GranTurismo

The grand touring coupé reinvented with a balance of grace and aggression

However you look at it, the Maserati GranTurismo expresses dynamic tension and a sporty edge: the large oval grille, the bodywork that seems to be drawn tight over the frame like a figure hugging dress, right down to the rear flanks. Pininfarina has created an elegant and sensual look around the idea that is the GranTurismo. Sportiness is combined with true space for four. This sleek appearance, combined with solidity and grace, provokes a fascinating mix of sensations.

Unique and unmistakably Maserati, the GranTurismo’s grille features concave vertical slats with a chrome Trident logo suspended in its center. The front headlights are an aggressive addition to the radically sloping front bumper, a stylistic element that has long distinguished Maserati coupés. In the space between the crests of the front fenders is the traditional long, low hood. The hood’s classic ‘V’ shape is a feature that is echoed throughout the car.

The traditional Maserati design element of three chrome-ringed air vents set behind the front wheels lends the GranTurismo an even more vibrant feel. The car’s lines were designed to lead the eye fluidly over its curves, from the stunning front end to the sweeping rear.

Moving further down the side of the GranTurismo, the oval version of the Maserati logo (known as the ‘Saetta’) stands out on the rear pillars. The elegant shape concludes at the rear light cluster, featuring LED lights in a daring triangle. Wide aerodynamic diffusers sit under the sculpted bumper.

The styling themes continue inside the cabin, as can only be done when a car is designed as a singular piece by a talent such as Pininfarina. Inside the V design element can be seen in the dashboard below the Maserati clock, and is also picked up in the seat design, uniting the interior and exterior.

The GranTurismo transcends style and instead enters into the rarefied world of true beauty

 

The Maserati GranTurismo’s interior charms the driver and passengers

The Maserati GranTurismo’s spacious interior combines driving pleasure with comfort for four, with captivating design and prestigious materials and the luxury that only space and light can provide. The cabin has been developed to render the GranTurismo not only a high performance sportscar but a vehicle able to stir the senses of driver and passengers alike.
The Poltrona Frau® leather upholstery undergoes careful treatment before it is ready to be used in a Maserati. The electronically controlled front seats strike a balance between comfort and support needed for spirited driving. The ‘Easy Entry’ system powers the front seats forward to allow ample space for rear passengers to climb on board and share in the roomy and refined atmosphere.

The Maserati GranTurismo renders life on board a joy: from the pleasure of taking curve after curve to the elevated comfort levels for all the passengers provided in the roomy cabin. Even the occupants’ belongings are well cared for with numerous finished pockets and storage compartments.

Luxury is united with ergonomics and comfort, an enthralling combination that can be appreciated in the satisfying scent of the leather, the precious wood and the detail of the stitching.

The cabin has been handcrafted and the care taken in its construction is clear. The finish is clean but exquisitely refined, from the subtle chrome rings that surround the dashboard and steering wheel switches to the Trident logo on the headrests and the Alcantara used on the back of the gearshift paddles.

The standard cutting-edge Bose Surround Sound® audio system further improves on-board enjoyment. The placement of the eleven speakers was studied intensively in order to adapt them to the cabin’s acoustics, resulting in musical reproduction similar to that found in the best concert halls.

Open the trunk and equal care can be seen in the luggage space that can hold two regular sized golf bags or the exclusive five-piece luggage set created especially for the Maserati GranTurismo by Salvatore Ferragamo.

The Maserati GranTurismo’s engine, transmission, chassis and suspension

Engine

The Maserati GranTurismo is powered by an eight cylinder 4,244 cc V90° engine. The engine develops 405 bhp at 7100 rpm, equivalent to 95.4 bhp/liter, which is extraordinary for an engine of this size. Compact and light, the engine is made of aluminum alloy and silicon. The 32 valves are controlled by two overhead camshafts per bank while the overhead camshafts on the aspirated side are activated by a variable valve timing system. The lubrication system features a wet sump, which means a reduction in noise, making the cabin quieter. The engine produces a stirring rumble but it never interferes with onboard comfort.
The exhaust connected to the V8 meets the latest anti-pollution regulations but does not compromise the car’s performance. On a technical level, metal has replaced ceramic as the material of choice for the catalysts, as they do in competition cars.
The acceleration provided by the Maserati V8 is immediate, and, thanks to the electronic ‘drive by wire’ throttle control, the car responds instantly to the pedal.

Transmission

The Maserati GranTurismo’s hydraulic automatic transmission brings out the best in the engine. The self-adapting automatic transmission is especially responsive at low to mid-range revs, yet top end power remains strong. Gear changes can be made right up to 7,200 rpm, an engine speed that no other automatic transmission in the class can match.
There are five functional modes: Auto Normal is for comfortable cruising, Auto Sport is for those who like a sportier ride, Auto Ice is for low grip conditions and then there are Manual and Manual Sport modes. In the Manual modes it is the driver who chooses when to change gear via the steering wheel paddles or gear shift lever in the center console.

Traction and stability control

The GranTurismo’s dynamic handling is further assisted by the Maserati Stability Program (MSP). This has been specially designed by Maserati to help improve safety and works by integrating the ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) and ASR (automatic slip reduction), acting on the brakes and the engine in order to help enhance the driver’s control in critical situations. The Program is based on a series of sensors that constantly monitor the car’s handling. MSP can act according to two different logic maps; these correspond to settings chosen by the driver by pushing ‘Sport’ on the center console. This setting adjusts the Skyhook dampers, the traction control and the speed of the gear changes.

Chassis

The Maserati GranTurismo reacts brilliantly thanks to its unique weight distribution: 49% of the car’s mass sits over the front wheels and 51% on the rear. This set up was achieved by shifting the engine behind the front axle and it gives the driver an unparalleled sense of balance during turns and transitions.
The load-bearing chassis means greater rigidity and its high-resistance, box-steel structure gives the suspension a solid foundation. This enhances the car’s dynamic handling and ensures a more comfortable drive.

Suspension

The Maserati GranTurismo’s precise handling benefits from front and rear wishbone suspension. The system’s ‘anti-dive’ and ‘anti-squat’ geometry limits the front from dipping under braking and the rear end from squatting under acceleration.

The Skyhook system

As an option, the GranTurismo can be equipped with the Skyhook system of shock absorbers that continually adjust the damping. This technology automatically selects the optimal level of damping and integrates with the MSP safety system and the calibration of the car’s automatic gearbox. The result is that the car is able to adapt to the characteristics of the road and each driver; the GranTurismo is a car that fits like a glove.
The Skyhook system acts by using acceleration sensors that detect movement on all four wheels and the body. A control unit processes the data it receives from the sensors, analyses the driving style and road surface and adjusts the dampers accordingly via their proportional valves.
As the Skyhook and transmission data from the sensors is fed to the same control unit, Maserati engineers have integrated the two systems so the GranTurismo is able to adjust the suspension settings so that the driver feels even less movement through the chassis during gear changes.
Selecting the ‘Sport’ setting through the button on the central console results in a stiffer ride, less roll, more contained load transfer, and greater agility and stability as well as allowing startling performance figures. In ‘Sport’ mode the onboard computer also reduces gear shift times by 40%. ‘Sport’ mode offers the driver a livelier and more performance-tuned experience.