Written byQuick Highlights:
- Manual transmission confirmed, no paddles in sight
- 650+ horsepower Nettuno V6, no hybrid assist
- Designed in Modena to mark Maserati’s 100 years
- Expected to launch under 1,000 units
- Likely debut: 2026 as part of Maserati’s centenary
Maserati’s Manual-Only Super GT Is a Rebellion in 2026
In a market sprinting toward electrification — with models like the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT4 EV chasing performance through battery packs — Maserati is going the other way. The Italian brand is working on a new flagship: a limited-run Super GT that skips hybrid gimmicks and brings back the one thing purists thought they’d lost for good — a manual gearbox.
But this isn’t some concept car tribute or heritage nod. The project is real, and it’s serious. Maserati is dialing up its Nettuno V6 to over 650 horsepower and pairing it with a gated six-speed manual. No torque-fill, no sound augmentation. Just mechanical grip and real engagement.
A Sharper, Louder Nettuno
Maserati isn’t reinventing the wheel — it’s evolving one of its best engines. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6, already used in the MC20 and GranTurismo Trofeo, will be retuned for more response and rawness in this model.
What sets Nettuno apart is its F1-derived pre-chamber combustion system, which helps it rev cleanly and build power the old-fashioned way — through combustion, not code. That’s part of the philosophy here: Maserati isn’t simulating performance with software; it’s chasing the real thing.
A Manual Because It Matters
Maserati knows the numbers. Most buyers don’t want manuals. That’s exactly why this car exists — because some still do. And for them, the brand is building something unapologetically niche.
According to early reports, this gated shifter won’t be a token feature. It’s the core of the experience. Developed from scratch, the gearbox is expected to be offered only on this low-volume Super GT and won’t be shared with other Maserati models.
Built for a Moment — and a Century
No official launch date yet, but timing lines up perfectly with Maserati’s centenary. The original Tipo 26 debuted in 1926, and this new Super GT is expected to arrive in 2026 to mark the milestone.
It’s not the only Stellantis brand going big that year — Alfa Romeo is also rumored to be cooking up a final ICE supercar. For Maserati, though, the Super GT connects deeper: production is planned at the Viale Ciro Menotti plant in Modena, the same facility where the Tipo 26 was built and where the MC20 is hand-assembled today.
Price? Think Boutique, Not Badge
Maserati hasn’t revealed pricing, but it won’t be mainstream. With a handmade approach, limited production, and no parts-bin cost-cutting, don’t expect it to come cheap. A starting price north of $300,000 is almost certain.
What About Alfa Romeo?
There’s a chance the same underpinnings could support an Alfa Romeo coupe — a last hurrah for internal combustion under the Bottega program. If it materializes, expect a more aggressive, track-tuned package versus the Maserati’s grand touring ethos.
Why This Car Matters
This isn’t nostalgia for the sake of it. As Maserati Europe boss Santo Ficili put it, this is about giving enthusiasts something real to connect with — something that lives beyond screens and spec sheets.
Forget EV stats, synthetic sounds, and dual-clutch dominance. The Super GT will be driven, not swiped. And that’s the whole point.
Final Take
The 2026 Maserati Super GT won’t appeal to everyone — it’s not supposed to. It’s for the few who still crave a mechanical connection, who miss shift gates and unfiltered steering feel. For them, this car won’t just be a machine. It’ll be a moment.
Rivals will be plenty: Porsche 911, AMG GT, Aston Martin DBS, Bentley Continental GT, Lamborghini Huracán — even Maserati’s own MC20. But the Super GT isn’t out to top the numbers. It’s chasing the kind of feel you don’t measure.
Think Emira. Think GT3. Think V12 Vantage.
The Maserati belongs in that league — for the drivers, not just the buyers.
