If you've been drooling at the sight of the Maserati Alfieri->ke4832 since its introduction at the Geneva Motor Show->ke228 in March, then the latest news coming from Italy->ke2094 should make you very happy: both the Coupe and the Cabrio versions will make it into production.
The good news arrives via Fiat->ke30's five-year masterplan for all of its brands, with Maserati->ke51 set to launch five all-new vehicles by 2018. The Alfieri Coupe will hit the market two years from now - sooner than initially anticipated - with the roadster to follow in 2017.
The Italians have also released an "engine grid" for their current and upcoming models and, surprisingly enough, the Alfieri won't get the proven 4.7-liter V-8 under hood. Both the Coupe and Cabrio will be powered by V-6 engines offered with different outputs.
The rear-wheel drive versions will benefit from 410 horsepower, while the all-while drive models will have 450 horsepower and 520 horsepower at their disposal. There's no word whether the Alfieri will borrow the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo unit from the Ghibli, but it appears the range-topping sedan will have the same output as the base AWD Alfieri.
Additional details are still under wraps, but expect for the Coupe model to be unveiled in production guise sometime next year.
Click past the jump to read more about Maserati Alfieri.
Why It Matters
Although it's quite clear the production version will lose some of the spectacular design cues seen on the concept car->ke169, the Alfieri is likely to make a big impact on the sports car->ke506 market. Unlike the Ghibli, which ruined a classic two-door for some enthusiasts, the Alfieri is destined to become a worthy heir of the Maserati heritage.
Naturally, this new sports car will be part of the Italian automaker's brand-new era, one that seeks further global expansion and sales growth, along the upcoming Levante SUV.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motors Show, the Maserati Alfieri became an instant hit with visitors and the automotive media thanks to it's long hood, huge front grille, and muscly overall appearance. It breathes sportiness through every pore and its interior pays tribute to the golden era or motorsports when Maserati used to build win races with the "Birdcage" or the 300S.
Unlike the production version, the Alfieri concept showed up in Switzerland with a V-8 engine under the hood. Borrowed from the GranTurismo->ke2326, the naturally-aspirated, 4.7-liter sends 460 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque to the wheels.