Maserati, the Grand Dame of Legendary Italian Marques

Founded in 1914 in Bologna by the five Maserati brothers, the eponymous company began as a manufacturer of racing cars for the Diatto firm. However, it wasn’t until 1926 that Maserati became a full-fledged automaker, dedicating its efforts entirely to motorsport and competing against the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union in the major races of the interwar period. The Maserati family handed over control of the company to the Orsi family in 1937—at which point the company moved to Modena, where its headquarters remain to this day—but the Maserati brothers continued collaborating with the firm for another ten years.

After the war, while maintaining its presence in racing, Maserati began designing and producing road cars focused on sportiness and grand touring. The celebrated A6 series marked the company’s first step toward the identity it holds today: Maserati gradually evolved into a manufacturer of high-end grand touring coupés and convertibles, ceasing direct involvement in motorsport after 1957. That same year, the 3500 GT brought the brand out of relative obscurity and secured it a reputation on par with Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Jaguar.

Maserati’s Setbacks and Revival

Acquired by Citroën in 1968, Maserati collaborated on the design of the SM coupé before launching the Bora in 1971—the brand’s first mid-engine car, once again styled by the talented Giugiaro. But by 1975, facing severe financial difficulties, Citroën sold Maserati to Alejandro de Tomaso, who ensured the company's survival by introducing several new models, including the third-generation Quattroporte. His most significant move came in 1981 with the launch of the Biturbo, a compact four-seater GT powered by a front-mounted V6 engine. The Biturbo would become the backbone of Maserati’s lineup until the late 1990s, allowing the brand to boost production volumes and attract a new clientele that had previously leaned more toward BMW.

After producing numerous Biturbo variants, De Tomaso sold Maserati to the Fiat Group in 1993. Fiat began repositioning the brand upward, starting in 1998 with the launch of the 3200 GT—later fitted with a Ferrari-derived V8 engine—followed by a new Pininfarina-designed Quattroporte. Since 2021, Maserati has been part of Stellantis, formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Peugeot Citroën. Today, Maserati boasts a diverse lineup that includes the mid-engined MC20 sports car, a front-engined GT available as both coupé and convertible, and the Grecale SUV. The latter two are offered in electric versions, giving Maserati the confidence to embrace the future with style and ambition.