The Maserati GranTurismo Is A Tour De Force
When someone calls and says, “Would you like to drive the new Maserati GT,” there’s only one answer. So without any hesitation, I locked in a date. There are a lot of cars badged ‘GT’, yet few deserve it. This car does. GranTurismo means great drive, and what it means in car circles is a powerful engine in a car that you’d be happy taking for a long excursion—a car to go on tour in. This is it – The GT.
Maserati is one of the oldest Italian manufacturers. Now part of the Stellantis Group, it has shared history with many of the great Italian marques. Every Maserati is special, yet the GranTurismo might almost be the most Maserati of Maseratis, with effortless sophistication, comfort, power—a tour de force of ‘how awesome can we make a car’.
The GranTurismo is a hauntingly gorgeous car – unmistakably a Maserati. Its large surfaces and defined lines meet with artisan curves to produce nothing short of automotive sculpture. The black forged 20 and 21 inch rims complete the picture with an understated promise of power.
The interior is exquisite, from the ample leather and alcantara to the milled metal and delightful details – It oozes sophistication without a sense of flashiness. There are four displays total: a subtle heads-up, beautiful and configurable driver’s instruments, dedicated ventilation panel, and the main screen for media and vehicle settings and all that jazz. Wireless CarPlay integrates effortlessly with your phone. It’s a recipe for the car – effortless. Seats are of the highest quality and seemingly infinitely adjustable. Of course, if you build a GT, it has to be incredibly comfortable. Front seats and rear passengers are spoiled with their own air control and device charging. A 2 + 2, the two at the back don’t have a ton of leg room, so your passengers want to be fairly petite. A subtle Italian flag adorns the sculptural air vent. All internal surfaces apart from the screens are soft, meaning that sound is controlled; a very enjoyable cabin area. The dual-function rear vision mirror gives you a real mirror and/or a screen. They each have their benefits, and I like both.
Three models are available, all AWD with the same interior trim: the GranTurismo Modena, Trofeo, and the electric Folgore. The Modena packs the 3L V6 engine, pushing out 490 HP, for 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Then there’s the one we drove: Trofeo, also a V6 3.0 L, amped to 550 HP, hitting 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. And electric fans rejoice, the Folgore is on its way, boasting 761 HP, rocketing from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds. It’s interesting to note that the GT is a rear biased AWD, meaning that most of the time you’re driving a rear-wheel-drive sports car, and the front axle only turns on when ultimate traction is required, which it might be if you deploy all the power.
Despite all having fearsome power plants, GT is very approachable and easy to drive. Comfort mode is pliable around town, making for a large car that effortless to maneuver. Crank up GT mode and it becomes more focused for longer trips. Select Sport or Track, and get the engine howling, and you’re in for a huge treat. The more you use the twin-turbo, three-liter Nettuno engine, the better it gets. Shared in differing tunes with Grecale and MC20, the mill is fabulous. A growly responsiveness at low revs, it changes character halfway through the range and becomes an absolute out-and-out sports engine. It’s a pleasure to work. It delivers very supercar acceleration without a hint of wheel spin. But this car is not really about that. GT by name and GT by nature. It’s a large, comfortable car with never-ending power. It handles well, yet you do not forget that this GT Trofeo is a solid 1795 kilograms.
My tour was limited by traffic, but it was a tour, and I took all kinds of roads, from suburban to highway to mountain byway, and in all circumstances it performed beautifully. Engineers have packed the engine behind the front axle, meaning this is a front mid-engine car, and only on the tightest, bumpiest (non GT) back roads did I manage to overpower the back end a little. However, the front end was always locked to the pavement in confidence-inspiring pointiness. On the return leg of my grand tour, I simply turned on the radar cruise control, turned up the tunes on the astonishing Sonus Faber sound system, and relaxed as I headed home. I was very impressed with the cabin of course, especially the headroom. I’m a hat wearer so while not tall, I do appreciate space above me! What you can also do is use the ample luggage space. A true grand tourer, this easily accommodates two large suitcases, plus everything else you might need for a weekend or even a week away. Golf clubs, skis, what have you. No problem.
The Maserati Gran Turismo is overall an impressive machine, something drivers and passengers will love, and certainly bystanders appreciate. It doesn’t shout, “Look at me! Look at me!”, it’s far too sophisticated for all that. It’s a car that rewards the driver and smooth consistent driving. And when you’re on a grand tour, who wouldn’t want that?
