Maserati arrived at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed with much more than a display stand. As the Italian marque celebrated 100 years of the iconic Trident logo and a century of motorsport heritage, it used one of the world’s biggest automotive festivals to showcase where the brand is heading next.
The updated GranTurismo, GranCabrio and Grecale made their first public appearance, the spectacular MCXtrema, GT2 Stradale and MCPURA Cielo tackled the famous Goodwood Hillclimb, and the biggest headline of all was the world premiere of the all-new Maserati Project GT4. This is a race car designed to return the Trident to the increasingly competitive GT4 racing category in 2028.
For a company whose greatest hits include the legendary MC12, Birdcage racers, Tipo 61 “Birdcage,” and countless GT victories, Goodwood proved to be the perfect venue to remind enthusiasts that Maserati’s racing ambitions are far from over.
Public Debut Of Maserati’s New Road Car Range
Although Project GT4 stole plenty of headlines, Maserati’s refreshed production lineup formed the backbone of its Goodwood display. The updated GranTurismo, GranCabrio, and Grecale Trofeo were shown to the public for the first time following their digital reveal, each finished in bespoke Fuoriserie colours.
- GranTurismo Trofeo — Matte Green Jupiter
- GranCabrio Trofeo — Blu Emozione
- Grecale Trofeo — Orange Devil
Rather than introducing entirely new cars, Maserati focused on refining its luxury GT formula while bringing a more aggressive design language across the range. That sharper styling first appeared on the track-only MCXtrema before filtering into the GT2 Stradale and MCPURA.
It has now reached Maserati’s core road cars, giving them a wider, lower, and more purposeful face. It’s a subtle evolution rather than a revolution. Which, for a grand tourer, is usually the better approach.
The Nettuno V6 Remains The Heart Of Maserati
Under the bonnet, Maserati resisted the temptation to reinvent the wheel. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio Trofeo continue to use the remarkable 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6, producing 582hp and 650Nm.
The engine features Formula 1-derived pre-chamber combustion technology, one of the defining innovations of the Nettuno family. It improves combustion efficiency and performance while giving Maserati one of the most technically interesting V6 engines currently on sale.
The Trofeo models also receive:
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Height-adjustable air suspension
- Sports exhaust system
- Four full-size seats
Many high-performance grand tourers promise everyday usability before quietly forgetting about rear passengers. Maserati has always understood that a proper GT should comfortably carry four adults across countries.
The Grecale Trofeo continues to occupy an increasingly important role within Maserati’s lineup. Positioned as the brand’s luxury performance SUV, it combines genuine everyday practicality while offering one of the highest specific power outputs in its segment.
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Project GT4 Debuts: Maserati’s Return To GT4 Racing
The biggest reveal at Goodwood was undoubtedly Project GT4. Developed by Maserati Corse in Modena, Project GT4 is based directly on the new GranTurismo architecture and has been created with one clear objective: for Maserati to return to the GT4 racing category in 2028.
GT4 has quietly become one of the fastest-growing forms of international GT racing. Unlike GT3, GT4 machinery stays much closer to its production counterpart, making racing more accessible for private teams while creating stronger links between road cars and race cars. That philosophy perfectly suits Maserati.
Rather than developing an entirely bespoke racing machine, the company has built Project GT4 directly from the GranTurismo platform, allowing technology to flow naturally between road and track. It’s exactly the sort of engineering approach that produced icons like the MC12, where motorsport genuinely improved the breed.
Project GT4: Built Around The Nettuno Engine And Lightweight Engineering
Project GT4 shares its core architecture with the GranTurismo, but almost everything has been optimised for racing. Power comes from the familiar 3.0-litre Nettuno twin-turbo V6. While Maserati hasn’t confirmed an official race specification output yet, the company revealed that the engine has already demonstrated more than 700hp in specific track configurations.
Backing that up is an extensive list of motorsport-focused hardware:
- GT Trofeo-derived suspension
- Adjustable dampers
- Adjustable anti-roll bars
- Approximately 400kg less weight than the road-going GranTurismo
- Dedicated racing braking system
- Optimised aerodynamic package
- Front splitter
- Dive planes
- Bonnet cooling vents
- FIA-compliant roll cage
- Homologated racing seat
- Homologated fuel tank
- 18-inch GT4-spec alloy wheels
Unlike GT3 cars that often evolve significantly away from production models, GT4 regulations encourage manufacturers to retain much of the original vehicle architecture. That should also help keep running costs under control, which is good news for customer racing teams considering a move into Maserati machinery.
Development has only recently begun, but Maserati says its target remains firmly fixed on competing, and winning, from the 2028 racing season.
A Tribute To 100 Years Of The Trident
The Project GT4 also wore one of the most meaningful liveries seen at Goodwood this year. Created specifically to celebrate 100 years of the Maserati Trident logo, the design combines heritage with modern styling.
Highlights include:
- A giant Trident stretching from roof to tail
- 100 small blue Trident logos
- White nose inspired by historic Maserati racing cars including the 420M/58 Eldorado
- Blue and yellow accents representing the city of Modena
It’s a fitting tribute. Few automotive logos have remained as instantly recognisable for an entire century, and fewer still have been attached to everything from Formula 1 machinery to luxury grand tourers and Le Mans-winning prototypes.
MCXtrema, GT2 Stradale & MCPURA Cielo Took On The Hillclimb
Goodwood isn’t simply about static displays. It’s about seeing and hearing cars take on the hillclimb. Maserati therefore sent three of its most exciting performance machines up the famous 1.86 km Goodwood Hillclimb.
Leading the charge was the MCXtrema, Maserati’s track-only flagship. Limited to just 62 examples worldwide, it produces 740hp from an uprated version of the Nettuno 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and wears an exclusive blue-and-yellow Modena-inspired livery.
Joining it was the GT2 Stradale, the road-legal version of Maserati’s successful GT2 racing car that has helped return the brand to winning ways in international GT competition. Completing the trio was the MCPURA Cielo, representing Maserati’s latest interpretation of an open-top supercar.
The MCXtrema also entered the prestigious Timed Shootout, where manufacturers compete to set the fastest time up the iconic hill.
Between the sound of three twin-turbo Nettuno engines echoing through the Sussex countryside and the sight of a 740hp track monster charging towards the finish line, Maserati certainly ensured nobody walked past its paddock quietly.
