Maserati Reveals Stunning New GranTurismo at Geneva
Maserati has been picking up its pace recently. It’s just launched its “TridentDiscoveries” CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) program, for used car buyers, and has also introduced the Quattroporte Automatica to much applause. This major step sees one of the world's most enticing sport/luxury sedans get the option of a transmission it's deserved from the very beginning. But it’s now time for the car that we’ve all been waiting for, the GranTurismo, the long-awaited replacement for the quintessential Maserati Coupe/Spyder sports car.
Maserati’s latest is, as usual, a machine full of soul and character. This two-door coupe was penned by Pininfarina’s rapidly rising American star stylist Jason Castriota, who was also responsible for designing the Ferrari P4/5 one-off supercar that surfaced last year. Though exact dimensions have yet to be released, it has been suggested that the new GranTurismo is 6.0 inches shorter than the Quattroporte, with a wheelbase that’s 15.7 inchesshorter as well. This would give the GranTurismo a wheelbase 6.0 inches greater than the current car.
Under the GranTurismo's long, aggressive nose is an engine that's sure to get the heart of any sports car enthusiast beating rapidly. It's the 4.2-liter V8 engine that can currently be found under the hood of the Quattroporte, although it's been tuned to provide an extra nine horsepower. Remember that this isn't merely any old engine from a large luxury sedan, but rather the 4.2-liter V8 is derived from Ferrari's V8.
What’s even more interesting about the new GranTurismo is its gearbox. In the initial press release, the only transmission that Maserati announced was the new automatic, the same six-speeder that it recently launched in the Quattroporte. It was long thought that the GranTurismo would be available with the Cambiocorsa sequential manual for its quick shift action, although due to a lack of information it would appear that it’s being phased out. As the official photographyshows, the automatic is backed up by steering wheel mounted paddles to mimic the F1-style shift action, also optional on the automatic-equipped sedan. To phase out the sequential manual, however, would go against the company's latest decision to carry forward with DuoSelect (the new name for Cambiocorsa) in the sedan. Therefore it makes no sense to offer the sportier transmission in the sedan and not in the sports coupe. So, we should expect the sequential manual option for the upcoming GranSport replacement, if not throughout the line.
One of the benefits to the sequential manual gearbox is that it's mounted at the very back of the car, allowing a front-engined vehicle to have a rear-biased weight distribution, which helps with overall handling characteristics. The ZF automatic, however, is mounted directly behind the engine as in a conventional car. Maserati’s chassis engineers have managed to get around this problem by shifting the vehicle’s internal weight around, so that the car still maintains a rear-biased weight distribution of 49/51. Red painted calipers hint at the stopping power that the car possesses to counter its thoroughbred engine.
Though Maserati is unveiling the GranTurismo in Switzerland, it's going to have crowds murmuring "Che bella machina!" at its latest creation, not to mention having all manufacturers of grand touring sports cars from the Aston Martin to BMW, Jaguar and Porsche in a tizzy.