Maserati GranTurismo: New car design preview

While some new cars today are clearly derivatives of pre-existing cars, and others seem to try to reach into the future - too often unsuccessfully - what strikes you as you approach the GranTurismo is that the car is absolutely contemporary in its design. That's not to say that it doesn't borrow styling cues from past Maseratis, because it does. Some working better than others. For example, there's the wide oval grill with its trident logo front and center - well done. There's the just lovely undulating curves of the fenders cresting over the wheel arches - great, classically correct design stuff. But there's also the unfortunate use of the port holes in the front fenders. An example that just doesn't fit in quite as well.

But overall, the big Maserati coupe manages to blend most of these elements into a contemporary shape that has just enough crispness and edginess. It's all very Italian, really.

- A great stance with the wheels exactly where they need to be in relation to the overhangs.
- The occasional out of place detail that somehow works in a way that seems to escape everyone except the Italians.
- And nearly perfect proportions, hampered only by a wheelbase that looks to be a little too long.

Which actually is the only element that I'm not completely sold on. The car betrays the fact that it shares its chassis with it's older, bigger sibling, the Quattroporte - another car with an extremely long wheelbase. Ok, so in this application it's shortened a bit, but I'm afraid the engineers may have put the knife down a bit too soon. The end result being one HUGE car, which also costs it a bit dynamically. But lets not forget, we aren't talking about dynamics here and they have left room for two adults in the back seat.

The fact that I'm not completely in agreement with the GranTurismo's design is not a bad thing. In truth, great design more often than not polarizes opinions. It causes conversation. Sometimes forcing you to look at things in a way that wasn't expected. And in this sense the GranTurismo is indeed molto benne!

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SPECIFICATIONS

Layout - Front engine / Rear wheel drive

Engine
- Type: OHC V8
- Displacement: 4.2 liters
- Valvetrain: 4 valves per cylinder
- Fuel delivery: Multi-point fuel injection
- Block/head: Aluminum/aluminum
- Power (SAE) : 405 hp @ 7100 rpm
- Torque : 340 lbs-ft @ 4750 rpm
- Fuel type: Premium

Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic

Chassis
- Wheelbase: 115.8 in.
- Track: (Front) 62.4 in. (Rear) 62.6 in.
- Curb weight : 4150 lbs.
- Brakes: Four cross-drilled ventilated discs
- ABS with EBD
- Suspension: Double wishbone front and rear independent suspension with coil springs and active gas dampers

Performance
- 0-60 mph : 5.1 sec.
- Top Speed : 177 mph
- Mileage: 13 city / 19 highway

Base Price
- $114,650