Founded in 1914 by three Italian brothers Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto, Maserati started their trade building two-litre Grand Prix racing cars for Italian car manufacturer Diatto. But when Diatto suspended this area of its production, the brothers began their own trade, forming the Maserati marque. Initially a workshop operating in Bologna, the brothers began their high-speed career by building their first sports car, the Tipo 26, which was driven by Alfieri at the 1926 Targa Florio, finishing first in its Grand Prix class and ninth overall, kickstarting a racing legacy that continues to this day.

Now comes a new gearshift in the Italian motor giant’s history. Having celebrated its centenary in 2014, Maserati welcomed a new COO last year, former Nike Chief Marketing Officer Davide Grasso, and now, the storied brand releases a dynamic line-up of new models setting the pace for an exciting new decade: the Ghibli hybrid and the Trofeo V8 range, released this summer, and Maserati’s first supercar in over a decade – the MC20 – set to be unveiled later this month (watch this space).

As the name suggests, the Ghibli Hybrid, is Maserati’s first hybrid vehicle, an electrified version of the brand’s classic Ghibli model. Named after a hot and dry desert wind that blows through north Africa, it’s worth noting that this new Hybrid is Maserati’s third Ghibli, first unveiled as a slick two-seater coupé at the 1966 Turin Motor Show and Maserati’s inaugural project with acclaimed Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

This new eco-friendly iteration marks a pioneering moment, moving the brand into a new sustainable world without losing any of that signature thrust. Embodying the dynamic spirit that shaped the first Ghibli incarnation, the new Hybrid model retains the model’s unmistakable silhouette yet beneath the bonnet is a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine boasting 330 horsepower that allows for quick response and unrivalled performance. As for aesthetic, it’s as slick as you’d expect from Maserati; from the shark-like front grill to the sort of pitch-black leather interior that would appeal equally to John Wayne and his nighttime alter-ego.

“This is a historical moment for Maserati because we are on the verge of a new era. We need to combine the brand’s traditional values with future changes and challenges. That’s why we need to find the right balance in meeting the market’s needs that push toward green mobility and, at the same time, we do not want to forget the traditional Maserati DNA. A true balancing act between our roots and wings: key pillars in the growth of Maserati.” – Francesco Tonon, Head of Product Planning

At the 1963 Turin Motor Show, Maserati presented the first Quattroporte and changed the future of car manufacturing. By placing a powerful Maserati racing engine in the body of a saloon, the brand pioneered a new vision of automobile luxury, combining style, comfort and performance to create the fastest four-seater in the world.

Echoing this innovative history comes a new Trofeo range that uses the success of Maserati’s Levante Trofeo SUV (presented in 2018) as a springboard and extends its design codes to Maserati’s signature Ghibli and Quattroporte identities.

Taking that heritage trifecta of style, comfort and performance for a 2020 spin, the new Trofeo range is built with a 580 horsepower V8 engine that can hit an impressive 326 kilometres an hour, making them the fastest factory-issued Maserati sedans ever. While inside the cabin, the interiors come wrapped in luxury full-grain Pieno Fiore leather with an in-built, high-resolution infotainment system worthy of binge-watching marathons.