To drive the new Maserati Gran Turismo is to surrender yourself to the love and passion its creators built into it. It embodies the technology of a race car blended with a sense of the exquisite, which is so typical of the top of the range cars developed by Pininfarina, global icon of automotive design.
Before starting out on this new model, the company sought the opinions of lovers and owners of supercars. This provided the starting point for the design of a vehicle that would bring together the best of both worlds: the feel and skin tingling excitement of the race track, together with the comfort, safety and cutting edge technology of top of the range cars.
This is what lies behind the Maserati Gran Turismo, placed by its creators in the Sport Cruiser category; due to its size and interior dimensions, it is too big to be considered as the true competition car that was its inspiration. This is borne out in its 4.2 liter, V8 cylinder engine producing 405 HP, built by Ferrari.
This is mated to a completely new transmission system featuring a 6 speed automatic gearbox designed in conjunction with the German company ZF, which has pioneered the development of these latest generation intelligent systems. The gear selector offers the option of manual shift so that the driver can move up or down through the gears as he likes. The same function can be achieved using the steering wheel mounted gear shift paddles, just like the ones used in Formula 1 race cars.
The delicate balance of the Maserati is even further improved by the use of its own Skyhook suspension system, avoiding any diving at the rear under acceleration or similar behavior at the front under braking, ensuring greater comfort and control in both situations. The system also allows firmer suspension settings to be selected at the touch of a button, which also extends the distance between gear shifts. When this feature is de-selected, the car resumes its original suspension settings and shorter shift ratios, with consequent improved fuel consumption and smoother ride.
Maserati have also equipped the Gran Turismo with an extraordinary braking system, featuring large discs just like competition cars but that also provide a high degree of safety under normal driving conditions. They measure an awesome 330mm in diameter, and use four piston front grippers and produce amazing braking power. And naturally the car is also equipped with EBD, the system that electronically distributes the braking power between all four wheels.
These are all race car features. Now we can enter the other world – the world of refinement and style that only Maserati can deliver, and which is immediately evident from the outside, with the car’s aggressive front view and beautifully styled rear with its 96 LED lights providing a high degree of visibility. The interior provides a similar impression, that envelope the driver in an atmosphere that is sumptuous, smooth and luxurious.
The interior has some interesting features that are worth mentioning. These include the six airbags, the ISOFIX anchorage points for mounting child seats and a multimedia sound system exclusively designed for the Gran Turismo by BOSE, including a 30GB memory for storing all your music without the fuss of connecting your iPod or changing CDs.
The steering wheel mounted radio controls are also worth a mention, as are the electronic parking brake, the optional proximity sensors, the gauge that controls the tire pressures and the anti theft system with motion sensor and remote control.
Yet another interesting factor often overlooked is the exclusivity of the vehicle, which tends to increase the price. But what really makes a vehicle exclusive? Firstly, the small numbers made. Maserati for example will only produce 6,000 per year worldwide. Another factor to dwell on is the manufacturing process. The Gran Turismo is assembled by hand. Of course anyone visiting the factory will say that the process involves robots, and this is true. However, these are only used where millimetric precision beyond human capability is required. This detail ensures that the vehicle is built for reliability, safety and longevity.
Another characteristic of a truly exclusive model is the possibility for personalization, and no other European brand beats Officine Maserati in this respect. The suppliers who provide the manufacturing materials also influence exclusivity. In the case of the Gran Turismo, the Italian company Potrona Frau, who make the most exclusive leather furniture in the world, provide the leathers for the interior, smooth to the touch and in a wide range of colors and combinations. The wooden finishes are the same as used by Riva in their classic boats, guaranteeing that they will stay looking pristine just about forever.
So with Maserati, almost anything is possible, including this union between two apparently opposing worlds. If you have both the money and the time to wait, you will certainly be able to drive away one of the 6,000 Gran Turismos that the world’s highways are waiting for. The experience will bear much fruit and gratification, way beyond anything you could imagine.
www.maseratigranturismo.com
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