Tested: Maserati GranTurismo Sport

(January 2013)

With some cars it is love at first sight, with others a little ‘less. The day Maserati introduced the GranTurismo I was happily shocked, just like everyone else. After the “so and so” 3200 GT and the clumsy GranSport, it seemed that the Trident had found the secret ingredient that thirty and forty years ago was not missing at all. Finally, an elegant and sporty Maserati, again and at the same time, not a sort of plastic machine that would have left some pieces around the corner. Of course, similarities with the Aston Martin DB9 can pose as a problem to the potential buyer, but one that chooses the first certainly would not take the second: it is a visceral thing, implanted within you without even knowing the reason why. And of course I am not exempt from this prejudicial situation and I am one of those that would choose the Aston, perhaps for feeling a bit ‘James Bond, perhaps because I like it most in terms of aesthetics or because I’d love to put a piece of glass in the dash to start the engine, rather than using an old-fashioned key. At the office they asked me to spend a weekend with the new Maserati GranTurismo Sport (year 2013) and I certainly do not refuse, seeing an opportunity to understand more of the big Italian coupe and to add to my test drives abacus another prestigious notch.
It is not the first that I see, obviously, but every time you get close to the GT, it remembers how generous its size is, moreover, the two back seats are not so sacrificed as on certain other sports cars in the same price range, then tt is also quite expendable for using it as a family car. The pitch, width and weight are also significant and could be a handicap to which the Company could have been remedied with the right precautions: the GranTurismo indeed sinned of a too timid cavalry and a lazy gearbox, I hope that this time the roar of the Ferrari V8 won’t be the only thing making me smile, hoping for a more practical and communicative driving style. Outwardly it is a nice car, undeniable; the mouth with the Trident in the middle on display, makes a clear presentation of what the car is, a combination of aggression and that unmistakable Italian style, which leaves no doubt: the GranTurismo Sport, especially thanks to the striking air intakes (borrowed from the more powerful MC Stradale) has serious intentions. For the rest, the line was kept as such, with the exception for some small detail and to a different design of the two tailpipes in the back of the vehicle.

I open the door and sit at the wheel, shutting out a hurried and confusing world: the reception from a light leather cabin is fantastic, finally the seats have been revised and are now much more restraints and with an overall better design, without being too rigid or misplaced for a GT of this class. Instead, what is really out of place are the cheap plastic of the center console and the navigation system software worthy of an old Lada (if they ever had one): buttons are obsolete and move like those of an unpretentious city car, while the screen has graphically really old maps, not suitable for a €100.000 plus car. Sure, these are things that we can ignore, in the name of performance, however paying a similar amount of money, everything should be in the right place, but here it’s not like you would expect. Never mind, I insert the key and give life to the 4.7cc naturally aspirated engine that welcomes me with a crazy roar, almost seeming to wake the whole neighborhood: horsepower has been increased and thus also the maximum torque: 453hp for 520Nm, is it enough to make the GranTurismo Sport a fast car? The gearbox is a 6-speed automatic, and especially when the car is cold, seems a bit ‘lazy: better to keep everything in the sportiest setting, which also opens the valves of the exhaust system, enraging the fantastic sound. I use the paddles behind the steering wheel, which I think are the biggest on the market and this is a positive side, because even when you’re cornering, you are always able to upshift or downshift without going mad looking for them. Talkin’ about performance, the GT Sport is affected by its weight (about 1.780kg) and therefore seems to suffer from an annoying understeer while entering corners at a decent speed, fortunately brakes are very powerful and help to improve the overall drivability, while performance has improved slightly: this Maserati takes about 4.7 seconds from 0-100 kph but seem a little more. Do not be fooled by the melody around you: I had to play with the gearbox on several occasions to get the best out of the engine. A different argument for the top speed of nearly 300 kph, showing how the GranTurismo is definitely better as a grand tourer than a pure sports car. But in the end, is it love or not? € 133,000 are not small amount of coins, even if you bring home a beautiful piece of car, which like every self-respecting Italian product is not without flaws and defects. As long as they are aesthetic ones or components laxity, that could not be a problem, but when performance suffer from this reason, I have to turn up my nose. A very nice car that cries for a more powerful engine and an updated gearbox.

Alex Marrone

MASERATI GRANTURISMO SPORT (2013-)

Layout – front-engined, rear wheel drive

Engine – V8 cylinder 4.7cc

Transmission – 6-speed automatic gearbox

Power – 453 hp / 520 Nm

Weight – 1780 kg

Acceleration – 4,7 sec.

Top Speed – 300 kph