A Maserati V-8 Comeback May Be BrewingMaseratiThese days, V-8 engines are making a triumphant stand amongst the world of American performance vehicles amid regulatory rollbacks — and it seems as if the Europeans don't want to be left out of the fun. Despite spending years touting the benefits of its (admittedly lovely) Nettuno twin-turbo V-6, Maserati is reportedly mulling over the idea of bringing back a proper eight-cylinder powertrain in select models.The news comes by way of Australia's CarSales, which recently sat down to interview Maserati head of engineering Davide Danesin. Upon being pressed about the brand's opinion on the future of V-8 powertrains, Danesin noted that there is, perhaps unsurprisingly, some customer demand for such a project. Furthermore, he noted that some of the brand's existing platforms could potentially accept a V-8 engine, as the GranTurismo/GranCabrio and Grecale were designed from the jump to accommodate different powerplants. And while the executive didn't go as far as to confirm the existence of a V-8 model in the works, he made his personal feelings on the matter pretty clear.Maserati"My personal opinion is yes: I think the V-8 could potentially be coming back... I'm sure that if we would be making it, we would be selling it [but] maybe not in big numbers," Danesin told CarSales.AdvertisementAdvertisement"We believe that a good V-8 engine could fit... it looks like the momentum for V-8 is building up," he added. "The decision to make it is very much depending on company strategies [but] I think potentially the space is there."MaseratiThe GranTurismo and GranCabrio would be the most natural landing spots for a V-8 engine, with the last-gen models' identity wrapped up in their Ferrari-derived motors; a V-8-powered Grecale crossover seems less likely, though such a move could make it a more compelling alternative to Mercedes-AMG and BMW M rivals.That said, Danesin doesn't believe a V-8 would offer a transformative change in terms of the performance, noting how stout the current V-6 is in every respect. Instead, he believes the desire for more cylinders comes from an emotional standpoint."I think the need of a V-8 is [about] having the proper engine for a certain vehicle," Danesin told CarSales. "It is more a perception issue."It's unclear what a new V-8 from Maserati could look like, but given the market, we'd expect a set of turbos to be involved. Don't expect any electrification, however, as Danesin said he doesn't believe in the concept for Maserati vehicles; the brand would rather keep the identities of its various powertrains distinct from one another, which is a bold choice if nothing else.AdvertisementAdvertisementWould a V-8 engine make the current slate of Maserati vehicles more attractive to you? Let us know down below.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State