In an interview with British magazine Evo, Maserati boss Harold Wester revealed his company’s plans to make a new sports car aimed at the high-end versions of the Porsche 911. Talking about this halo model, Wester says it would be like the Alfa Romeo 4C – a mid-engined, lightweight sports car, with a carbonfibre monocoque and a radical design. And it would bring back the name GranSport. Sounds pretty interesting.

Maserati’s new sports car would have a similar layout to the 4C, but where the Alfa uses a 1.8 liter turbo engine, the Maser gets a full-fat, naturally-aspirated 454bhp 4.7-litre V8. The same engine you find in the Maserati GranTrurismo sport. The power goes o the rear wheels, obviously, via a version of the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission found in the Ferrari 458. Come to think of it, Maserati only has to design the body.

If the GranSport gets the greenlight for production – which seems likely – it would be a ready for 2015 launch. Maserati is also considering a racing version of the car for a one-make series.

More details: Evo