OSCA MT6: the Maserati brothers' badge is back, but does the used market make more sense?

A name that smells of racing returns to showrooms

In early June 2026, on the Imola circuit, a car wearing an almost forgotten badge made its debut: OSCA. The name, short for Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili, traces back to the Maserati brothers, who founded it after leaving the company that still carries their family name. Today the brand is being revived by DR Automobiles, the Abruzzo-based group that built its recent fortune importing and rebadging Chinese platforms, with design input from Italdesign.

The new model is called MT6, a coupe-SUV measuring 4.52 metres with a 2.71-metre wheelbase, dimensions that place it squarely in the mid-size crossover segment, exactly where most used-car demand in Italy is concentrated today.

Italian bodywork, Chinese engineering underneath

The MT6 technical base comes from Changan, the Chinese manufacturer DR has partnered with for years. The engine is a 1.5-litre TGDI turbo petrol unit producing 180 hp, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, for a claimed top speed of 190 km/h. The European-market calibration work, led by CTO Roberto Fedeli with technical support from AVL, focused mainly on the electronic tuning of the powertrain.

The cabin, developed with Recaro for the sport seats, combines leather and Alcantara with a fully digital dashboard featuring two 10.25-inch displays, 15W wireless charging and Apple CarPlay Ultra. On paper, the equipment level does not look out of place next to far more established European rivals.

The price: 49,000 euros, all-inclusive

DR opted for a simplified sales formula: 49,000 euros drive-away, with room to customise looks and trim but without the usual jungle of paid extras. First deliveries are scheduled for September 2026, with the official dynamic debut planned during the 1000 Miglia, where the MT6 will accompany a historic OSCA MT4 along the route, a deliberate link to the brand's racing heritage.

At that price point, though, the MT6 lines up against a well-equipped hybrid Alfa Romeo Tonale, a top-trim Jeep Avenger, or an already-established Korean coupe-SUV on the used market. That is where the conversation gets genuinely useful for anyone looking at used-car values rather than the new-car price list.

What it means if you are selling or buying a used coupe-SUV

Whenever a little-known brand enters a crowded segment, the first effect shows up in demand for the competing models already on the road. Anyone currently owning a Tonale, an Avenger or a similar coupe-SUV should not fear a sudden drop in resale value: the MT6 will launch with very limited initial volumes, and it will take years before it becomes a real benchmark on the used market.

The more relevant question is for buyers weighing the MT6 as a new-car purchase against a recent used alternative. A newly relaunched brand, however charming its historic pedigree, does not yet have an extensive service network nor a track record on residual values. DR's own history is a useful warning sign: several of the group's models have depreciated faster than average, largely because the market is less familiar with the brand and perceives the underlying technology as derived from low-cost platforms.

The niche-brand discount, in numbers

On classifieds platforms, older DR models are frequently listed at steep discounts relative to their original list price, a clear sign that the market applies a meaningful trust discount to less-established brands. There is no reason to assume the MT6, despite its more ambitious positioning and the evocative OSCA name, will fully escape this pattern in its early commercial years. For anyone shopping used in a couple of seasons, that could actually be the opportunity: a well-equipped product available at a significant discount to the 49,000-euro launch price.

Practical advice for this segment right now

Anyone shopping for a used coupe-SUV today really has two sensible paths. The first is to keep favouring brands with a proven track record on residual values, where the real price driver remains the choice between petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The second, for those intrigued by the OSCA revival, is to watch the first months on the market calmly: wait for the September deliveries, read independent road tests, and only consider a used example once there is a genuine track record of reliability and resale prices, rather than betting immediately on a glorious name sitting on a technical base still unproven in everyday Italian use.

Anyone selling a competing model today can meanwhile use the media attention around the launch to draw fresh eyes to their own listing, highlighting exactly what a newly reborn brand cannot yet offer: an extensive service network and known residual values.