Maserati

Lore & Background

In the Forza world, Maserati sits at the intersection of two racing philosophies: the closed-circuit purism of Motorsport and the open-road freedom of Horizon. In the Motorsport titles, Maserati's track cars—most iconically the MC12—demand respect. The MC12's carbon-fibre monocoque, twin-turbocharged V8, and near-50/50 weight distribution make it a car that punishes sloppy inputs while rewarding a smooth, committed line. Players who learn to modulate the throttle through a hairpin rather than wrestling the steering wheel discover that the MC12 is less a weapon and more a duet partner.

In Forza Horizon, Maserati's grand tourers like the GranTurismo and the newer MC20 slot into the experience differently. They're the cars you grab at a festival checkpoint, the ones whose exhaust note carries over a hilltop while the sun sets behind the horizon. The MC20, with its Nettuno V6 and twin-turbo setup, represents the brand's modern renaissance—lighter, sharper, and more approachable than the old V8s, yet still dripping with that unmistakable Italian confidence. The trident on the bonnet catches the golden-hour light, and for a moment the game's stylized world feels like a painting of Italian automotive romance.

Across the franchise, Maserati never dominates the top of the leaderboard the way a hypercar might, but it consistently occupies the sweet spot where performance meets personality. Fans gravitate to the brand not just for the horsepower figures but for the way every model feels hand-finished, as if the engineers in Modena cared more about the curve of a fender than the last tenth of a second on a lap timer. In Forza, that philosophy translates into a driving feel that's slightly less clinical than its German rivals and slightly more theatrical than its Japanese counterparts—a car that wants you to enjoy the drive as much as the destination.

In Their Own Story

The rain had just stopped over the coastal stretch, and the asphalt still glistened like black glass. Luca wiped his visor, rolled the window down an inch, and let the MC12's V8 idle settle into a low, throaty growl. The trident on the nose caught a sliver of breaking sun. Ahead, the road peeled away into a series of blind corners hugging the cliff face, and the Horizon festival's distant bass thumped up from the valley below. He didn't need a co-driver. He didn't need a pace car. He just needed to trust the rear end through the next right-hander and let the twin turbos spool in that particular, almost musical way that only a Maserati knew how. He dropped the clutch. The trident blazed forward.

Reader's Guide

Maserati (real-world counterpart: Maserati S.p.A., Modena, Italy) occupies a beloved middle-to-upper tier in the Forza lineup, typically fielding a roster of roughly 8 to 15 models depending on the title and update cycle. Performance classes generally span from upper-D or C-tier grand tourers up to S-tier supercars and track-bred machines, giving players a wide band of Italian performance to explore.

The design philosophy reads clearly in-game: flowing, sculpted bodywork with pronounced haunches, a signature trident-set grille, and a rear end that tapers with almost painterly grace. Handling is rear-wheel-drive biased with a lively, communicative feel—less numb than a GT-R, less clinical than a 911, and more willing to let you feel the weight transfer if you push past the limit.

Signature models that define the brand's identity include the MC12 (the track-focused twin-turbo V8 supercar that anchors the top of the range), the GranTurismo (the quintessential luxury GT with a V8 that purrs at idle and roars at 6,000 rpm), and the MC20 (the modern V6 Nettuno supercar that represents Maserati's current era). In Horizon titles, the Ghibli and Quattroporte add a sedan/limo flavor for players who want Maserati badges with a more relaxed pace.

Livery options often lean into classic Italian palette—green, white, and red accents—or the understated silver and black of the track cars. Tuning quirks players notice: the V8 models tend to have a slightly longer power band that rewards keeping revs in the mid-to-upper range, and the rear-axle differential response can feel a touch more eager than front-wheel-drive rivals, making traction management in wet Horizon conditions a genuine skill test. Overall, Maserati in Forza is the brand you choose when you want the lap to feel like a performance, not just a time trial.

Pick the MC12 for a closed track, the GranTurismo for a sunset coastal run, and the MC20 when you want the newest Italian V6 to sing at you from the back seat. The trident will do the rest.

Did You Know?

• The Maserati trident logo is inspired by the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna's Piazza Maggiore, a detail that gives the brand a distinctly Italian identity even in the global racing world of Forza.
• The MC12's twin-turbo V8 in Forza Motorsport produces a distinctive, layered exhaust note that fans often cite as one of the most satisfying engine sounds in the entire franchise, separate from the car's outright speed.
• In Forza Horizon, Maserati's grand tourers are frequently spotted in the mid-to-high performance brackets, making them a popular 'first supercar' choice for players who want Italian flair without jumping straight into hy
• The MC20's Nettuno V6 engine, with its twin-turbo and pre-chamber combustion system, represents Maserati's shift away from the V8 era—a change that is reflected in the slightly different exhaust character players notice