Maserati GranTurismo

Maserati GranTurismo Overview

A GT, or Grand Tourer, which itself is a borrowed translation from the Italian phrase Gran Turismo belongs to a class of vehicle designed for high speed and long-distance driving, often emphasizing luxury and comfort rather than outright performance with spartan amenities.

The aptly named Maserati GranTurismo by the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer hailed from Modena is exactly just that. Maserati started out life as a racing car manufacturer over a century ago. The 1947 Maserati A6 1500 GT Pininfarina became their first ever passenger car and the first ever Gran Turismo to wear the iconic Trident emblem.

The facelifted 2018 Maserati GranTurismo is unveiled in Malaysia in the sole MC (Maserati Corse) form. The 2+2-seater is priced from RM 717,800 (without tax and duties) with 5 years unlimited mileage warranty a 5-year free maintenance program (100,000 km).

Rivals like the Bentley Continental GT is the car that often springs to mind when it comes to setting the benchmark for the segment with its high standard of luxury and performance. The newly launched Ferrari Roma on the other hand surely give its fellow Italian a good run for its money with its elegant exterior design.

Maserati Gran Turismo Exterior

What immediately stands out is the optional lightweight carbon fibre bonnet with an aggressive central air intake and two large air vents inspired by the Maserati MC Trofeo racer. The front end is completely restyled, dominated by the menacing Maserati Alfieri-inspired Sharknose Grille carrying the Maserati Trident in chrome and red detailing, a tradition reserved only for the most powerful Maserati models.

MC-exclusive splitter and a pair of steeply raked headlight with bespoke Maserati inscription and revised daytime running light design complete the overall front-end look. The sleek side profile is inspired by the historic Maserati Tipo 60/62, a.k.a the ‘Birdcage’, featuring signature styling cues such as the triple air vent apertures in the front fenders and triangular C-pillars, which house the iconic Saetta logo.

The stylish body kits are not just for show, they are functional too. The front spoiler, side skirts and slots in the re-profiled front bumper combine to maximise downforce at high speed while keeping the brakes cool. The rear spoiler lip and the central positioning of the dual tailpipes for the sport exhaust system also help to optimise airflow, minimising turbulence while generating downforce and stability.

Being a Grand Tourer, emphasis is put on space and comfort. Compared to the latest performance-oriented super sports car from Maserati, the MC20, the 2+2 layout of the Maserati GranTurismo is 251 mm longer and 129 mm taller which allow for greater comfort, practicality and ease of accessibility. It is one of the longest two-door GT in the segment, outdone only by the luxurious Mercedes-AMG S63 coupe by 112 mm. 

Maserati GranTurismo Interior

The ergonomically contoured front sport seats are adequately supportive yet comfortable at the same time. It comes with optional carbon fibre back and upholstered in contrast of Poltrona Frau leather and alcantara, finished in soft black as standard. The statement Maserati Trident is hand-sewn into the headrests.

The race-optimised flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel can be clad in full leather, a combination of leather and Alcantara or a combination of leather and carbon fibre. The long, column-mounted paddle shifters exemplify the GT’s sporting edge.

Other highlights include the newly designed dashboard featuring an analog clock and an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, finished in Poltrona Frau leather and accented with Dark Chrome and Eco Chrome detailing on the door and quarter panels. Five interior trim options are available, from carbon fibre, piano black to walnut briarwood.

To access the rear seats, the Easy Entry system allows both front seats to slide forward and back electrically. Two individually profiled rear seats, along with class-leading rear head and knee room, a central pull-down armrest, two cupholders, courtesy lights and a pair of climate control vents ensure rear passenger comfort.

Maserati GranTurismo Features

On the inside, the redesigned high-resolution 8.4-inch Maserati Touch Control Plus (MTC+) infotainment system is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto, now featuring i-Drive-like rotary controller in the central console for greater accessibility. The 10-speaker premium audio system by Harman Kardon features 900-watt amplifier, AuraVox sound tuning and Harman Kardon sound processing technologies. 

Exterior highlights among other things include Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Light Control, standard lightweight 20-inch forged alloy wheels shod with Pirelli’s P Zero tyres and finished off with a sport exhaust system that pops and burbles in the right driving mode.

On the more technical side of things, the Maserati GranTurismo comes fitted with Brembo Brakes, Limited Slip Differential and Maserati Stability Program (MSP) which uses an array of sensors to constantly monitor your driving to optimize handling and traction by modulating engine torque and brakes. Safety features include ABS with EBD, Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), Advance Brake Assist system (ABA), rear view camera, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and airbags all round (including side and curtain airbag).

Maserati GranTurismo Powertrain Performance

Powering the rear wheels is a Ferrari-built 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 developing 466 PS at 7,000 RPM and 520 Nm of torque from 4,750 RPM (redline at 7,500 RPM). With the available launch control system, the Maserati GranTurismo completes the century sprint in 4.7 seconds and max out at a top speed of 301 km/h.

The F136, or more commonly known as the Ferrari-Maserati engine, is jointly developed by Ferrari and Maserati and produced by Ferrari. The engine is mated to a ZF 6-speed MC Automatic transmission featuring Trofeo design paddle shifters for manual override.

Normal, Sport and ICE (Increased Control and Efficiency) driving mode gives the GT a split personality, offering comfort and hard-edge giant with just a press of a button. Sport mode in manual delivers seamless-upshift and automatic rev matching on the downshift. Gear-holding allows the transmission to hold the gear right through to the red line until it receives driver input, offering a truly full control of the drive.

Maserati GranTurismo Fuel Consumption

Maserati GranTurismo Ride Comfort

Based on the M139 platform derived from the Maserati Quattroporte V, the Maserati GranTurismo has a near-perfect weight distribution with a marginal rearward bias by placing the V8 engine just behind the front axle.

A double wishbone front and rear suspension set-up with the optional Sport Skyhook damping constantly adapt to the prevailing driving condition. 

The overall result is a comfortable long-distance cruiser that is also composed and precise in the corners albeit with more body roll than one would like during spirited driving.

Maserati GranTurismo Conclusion

As a Gran Tourer, the Maserati GranTurismo offers a surprisingly compliant ride that is perfect for daily driving. The tradeoff however is slightly more body roll through the corners than you would like in a sports car. 

It may not be as luxurious as a Bentley Continental GT or as dynamically capable as a Porsche 911, the Maserati GranTurismo is more than capable of putting a smile on your face when you take it through a few twisty roads. While it is starting to show its age, the glorious naturally aspirated V8 soundtrack will never get old.