Maserati, Which Declared Discontinuation of GranTurismo, Enters Electrification Era

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Maserati, renowned for its internal combustion engines, is transitioning to an electrified system in line with the global eco-friendly vehicle trend. The brand has announced the discontinuation of its flagship model, the GranTurismo, and is modifying the production line at its Modena factory in Italy to accommodate electrification.

According to the automotive industry on the 10th, last November Maserati unveiled a camouflaged two-seater new sports car at its headquarters in Modena, Italy. The industry anticipates the birth of a new Maserati sports car equipped with an electrified powertrain based on this pilot vehicle.

Previously, Maserati declared the discontinuation of its flagship models, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. First introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the GranTurismo marked a milestone in Maserati's history. The GranCabrio, launched subsequently, inherited the DNA of the GranTurismo and continued the lineage of Maserati sports cars. Since its 2007 release, the GranTurismo sold 28,800 units worldwide, and the GranCabrio sold 17,100 units, firmly establishing the Maserati brand among the public.

The new sports car pilot vehicle with a new powertrain unveiled by Maserati on the 11th

The 'GranTurismo Zeda' unveiled by Maserati last November is the final model before the GranTurismo fades into history. In the Modena dialect, Zeda represents the letter 'Z.' The word combines 'Z,' symbolizing the end, and 'A,' symbolizing the beginning, signifying the end of Maserati's internal combustion engine era and the start of the electrification era.

Recently, Maserati attracted attention by releasing a teaser image on its official Twitter account with the caption 'MMXX - Modena May 2020.' Displaying MMXX, the Roman numeral for 2020, it has raised expectations for a new electric or hybrid vehicle marking the beginning of the electrification era.

Maserati, known as a prestigious brand that assembles engines 100% by hand, declared its shift to electrification due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Starting next year, the carbon dioxide emission regulations for cars sold in Europe will tighten from the current 130g/km to 95g/km. Manufacturers failing to meet these standards must pay fines proportional to their excess emissions.

Recently, Maserati publicly introduced its 'Innovation Lab,' responsible for vehicle development, and presented a vision for future vehicles beyond eco-friendly cars. Located in Modena, Italy, the Maserati Innovation Lab employs over 1,500 engineers and is currently researching a new simulator system equipped with Driver-in-motion technology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.