Alexandre
Maserati bids farewell to the V8 with two final editions at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Goodwood's Festival of Speed, the annual celebration of motorsport and car culture, this year welcomes two world premieres by Maserati Ghibli 334 Ultima and Levante V8 Ultima.
The Trident brand thus pays tribute to the latest chapter in its iconic line of V8-powered grand tourers, which have sold over 100,000 units since the launch of the Maserati 5000 GT in 1959.
To mark the imminent end of production of the legendary 572 hp twin-turbo V8 engine, whose models will soon become collector's items, the prestigious Goodwood estate will be the setting for the unveiling of two special editions. The Ghibli 334 Ultima (whose number indicates its maximum speed in kilometers per hour), and the Levante V8 Ultima.
They promise to dazzle the eyes and ears of visitors to the paddock...
These two models represent the swan song of the Maserati V8, an engine that has marked automotive history with its character, power and inimitable sound. With these ultimate editions, Maserati offers enthusiasts one last opportunity to treat themselves to a piece of legend, before definitively turning the page on the V8 and entering a new electric era.
The twin-turbocharged V8 engine powering the Maserati Ghibli Trofeo, Levante Trofeo and Quattroporte Trofeo is an engine from 3.8-liter displacement, developed at Ferrari derived from the Roma and Portofino, code-named F154 AM. It delivers 580 hp and 710 Nm of torque, enabling it to reach top speeds in excess of 300 km/h, depending on the model.
Firefly engines and even GME 2.0s can be easily replaced, but the brand's identity is in jeopardy...
In time, they'll be biting their fingers if they decide to do the same with the V6, as it too is part of Maserati's history.
They'll just have to put in the catastrophic PSA engines and the brand won't be worth a damn.
The sound is the Maserati signature. You hear it on the street, you turn around and you know it's a Maserati thanks to its beautiful V6 or V8 sound. I was already disappointed by the noise of the new V6 nettuno, and now with the electrics, if you take away what makes up a lot of the brand's DNA, it's hard to project yourself...
Except that with the decibel reduction standards, it was rather difficult to make the Nettuno as expressive as the latest Ferrari or Alfa V6.
But taking these engines away from them will be a tragedy they'll never recover from.
Lamborghini is going to hybridize all its vehicles, but as they said, it will only be for a very short time, and they too will go through the wringer and never recover.
That's what I thought, then I heard a 296 gtb with a v6 that makes a great noise...
Yes, it depends on the configuration, because in most cases, the 296 has an original exhaust system that muffles the noise, as I've tested it several times in Switzerland and Italy (just like the 488). What's more, in France they're installing noise radars for sports bikes and motorcycles so they can tax us even more, and there's already talk of equipping all of Europe with them.
"The first approvals for these noise radars are expected in early 2023. As soon as they are published, noise radars will be able to send notices of violation to offenders, who will have to pay a fixed fine of 135 euros, reduced to 90 euros if payment is made within 15 days."