The crown-shaped trident icon that anchors the Maserati brand isn’t something we’ve seen a lot of lately. In fact, it was sort of a surprise to see Jon Hamm’s character driving a Maserati GranTurismo in the opening scenes—and as it turns out, in a pivotal role—of Your Friends and Neighbors.
And then we saw Maserati return to the 2025 New York Auto Show, this time showing off the GT2 Stradale, a performance car that the company calls ‘barely street legal.’ With a huge rear wing and a sculpted body, the model, which will only be available to 914 lucky buyers, promises an output of 631 HP, more than enough to turn this car into a blade that slices through the air at head-spinning speeds.
But let’s get back to Jon Hamm.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The Icon Is Back and Building Intrigue
For what seemed like forever, and actually is since 1914, Maserati was a dashing brand, driven by heartthrobs and known for setting records on race tracks. As a leader on the race circuit, it wasn’t surprising that the brand’s original engineers were lured away by Ferrari, but they left a legacy of performance and design deeply imprinted on the Maserati brand. In the time since, Maserati has been associated with all things regal, luxury and performance, but has often been a step behind marquee brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.
To make things worse, the brand lost its way for a bit, building also-ran models that had a difficult time distinguishing themselves from the pack.
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Rebuilding the Super Car Brand, Starting With the Engine
Thankfully, in 2020 the brand retooled, with a literal from-the-ground-up approach. It started with a new V6 turbo Nettuno engine that is the foundation of everything they do, and a refined design language that is fitting for a brand with such a distinguished heritage. Maserati is again a head-turner, and the star of every shot.
With Jon Hamm in the driver’s seat, the GranTurismo got attention; but even without a Hollywood leading man to draw attention, viewers of Your Friends and Neighbors were asking; what is that car? The GranTurismo’s sleek, sculpted silhouette feels iconic, but was still unfamiliar to many. That would soon change.
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Back To Basics: Luxury Form Follows Performance Function
The retooling of the lineup started by placing the new performance enhancing Nettuno engine in an equally suited frame, one optimized for racing. That its lines flow elegantly from front to back, that its nose arcs gracefully toward the ground, that its front grille frames the Trident are not just beautiful details, but lines that shroud the mechanics underneath that make this car a thrill to drive.
600-ish HP isn’t a ground-breaking number these days. And sports cars with V6 engines aren’t at the top of the power list; in fact records are set by engines boasting 8, 10 or 12 cylinders. Is a V6 enough?
Maserati is banking on it, both for its two track-bred cars, the GT2 Stradale and the MCXtrema, a track-only car that is fit for F1, and the engine is at the heart of Maserati Corse, the brand’s racing arm. The team has set its goals on all the top races and is making strides.
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But is it Enough?
Recently Maserati invited a group of journalists to drive the lineup of sports cars on the track at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. There, we got to ride along for hot laps in the MCXtrema and get behind the wheel of the MC20, the GrandTurismo and the GranCabrio. Maserati’s race-bred cars are prefaced with the “MC” moniker to indicate they carry the Maserati Corse DNA.
Throughout the day on the track, one thing that clearly stood out: HP isn’t everything. Each car’s Nettuno engine is customized for that car, producing between 480 and 730 HP, depending on the model. From there, Maserati’s engineers and designers work to reduce weight, tighten suspensions, increase downforce, all the helpers that maximize a driver’s efficiency on the track and therefore, a car’s time around the course. And, they deliver an authentically and satisfying growly exhaust sound that sounds and feels just right.
The Next Era: Maserati MCPura
In the march toward planting Maserati at the top of the supercar heap, the brand rolled out its latest model, the MCPura, a supercar carved from the MC20 model but refined and retooled enough that it’s not a redesign, but a replacement.
MCPura, which made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, delivers an even more surprising level of luxury, minus the compromise that often a super car can require from driver and passenger. It’ll include all the performance specs that buyers demand, from the V6 turbo Nettuno that delivers 630 HP and 720 lb.-ft of torque to a carbon fiber cabin and a purpose-designed rear diffuser that provides the downforce rather than a large rear wing.
But inside the cabin buyers will find Alcantara suede, laser etched leather, a smart glass roof that frosts at the touch of a button and a modern multimedia system. The MCPura will be available in both a hard-top coupe and a convertible, which Maserati calls Cielo, for ‘sky.’ The goal was to deliver a true luxury experience that thrills, too.
What Else a Lucky Girl Gets In Maserati’s Cars
This, in my opinion, is where Jon Hamm (or, the show’s producers) got it right: the GranTurismo is a great car for tooling around town, making school runs and grocery store stops. It has a rear seat that’s perfect for a handbag, a few totes or a dog. And the well-designed multimedia system has a modern feel to it with every feature you need, including “Hey Maserati” voice assistance that lets you keep your gaze on the road while you change the radio.
You can go for the GranCabrio if you’re more of a convertible girl, and there are lots of interior options from opulent to sublime. Either way, both models come with the elegant modern lines and proportions of modern-day Maserati, and that’s what’s elevating the brand in everyone’s opinion and putting it on all those vision boards. I know it’s on mine. The one thing missing? Jon Hamm in the passenger’s seat. I wonder if Maserati can do anything about that?
