Maserati’s GranTurismo had a lot of people drawn to it when it was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007, and ever after all these years, it continues to look stunning. It has been designed by Pininfarina and uses a short-wheelbase of the previous-generation Quattroporte’s chassis and of course, a 4.2-litre V8 engine sourced from Ferrari. Various variations of the model have been introduced over a decade with an increase in power and torque output figures as well. In 2017, the GranTurismo got refreshed with some styling updates, an updated cockpit and new tech. From there after, there are just two variants offered: the Sport and MC. Both cars are powered by a Ferrari-sourced 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine developing 454bhp and 520Nm of torque with power being sent to wheel at the back through a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Maser strokes
The Maserati GranTurismo looks absolutely gorgeous with those flowing curves and elegant lines. The facelift version received a ‘sharknose’ grille, air ducts that are found lower down on the bumper, while the rear sports an aerodynamically-efficient bumper.
Italian flair
Step inside the Maserati GranTurismo and you will notice an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The central console looks different and gets new switchgear as well, and the drive mode buttons are found close to the gear lever. It’s very luxurious inside the car and there’s a lot of leather and wood found on most surfaces while the MC Stradale gets carbon-fibre treatment and Alcantara. However, there are lots of details that are now long in the tooth with way too many buttons on the dashboard and the build quality doesn’t match most of today’s grand tourers.
Growl on the prowl
Maserati Cars have equipped the GranTurismo with a 4.7-litre V8 that sounds unbelievably good, and a large displacement engine means it has those old-school vibes to it, unlike today’s turbocharged engines. The Maserati GranTurismo can sprint from 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250kph. While the engine is old school, so is the torque-converter transmission, which is now clearly showing its age, although it works efficiently. In manual mode, the single-clutch paddle-shift gearbox can change gears very quickly and the carbon-ceramic brakes provide fade-free stopping ability. The MC variant comes with sharper handling because of its lower weight and stiffer springs, and still comes across as a comfortable GT. This is a car that can be called a four-seater because the rear seats offer ample space even for adults. At 260 litres, the boot isn’t large but it’s decent. When it comes to reliability, Maserati Cars haven’t been known to be the best, but after Ferrari took charge, a lot has changed and for the better. Both engines have been doing duty in these cars for over a decade now and that goes to show how far reliability has come. The car features multiple electronic systems and comes with six airbags.
A beautiful investment?
When it comes to the heart-over-head decision, the Maserati GranTurismo will get to your heart. Those Ferrari-built engines are so soulful in terms of the power and sound, that one might eventually settle for this car only for its powertrain. Don’t expect fuel efficiency from what is easily one of the thirstiest V8 engines you can experience. Although it weighs a lot, it feels like a sports car and is shockingly quick.
