Ferrari just unveiled its striking LaFerrari supercar at the Geneva Motor Show last month, stunning the media with its innovative HY-KERS hybrid drivetrain with a combined output of 949 hp and 663 lb.-ft. of torque. The ultimate car from the ultimate automaker, Ferrari will only produce 499 LaFerrari models to retain the exclusivity of its halo machine. Now, rumors from Car Magazine indicate that Maserati will build its own LaFerrari-based supercar as well.
In 2002, shortly following Ferrari's introduction of its hardcore Enzo supercar, Maserati unveiled their longer and wider Enzo variant known as the MC12. A modern day homologation vehicle, the Maserati MC12 was built with the specific intent to enter FIA GT competition.
It is unclear whether to new LaFerrari-based Maserati will be a road-legal FIA GT special vehicle as well.
Only 55 Maserati MC12 cars were ever built between 2004 through 2005. What's more, only 50 of those examples were sold to private owners. While the Maserati MC12 was the more expensive, more stylized, and more exclusive than the Ferrari Enzo, the MC12 was still slower, a condition that was likely controlled by the engineers at Maranello.
As for the upcoming Maserati supercar, given the number of propriety technology found within the LaFerrari, select components will not make it into the Maserati. As a result, specifications and performance figures of the Maserati remain unknown.
Sources suggest two distinct powertrain possibilities for the new Maserati supercar. First, the Maserati MC12 successor will likely run on a non-hybrid powertrain that consists of the LaFerrari's 6.3 liter V12 engine only. The second possibility is a multi-turbo version of its 3.8 liter V8 engine found in the Maserati Quattroporte. Sources suggest that a bold quad-turbo V8 could boost output to as high as 900 hp.
Despite a less exotic powertrain, the Maserati promises to be a supercar in every definition of the word. Mirroring the MC12, rumors suggest only 50 examples of the Maserati supercar will be produced and each will be priced at a higher premium than the LaFerrari. What's more, without a hybrid setup, the Maserati promises to be even lighter than the LaFerrari. As it was with the Enzo and MC12, we expect the performance of the next Maserati supercar to be limited by the executives at Maranello.
Now it's your turn: if money were no object, does a super Maserati strike your fancy? Let us know in the comments below!
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