Astonishing Alfieri

Let’s welcome the brand new Maserati Alfieri concept car, a car so special it had to be named after one of the brothers who founded the automaker in 1914. It is a modernization and an interpretation of the A6 GCS, but has a reduction in its complexity, a more compact and aggressive model. The result is not a retro car, but a retro-inspired vehicle that says much about the design DNA of future Maserati’s.

The Alfieri is a 2+2 coupe that is smaller, sharper, and less expensive than the brand’s Gran Turismo. The vehicle is expected to be built from a blend of steel and aluminum, while sharing key parts of its structure with the next GranTurismo.

The Alfieri will be home to a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, just like it’s siblings the Ghibli and Quattroporte. The base tune will start around 410 horsepower with an option to upgrade to 450, while the top performer may require a displacement bump to accommodate its rumored 520 horsepower. Only the 410-hp engine is expected to drive the rear wheels; more-powerful models will come standard with four-wheel drive. All Alfieris will use ZF’s eight-speed automatic.

The car has a deep, concave grille which lacks the normal chrome surround at the bottom, so it looks like its gliding. The seats are leather, as is the dash and center console. Inside there are numerous noteworthy pieces, like the gear lever and clock that are cut from solid aluminum blocks.

It is clear that the Alfieri resembles the A6 GCS in its long, long front fender line only ending midway along the doors; and the light feel to the chamfered tail. However the concept is like nothing seen from Maserati in a long time, and serves as a reminder of the Maserati brand’s deep-rooted racing heritage that is not to be forgotten.

Maserati will separate its Alfieri and GranTurismo coupes with $30,000 between their base prices and a 9.4-inch difference in wheelbases. A cabriolet is also guaranteed, likely arriving a year after the coupe. the Alfieri will compete against the Jaguar F-type, the Mercedes-AMG GT, and the Porsche 911 with a starting price around $100,000.

The Alfieri Concept Car was presented at Geneva Motorshow Maserati in 2014 and is set to launch in 2016, proving once more that Maserati is a sports-car company to it’s very core, and paving the way for the continuation of Maserati’s racing legacy.