace all of the outdated tooling and install cutting-edge equipment in the Modena factory in 2001.
Since early 2002, Maserati has re-entered the US market, which has grown to be its biggest market globally. The business has also returned to the racing scene with their Trofeo and, in December 2003, the MC12 (previously known as the MCC), which was created in accordance with FIA GT regulations and has since competed in the world FIA GT championship with great success, taking home the teams championship three times in a row from 2005 to 2007. The MC12 has also competed in the American Le Mans series and several national GT championships. 50 street-legal homologation variants of the MC12 (roadsters and coupes), which is based on the Enzo Ferrari sports car, have been sold.
Does Ferrari still produce engines for Maserati?
Ferrari eventually sold Fiat its stake in Maserati, and Ferrari will stop making Maserati engines in 2022. Maserati will then take care of production. One of its own engines, the Maserati Nettuno engine, has already been created and will make its premiere in the future Maserati MC20.
Maserati produces their own engines, right?
Since 1998, Maserati had stopped producing its own engines, but with the MC20, it has once more embraced a significant aspect of its past. The business plan that resulted in the establishment of the Engine Hub in 2015 was approved by the company’s new strategies in 2013.