Maserati Just Updated The GranTurismo, GranCabrio, and Grecale, But Is This Enough To Save The Trident?

Maserati has revealed updated versions of the GranTurismo, GranCabrio and Grecale for the 2027 model year, and depending on how generous you're feeling, the changes either represent a strategic evolution of the brand's core models or proof that even Maserati can now stretch "new bumper and a bit more power" into several pages of press-release poetry.

To be fair, this isn't only a black-plastic-and-new-wheel situation, although there is certainly some of that going on. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio Trofeo now get up to 582 horsepower from Maserati's 3.0-litre twin-turbo Nettuno V6, while the Grecale lineup gains new V6 and Modena V6 variants with 385 hp. Maserati also says range has improved for its Folgore electric models, thanks to aero enhancements, updated control strategies, and, in the case of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, an AWD disconnect system that physically disengages the front axle when it isn't needed.

In other words, there is some legitimate substance here. The question, though, is whether it's enough substance to move Maserati back toward being an emotional staple of the luxury-performance conversation.

Maserati's Core Lineup Gets A Sharper Face

The most obvious updates are cosmetic ones. Maserati says the new front-end design was influenced by the MCXtrema, GT2 Stradale, and MCPURA, pushing the brand toward a sharper, more horizontal face. On the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, that means revised intakes, an optimized center splitter, reworked air curtains and new clear-lens lighting details. On the Grecale, the front bumper gets a more pronounced "shark nose" treatment intended to connect the SUV with both the MCPURA supercar and Maserati single-seaters of the past.

Does it radically transform any of them? Perhaps not exactly. The Grecale remains recognizably Grecale, the GranTurismo remains one of the prettiest luxury coupes on sale, and the GranCabrio remains the same basic idea with more sky above it. But that may not be a bad thing. Maserati's problem has never been that its cars look ugly, so subtle updates are likely safer bets than full-on redesigns.

For the most part, the new styling makes these cars look a bit meaner and a bit more contemporary without vandalizing what already worked. That is a fine line to walk, and Maserati appears to have stayed on the right side of it, at least to my own eyes.

The Nettuno V6 Is Still The Main Event

The real headline, at least for anyone still emotionally attached to the idea of a gasoline-powered Maserati, is the updated Nettuno V6. In the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, the standard version produces 483 hp, while the Trofeo climbs to 582 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. Maserati claims the GranTurismo Trofeo can reach up to 199 mph and the GranCabrio Trofeo up to 196 mph, both with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Maserati is one of those brands whose products need to feel special before anyone can be convinced to part with their hard-earned dollar over one. A BMW M car can survive on its hoonability, an AMG on its snarling V8 engine notes, and a Porsche on its legacy of engineering precision. A Maserati needs to do something a bit more delicate: it must seduce its buyers. And it's betting that a bit of extra power and a meaner exhaust system will serve as effective aphrodisiacs.

Is Too Much Of Maserati's Identity Tied To Ferrari?

The sensual serenade of the Nettuno V6 helps, but I couldn't help feeling the tension in the room the first time someone dared to asked Maserati about a possible V8 return. The Sportivo exhaust that comes standard on Trofeo versions should give it some much-needed bark, and, to be fair, no one has ever accused Maserati of making a poor-sounding V6. If anything, a V6 engine with forced induction honours the brand's heritage even more so than a raucous, naturally aspirated V8. But Maserati made the mistake of giving the world a taste of what its sweet, sweet, Ferrari-derived V8 engines can feel-and sound-like for over two decades, and now the automotive world seems to be mourning their extinction collectively.

Worse still for Maserati-so much of their products' appeal came from offering buyers an authentic yet subtle taste of the secret Ferrari recipe in a package that was more accessible and often more daily drivable. Of course, the Nettuno V6 still carries the modern tradition of offering Ferrari-derived powertrains across the Maserati lineup, but perhaps the brand's issue these days isn't that it lacks the excitement of Ferrari's DNA, but rather that people simply aren't as intrigued by that very DNA anymore.

If you've witnessed any of the abundant recent online discourse surrounding Ferrari's recently unveiled, first-ever electric vehicle, the Luce, you might understand what I'm getting at. The post-Pininfarina Ferrari of today, which peddles hybrid V6 spyders and willfully panders to global demand for SUVs, is no longer the same brand it once was, and I'm beginning to think that's had a dramatic effect on Maserati's public perception. So, as much as I love a good old screaming V8- or even V12-powered Maserati, perhaps focusing more of its effort towards improving its luxury EVs isn't such a terrible idea for the business moving forward.

The All-Electric Folgore Models Have Quietly Become More Useful

While the V6 models aim to honour the brand's more romantic side, the Folgore updates might be the more important ones from a product standpoint. The GranTurismo Folgore now offers up to 251 miles of range, while the GranCabrio Folgore reaches up to 249 miles. Both use an 800-volt architecture and a three-motor layout producing 751 hp, and Maserati claims the hardtop version can reach 202 mph. It also says the AWD disconnect system can physically disengage the front axle shafts in five hundred-thousandths of a second, helping reduce losses and improve efficiency.

The Grecale Folgore also gets range-focused improvements, including an active grille shutter, revised aero around the bumpers and underbody, and new low-rolling-resistance tires. The Grecale Folgore is rated at 542 hp, while the gas-powered Trofeo V6 remains the emotional performance leader with 523 hp and a claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. These aren't massive range numbers by mainstream EV standards, but Maserati isn't selling appliances. It's offering genuine Italian luxury performance cars to people who, in theory, might already have another car, an at-home charger, and a strong urge to explain what "Folgore" means to friends at dinner parties.

The Grecale Might Be Even More Important Than The Prettier Cars

The GranTurismo and GranCabrio are undoubtedly the soul of the lineup, with the MCPURA acting as the aspirational halo model. But the Grecale aims to be the real volume seller, at least by Maserati's standards. Maserati calls it its D-SUV, and the specs support the idea that it's meant to play in the luxury compact-to-midsize SUV space while offering more character than the usual German alternatives.

The Grecale measures 190.8 inches long, rides on a 114-inch wheelbase, offers 20.1 cubic feet of rear cargo space, and makes 385 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in V6 and Modena V6 form. Maserati claims a 5.0-second 0-60 mph time and a 160-mph top speed for that version.

So the Grecale update is arguably more consequential than the updates to the coupe and convertible. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio are brand-builders, but the Grecale is the model that has to pull actual buyers away from Porsche Macans, BMW X3 M50s, Mercedes-AMG GLCs, and whatever else lives in that luxury crossover realm.

Maserati Also Tweaked The Cabins

The exterior changes may be easiest to spot, but Maserati has also put some effort into the cabins. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio both get what Maserati calls a more refined interior, with new upholstery choices including Bordeaux leather, Nude Alcantara, Black and Tan leather, and new Mahogany trim through the Fuoriserie program. The cabins also continue Maserati's "balance of opposites" theme, blending traditional materials with a cleaner digital interface.

There are some actual hardware changes, too. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio now get a new racing-inspired steering wheel with flatter upper and lower sections, dark satin-aluminum spokes, and either perforated leather or Alcantara accents, depending on the trim. Maserati's digital clock has also been redesigned with a metal crown, octagonal shape and updated graphics, while the PRND selector now uses three-dimensional metal controls. The digital interface combines a 12.3-inch central display, an 8.8-inch comfort display, a customizable 12.2-inch instrument cluster and a head-up display.

The Grecale gets similar attention, including a new octagonal steering wheel, a redesigned digital clock with a mineral crystal dial and metal bezel, and a new PRND selector with capacitive haptic technology, real metal buttons and integrated backlighting. Maserati also highlights authentic materials such as wood, carbon fibre, and leather, as well as available features including the Maserati Intelligent Assistant system, head-up display, and Sonus faber audio system with up to 21 speakers and 1,285 watts of power.

Final Thoughts: Maserati's Biggest Challenge Isn't The Product

Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that Maserati's current lineup is not without merit or an emotional pull. The GranTurismo is gorgeous, the GranCabrio is even more indulgent, and the Grecale, especially with a V6, has the bones to be legitimately interesting. The Folgore models prove that Maserati is still embracing electrification; the design tweaks are tasteful enough; the power figures are strong; and the Italian-built identity still shines through. And yet, the whole thing still feels like Maserati is trying to convince the world that Maserati still matters.

Maybe that's why the press materials spend so much time talking about grand touring, craftsmanship, Italian lifestyle, the centenary of the Trident logo, and Maserati's first racing victory at the 1926 Targa Florio. The company isn't just launching updated cars-it's hoping to remind people that this brand once meant something deeply unique. These facelifts aren't revolutionary, but they aren't meant to be. They are careful, expensive-looking revisions to cars that already had the right shapes, the right names and, in some cases, the right engines, that serve as a reminder the brand is still very much alive and kicking.

But for Maserati, "good enough" might not actually be good enough. The Trident doesn't need to become louder, brasher, or more desperate for attention. It needs to become desirable again in a way that feels effortlessly emotional. These updates move in that direction, even if they perhaps do so with a little too much caution.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 4:00 AM.