Maserati Performance and the Trofeo Range

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Maserati of Fort Lauderdale
August 1, 2026

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Quick Takeaways

Trofeo is Maserati’s top performance trim, not a styling package.
Three Trofeo models today: Grecale, GranTurismo, GranCabrio.
All three use the same 3.0L twin-turbo Nettuno V6.
582 hp in the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, 523 hp in the Grecale.
Corsa drive mode is Trofeo-only.
The standard models are still excellent — Trofeo is the step up, not the requirement.

What is the Maserati Trofeo range?

Trofeo is Maserati’s highest-performance trim, applied to the Grecale SUV, GranTurismo coupe, and GranCabrio convertible. Every Trofeo uses the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6, producing 523 horsepower in the Grecale and 582 horsepower in the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. Each adds an exclusive Corsa drive mode, sharper chassis tuning, and model-specific styling.

Trofeo is Italian for trophy. In the Maserati lineup it is not a styling package or a badge you can option onto a lesser car. It marks the most powerful version of whatever model it sits on, and it brings changes you can feel from the first mile: a different engine tune, a different differential, a different suspension calibration, and a drive mode no other trim can access.

If you are trying to work out what separates a Trofeo from the rest of the range, or whether the step up is worth it, here is what the badge actually buys you.

HORSEPOWER

GranTurismo & GranCabrio Trofeo

HORSEPOWER

Grecale Trofeo

0 .0

LITRE NETTUNO V6

Twin-Turbo, built in Modena

Where The Name Comes From

Maserati was founded in Bologna in 1914 and has been headquartered in Modena for most of its life. The racing record came early and it came at the highest level. A Maserati 8CTF won the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and again in 1940, driven by Wilbur Shaw. Juan Manuel Fangio took the 1957 Formula One World Championship in a Maserati 250F, a car still widely regarded as one of the most beautiful single-seaters ever built.

That history is the reason the Trofeo badge carries weight rather than just marketing gloss. When Maserati puts the word on a car, it is making a claim about lineage as much as horsepower.

The Engine At The Center Of It All

Every current Trofeo is powered by a version of the same engine: the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6. This matters more than it might sound, because for years Maserati’s halo engine was a V8 sourced from Ferrari. The Nettuno is different. Maserati designed and built it in-house, debuting it in the MC20 supercar, and it represents the brand standing on its own engineering rather than borrowing from a sister company.

Its defining feature is pre-chamber combustion, a technology that migrated down from Formula One.

Pre-chamber combustion, simplified

A small chamber sits above the piston

Each cylinder gets a tiny secondary combustion chamber, connected to the main one by a set of narrow passages.

The spark happens there first

Fuel ignites inside the pre-chamber, sending jets of flame down through those passages into the main cylinder.

The burn starts everywhere at once

Instead of one flame front spreading outward, combustion begins from multiple points simultaneously. Faster, more complete, more power from the same displacement.

A second, conventional spark plug handles light-load driving, which is how the engine stays civil in traffic on Federal Highway.

The Trofeo Range Today

The lineup has been streamlined considerably in recent years. The Ghibli, Levante and Quattroporte have all ended production, and with them went the V8 Trofeo models many enthusiasts still associate with the badge. What remains is a tighter, more focused range of three.

SUV

Grecale Trofeo

Engine	3.0L twin-turbo Nettuno V6
Output	523 hp / 457 lb-ft
0–60 mph	3.6 seconds
Top speed	177 mph

Best for:

Everyday use with no performance compromise

Coupé

GranTurismo Trofeo

Engine	3.0L twin-turbo Nettuno V6
Output	582 hp / 479 lb-ft
0–60 mph	Under 3.5 seconds
Top speed	199+ mph

Best for:

Long-distance pace with four usable seats

SUV

Grecale Trofeo

Engine	3.0L twin-turbo Nettuno V6
Output	582 hp / 479 lb-ft
0–60 mph	3.6 seconds
Top speed	196 mph

Best for:

Open-top driving on A1A

Grecale Trofeo

The Trofeo treatment applied to Maserati’s mid-size SUV. It sits at the top of a Grecale range that also includes a four-cylinder mild hybrid, a Modena V6, and the fully electric Folgore.

The Trofeo gets a considerably more aggressive tune of the Nettuno, sport-calibrated adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels, a more aggressive front fascia, and Trofeo-specific badging. It is the one to look at if you need the practicality of an SUV and refuse to give up the performance.

GranTurismo Trofeo

The GranTurismo is the grand tourer, and arguably the purest expression of what Maserati does better than anyone. Four genuinely usable seats, all-wheel drive as standard, and an eight-speed automatic.

Recent updates pushed output higher by extending the turbocharger boost window further up the rev range, so the engine pulls harder for longer instead of tapering near the top. The Trofeo adds an electronic limited-slip rear differential and Corsa mode over the standard car.

GranCabrio Trofeo

The GranCabrio is the GranTurismo with the roof removed, which in South Florida is less of a compromise than the entire point. Same engine, same output, and a folding soft top. If your driving involves A1A more often than a track, this is the one that makes the strongest case for itself.

Corsa Mode, And How A Trofeo Changes Character

Maserati gives every car a set of drive modes, but Corsa is exclusive to Trofeo trim. It is not simply a sharper throttle map. Selecting it reconfigures the car’s physical stance as well as its electronics.

What actually changes in Corsa mode

Ride height drops for a lower center of gravity and cleaner airflow
Throttle and shift maps sharpen beyond Sport
Kick-down response becomes more aggressive

The upshift rev limiter engages for a racing-style shift cadence
Traction control intervention is reduced, giving more freedom at the limit

Corsa is exclusive to Trofeo trim. It is built for open roads and track days rather than the morning commute.

The gap between GT mode and Corsa mode is what makes a Trofeo genuinely liveable. In GT it is a comfortable, quiet, well-damped luxury car. In Corsa it is something else entirely. Most competitors ask you to pick one personality at the point of purchase. Maserati lets you switch.

Above the Trofeo

Trofeo is the peak of each model line, but it is not the peak of the brand. Two cars sit above it.

The MCPura is the evolution of the MC20 — a mid-engined, carbon-tubbed supercar and the car the Nettuno V6 was designed for in the first place. The GT2 Stradale is the road-legal expression of Maserati’s GT2 race car, and the sharpest-edged car the brand currently sells.

Both are worth knowing about because their design language flows downward. The reshaped front intakes, air curtains and splitter treatment on the current GranTurismo and GranCabrio were drawn from these cars, and the front-end changes were driven as much by aerodynamic targets as by styling.

Living with a Trofeo in South Florida

A few things that matter here specifically and that generic manufacturer copy never mentions:

Heat management. Our summers put sustained load on cooling systems in a way a Milan test route never will. Keep to the service schedule and do not defer coolant work.
Salt air. Coastal humidity is hard on paint, brightwork and brake hardware. Paint protection film across the front clip and a quality ceramic coating are worth the outlay here in a way they are not everywhere.
Wheel and tire care. Twenty-one-inch wheels with low-profile tires and South Florida expansion joints are not natural allies. Check pressures often and be deliberate about which roads you take.
Storage. If the car is garaged and driven occasionally, humidity control and a battery tender will save you problems later.

None of these are reasons not to buy the car. They are the difference between a Trofeo that still looks and drives like new in year five and one that does not.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does Trofeo mean on a Maserati?

Trofeo is Italian for “trophy.” Maserati uses it to designate the highest-performance version of a model. It is not an appearance package — a Trofeo gets a more powerful engine tune, an electronic limited-slip differential, sport-calibrated suspension, and an exclusive Corsa drive mode.

Which Maserati models are available as a Trofeo?

Three: the Grecale SUV, the GranTurismo coupe, and the GranCabrio convertible. The Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte Trofeo models are no longer in production.

How much horsepower does a Maserati Trofeo have?

The GranTurismo Trofeo and GranCabrio Trofeo produce 582 horsepower. The Grecale Trofeo produces 523 horsepower. All three use the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6, tuned differently for each application.

Does the Maserati Trofeo still have a V8?

No. The Ferrari-built 3.8-liter V8 went out of production alongside the Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte. Every current Trofeo uses Maserati’s own Nettuno V6, which produces more power than the V8 did in most applications despite the smaller displacement.

What is Corsa mode?

Corsa is the most aggressive drive mode and is exclusive to Trofeo trim. Selecting it lowers ride height, sharpens throttle and shift mapping beyond Sport, engages the upshift rev limiter, reduces traction control intervention, and makes launch control available.

Is a Maserati Trofeo a good daily driver?

Yes. In GT mode the car is comfortable, quiet, and well-damped, with adaptive suspension that absorbs rough pavement. The Grecale Trofeo in particular is built to work as an everyday SUV. The performance is available when you select it rather than imposed on you constantly.

Is the Trofeo worth it over the standard model?

It depends on what you want from the car. The standard GranTurismo and Grecale Modena V6 share the same engine architecture, transmission, and all-wheel-drive system, and both are genuinely fast. The Trofeo adds the limited-slip differential, sharper chassis tuning, Corsa mode, and distinct styling. Choose it for those, not because you need more speed on public roads.

Can I still buy a Levante Trofeo or Quattroporte Trofeo?

Not new, but they are available on the pre-owned market — and they are the only way to get the V8. If you are considering one, our guide to buying certified pre-owned versus used is worth reading first.