Autocar December 21, 2022

DACIA AND MG were the fastest-growing car brands in the UK this year (p14). It’s not so surprising, given the current economic climate, but that shouldn’t detract from how much these firms have achieved. Although the same might not have been true of budget cars of old, today’s cheaper motors are well engineered, reliable, (mostly) good-looking and replete with mod cons. What’s so charming about the likes of Dacia and MG is their refreshing honesty. Plus, their growing influence must be food for thought for other car makers, many of which have been aspiring to be more premium for decades. What else will we remember 2022 for in the motoring world? The ongoing chip shortage means cars were no easier to get hold of than last year, a situation further impacted by…

The Maserati MC20 Folgore will arrive in 2024 as the flag-bearer for a brigade of electric sports cars, pairing traditional mid-engined styling and handling with whip-crack acceleration and outstanding usability. In a rare exclusive interview with Autocar, Maserati CEO Davide Grasso outlined his expectations and hopes for the MC20 Folgore, which is one of six EVs Maserati will launch by 2026 as it gears up to phase out combustion engines. Above all, revealed Grasso, Maserati aims to substantially boost performance over the existing V6-engined MC20 without losing its character or sense of engagement. “The type of acceleration you get from an electric car is different from an ICE [car],” said Grasso. “But absolutely from a handling standpoint and from a speed standpoint, the electric MC20 will be, to our knowledge, the first supersports…

DACIA AND MG were the fastest-growing car brands in the UK this year (p14). It’s not so surprising, given the current economic climate, but that shouldn’t detract from how much these firms have achieved. Although the same might not have been true of budget cars of old, today’s cheaper motors are well engineered, reliable, (mostly) good-looking and replete with mod cons. What’s so charming about the likes of Dacia and MG is their refreshing honesty. Plus, their growing influence must be food for thought for other car makers, many of which have been aspiring to be more premium for decades. What else will we remember 2022 for in the motoring world? The ongoing chip shortage means cars were no easier to get hold of than last year, a situation further…

The Maserati MC20 Folgore will arrive in 2024 as the flag-bearer for a brigade of electric sports cars, pairing traditional mid-engined styling and handling with whip-crack acceleration and outstanding usability. In a rare exclusive interview with Autocar, Maserati CEO Davide Grasso outlined his expectations and hopes for the MC20 Folgore, which is one of six EVs Maserati will launch by 2026 as it gears up to phase out combustion engines. Above all, revealed Grasso, Maserati aims to substantially boost performance over the existing V6-engined MC20 without losing its character or sense of engagement. “The type of acceleration you get from an electric car is different from an ICE [car],” said Grasso. “But absolutely from a handling standpoint and from a speed standpoint, the electric MC20 will be, to our knowledge,…

“The Granturismo’s 745bhp tri-motor powertrain would give it enough shove to rival the Lotus Eletre” The second-generation Maserati Levante will follow the MC20 Folgore onto market by the middle of the decade, swapping from combustion to electric power in a bid to take on the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. It is expected to be the final entry into Maserati’s first fleet of EVs, after Folgore versions of the Grecale, Granturismo, Grancabrio, MC20 and next Quattroporte – and is tipped to ride on a specially adapted version of Maserati sibling firm Alfa Romeo’s Giorgio platform, as used by the ICE and EV versions of the Grecale and Granturismo. In an exclusive interview with Autocar, Maserati CEO Davide Grasso hinted at the importance of the electric Levante and suggested that its development will…

“The Granturismo’s 745bhp tri-motor powertrain would give it enough shove to rival the Lotus Eletre” The second-generation Maserati Levante will follow the MC20 Folgore onto market by the middle of the decade, swapping from combustion to electric power in a bid to take on the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. It is expected to be the final entry into Maserati’s first fleet of EVs, after Folgore versions of the Grecale, Granturismo, Grancabrio, MC20 and next Quattroporte – and is tipped to ride on a specially adapted version of Maserati sibling firm Alfa Romeo’s Giorgio platform, as used by the ICE and EV versions of the Grecale and Granturismo. In an exclusive interview with Autocar, Maserati CEO Davide Grasso hinted at the importance of the electric Levante and suggested that…