Maserati’s GT concept, to take on the Jaguar F-TYPE, will feature a fire-breathing Ferrari V8

By Trevor Dermody Published February 27, 2014

2014 is a big year for Maserati, as it gets to blow 100 candles out on its birthday cake. In order to celebrate the occasion, the luxury Italian sports car brand is set to reveal a new GT concept model at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show next week.

According to GT Spirit, Maserati boss Harald Wester set his sights on the Jaguar F-TYPE and the Porsche 911. So that’s exactly what the GT will target.

Recommended Videos

Engine options for the awaited concept could include the same options found in the Quattroporte sedan, namely the new V6 or 3.8-liter V8 with twin turbochargers and direct injection that produces 523 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Impressively, that very same V8 powers the all-new Ferrari California T.

Maserati’s new GT concept shows that automakers are taking a great interest in the small luxury sports car market. We fully support this new focus, as it allows more drivers a chance to put a sporty luxury coupe in their driveway without enduring the price tag of a GranTurismo or Jaguar XK.

Although the reveal at Geneva will only be a concept, there’s no better year to release a new Maserati than on its 100-year anniversary.

In addition to the concept unveil, the Maserati booth in Geneva will also include the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zenga Limited Edition, which is reason enough alone to make the pilgrimage to Switzerland in March.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.

Cars

Trump team in sync with Tesla on ending crash-reporting requirements, report says

Beta of Tesla's FSD in a car.

The transition team of President-elect Donald Trump is planning to end existing car-crash reporting requirements to safety regulators, according to a Reuters report.

The report cites a document obtained by Reuters that lays out the transition team’s 100-day strategy for automotive policy. In the document, the team says the crash-reporting requirement leads to “excessive” data collection, Reuters says.