Maserati electric sports car and hybrid baby SUV confirmed

Maserati has detailed new plans explaining how it will transition from a petrol and diesel line-up to plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles by 2022, confirming its June 2018 promise to produce four EVs and eight PHEVs including a new plug-in sports car and baby SUV.

At the time, it committed to plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions of its all-new super coupe and cabriolet, new Levante and Quattroporte, and facelifted Ghibli, plus an all-new mid-size SUV with a PHEV powertrain.

Now, Maserati’s latest plan for electrification, autonomy and investment in its Italian manufacturing facilities also confirms the discontinued GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio convertible will both be replaced after all.

Maserati says its first electrified model will be the facelifted Ghibli sedan with plug-in hybrid power, to be built in Turin in 2020.

Soon after it will be an all-new sports car to be built in Modena and eventually offered with an all-electric powertrain, followed in 2021 by an all-new SUV to be positioned below the Levante.

The unnamed Porsche Macan rival will share the Ghibli’s PHEV powertrain (although neither model will get a full-EV powertrain) and could later on become available in Trofeo form with a twin-turbo V6 from the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q, alongside which it will be built at FCA’s Cassino plant near Naples.

Also coming in 2021 is a convertible version of the all-new sports car and the new GranTurismo coupe – Maserati’s first EV – followed in 2022 by the new GranCabrio and Quattroporte limousine. A redesigned Levante with PHEV power was previously promised for 2023.

Details remain sketchy about Maserati’s all-new sports car but we understand it will no longer look like the stunning Alfieri concept (pictured), the design of which could well preview the next-generation GranTurismo.

And it’s not clear what will power the unnamed performance model initially, given Ferrari will cut off its former sister brand’s engine supply by 2021, although Maserati previously promised the EV version would sprint to 100km/h in around two seconds.

This is thanks to a three-motor 800-volt EV powertrain with all-wheel drive, which should also become available in the next-gen GranTurismo, GranCabrio, Quattroporte andf perhaps Levante.

As part of the plan, FCA will invest €5 billion ($A8b) in both Maserati and production plants from now until 2021.

Finally, Maserati says its entire model range, which apart from the Ghibli will be completely renewed by 2023, will be fitted autonomous driving technology beginning with Level 2 and then “progressing” to more advanced Level 3 aids that can steer, accelerate, stop and change lanes without driver input.

What’s coming from Maserati:
Ghibli facelift, PHEV – 2020
All-new sports car – 2020
All-new medium SUV – 2021
All-new convertible – 2021
New GranTurismo – 2021
New GranCabrio – 2022
New Quattroporte – 2022
New Levante –2023