Maserati GranTurismo S Gets New 4.7L Engine

Sue Jeong

If there has been one criticism towards Maserati’s latest coupe, the
GranTurismo, it’s that the beautiful two-door grand tourer is a bit too
soft, and that it isn’t as fast as it could have been. OK, that’s two
complaints. To satisfy customers who want a little more performance,
Maserati is unveiling the GranTurismo S, a sportier version to compete
with the likes of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW M6, and Porsche 911.

Maserati’s
modifications have resulted in a bit of a one-two punch to sweeten the
GranTurismo’s dynamics. The 4.2-litre V8 engine has been swapped out in
favour of the one used in the Alfa Romeo 8C (which, incidentally is
built by Maserati) that stands at 4.7 litres, although its output is
slightly detuned from the Alfa to 440 horsepower. This should help to
drop the GranTurismo’s 0-100 km/h time to well under five seconds.

And
here’s where things get interesting. Where the Quattroporte Automatic
and the standard GranTurismo both feature six-speed ZF automatics that
are mounted right behind the engine, the transmission in the S model is
completely different in type and layout. Like the old Coupe/Spyder, the
S features a six-speed transaxle located at the rear of the vehicle for
improved balance and weight distribution. It’s electronically linked to
the gearshift lever.

Visually, Maserati has kept the
differences between regular and S models very subtle. To provide extra
stopping power, the GranTurismo S gains new six-piston Brembo front
calipers, new alloy wheels, and as an extra decadent touch to its
occupants, the S gets upholstery that is a combination of Alcantara and
Poltrona Frau leather.