Maserati GranTurismo MC Corse Concept

Maserati GranTurismo coupe and convertible are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful GT car on the road. This new car, looking for casual observers, as well as lead the GranTurismo. But try to take a closer look and you will know exactly what this car really is. The performance is even more GranTurismo does not look very good at first, like the GranTurismo S are fulfilling the role. The GranTurismo MC S Line Sport limited edition cars to the Middle East is the ante a bit, though. But the real tell-tale signs of the GranTurismo MC Corse race cars that GT4 has the same configuration and settings exhaust spoiler as a spy on the car, while the version here does not have street frontage and the extreme rear splitter / diffuser combinations found in car racing . This may suggest that the road-legal version of the pilot, did not differ with BMW M3 GTS. We’re not sure how that will sit down with the bosses at Ferrari Fiat franchise partners, but it is certainly a welcome idea for us.



Decklid spoiler spying lifted this extraordinary model for a fine race car, however, that we may see only a facelift of the car open. Inaugurated in 2007, the GranTurismo is due to light facelift, but would expect a little exterior changes to all who came – mechanic, a car must remain the same as the current 450-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 continued to power the rear wheels of the car through the automatic transmission.

Maserati GranTurismo S has prime to a higher level of performance with the creation of the GranTurismo MC Concept. Designed as a special track day, it offers a significant change in style that is designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency, without damaging the elegant lines of the original model. Maserati Corse Concept features two large air intakes designed to increase the flow of air from the engine and brakes, air combination of input / output integrated into the bonnet and keep pumped to accommodate the largest indication.
Tested the aerodynamic profile of the extensive and incorporate the new side air vents connected to the side skirts similar to the Nissan GT-R to channel hot air from the engine compartment around the car. Dual exhaust rear door had been integrated into the rear diffuser and spoiler to a much steeper angle to complement the effects of a new front aerodynamic splitter added. Maserati Racing Department engineers almost completely removed all traces of the original interior to save weight and add a FIA approved roll cage, Sparco racing wheel, racing seats and carbon panel and control console.

Corse concept of running a highly tuned version of the 4.7 liter V8 engine from the GranTurismo S, which now develops 510 Nm and 330.9kW to 4750 rpm.

This is achieved by installing a system of high performance air intake is combined with the exhaust system fitted with a catalytic converter type of race.
The end result is a total weight less than 1400 kg and the power to weight ration of less than 4.2 kg / kW.

MASERATI GRANCABRIO

Maserati has taken the GranCabrio convertible to a new level of performance with the new Maserati GranCabrio Sport.

With more power, a faster gearshift and a distinctively aggressive look, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport has given Maserati a harder-edged convertible to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S as the performance flagships of their respective ranges.


Publically unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport combines an upgraded 4.7-litre V8 engine with a 10 horsepower increase to 450 hp and improved fuel economy with the faster MC Auto Shift transmission.


With a 285km/h top speed and a 0-100km/h sprint of just 5.2 seconds, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is brimming with performance and luxury refinements both inside the cabin and underneath its award-winning body panels.


Its six-speed transmission includes a super-fast MC Auto Shift mode and has been developed for the Maserati GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S.


The handling has been enhanced for greater speed, too, with an upgrade and revision of the Skyhook active-suspension system and the adoption of a more-responsive brake package.


Visually, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is characterized by a more-pronounced dynamic look. This look begins with the GranCabrio's distinctive nose and continues with a host of small, perfectly integrated changes throughout the body and the interior.



Exterior Design
Maserati's design team worked to provide a more-aggressive look that sat in harmony with the GranCabrio's critically acclaimed styling.


A series of relatively small upgrades in critical areas have created an integrated, dynamic design that immediately differentiates the Maserati GranCabrio Sport from the rest of the GranCabrio range and identifies it with both the Quattroporte Sport GT S and the GranTurismo S.


It introduces a new colour, Rosso Trionfale - a classic red that pays tribute to the championship-winning Maserati racing cars of the 1950s. It's a colour that highlights the Maserati GranCabrio Sport's strong personality, yet maintains its elegant and slim look.


The strong, distinctive GranCabrio grille receives even more character with a new black colour, while the grille's Maserati Trident receives the red accents that are reserved for the fastest car in each of Maserati's model ranges. These red accents are also found on the Quattroporte Sport GT S and the GranTurismo S.


The headlights now have a black look with white reflectors, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The Shadow line, with its dark look around the base of the window glass, stresses the dramatic look of the car, strengthening its personality and pointing out the sinous lines of the body.


Besides adding to the aggressive style, the side skirts and the corner splitters were developed in the wind tunnel and add significantly to the car's aerodynamic efficiency reducing aerodynamic resistance and improving fuel consumption.


The dynamic look is finished with redesigned 20" Astro-design wheels and a pair of menacing, black oval exhaust tips. The wheels each feature three Tridents and create a lighter look to accentuate the higher performance.


Interior Design
The more-aggressive look is carried over inside the open-topped cabin, with a new seat-face design and drilled aluminium pedals.


The Maserati GranCabrio Sport introduces changes to the gear-shifting system, with Maserati's Active Shifting paddles now standard. The paddles, drawn from the Trofeo racing car, are longer than the standard steering column-mounted paddles and make shifting easier in enthusiastic driving.


The Maserati GranCabrio Sport debuts two new interior colours in rich leather: Bianco Pregiato and Grigio Chrono. Bianco Pregiato is a more-pure white colour than the existing pearl colour and can be used everywhere except the top of the dashboard. Grigio Chrono is a darker grey, developed to complement the new Rosso Trionfale body colour.


To differentiate it further from the standard GranCabrio, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport badge will be positioned on the dashboard in front of the passenger.


While the front passenger seat matches the driver's seat by receiving adjustable lumbar support as standard, all four seats incorporate the new M-Design seat stitching.


This design reflects classical Maserati grille designs and replicates the design in the central seat panel, all crafted with Poltrona Frau's finest leather.


The Trident-embossed headrests can also be enhanced with customized stitching and customers can choose 13 different colours to contrast the leather of the seat.


Engine
The Maserati GranCabrio Sport uses the latest version of Maserati's sonorous, all-alloy 4.7-litre V8, taken straight from the high-performance GranTurismo MC Stradale.


This naturally aspirated engine produces 450 horsepower (331kW) at 7000rpm: that is10hp more than the GranCabrio. It is also rich with torque, with a peak of 510Nm (20Nm more than the GranCabrio) arriving at 4750rpm. Eighty percent of its maximum torque is already available at just 2500rpm.


The performance increases are a result of Maserati's Friction Reduction Program, which has made the Maserati GranCabrio Sport's engine more reactive to the driver's most-nuanced inputs. This program included a revision of the oil sump's fluid dynamics and the application of a Diamond-Like Coating to the tappets and the super-finished camshaft lobes.


Besides added power, torque and responsiveness, the Friction Reduction Program has lowered the Maserati GranCabrio Sport's fuel consumption by six percent to a combined total of 14.5 litres/100km.


The new exhaust tips also help the Maserati GranCabrio Sport to give a richer engine sound when the bypass valves are activated. The valves are always open in Manual-Sport mode, while they are open above 2500rpm in Auto-Sport mode.


This exhaust system allows Maserati to hit its target of improving the car's performance and also give its customers access to a new open air musical theatre and a rich sound experience.


However, the valves are closed in Normal mode, giving the driver and passengers a quieter ride.


Transmission

The Maserati GranCabrio Sport is the first Maserati to match the upgraded, 450hp version of the 4.7-litre engine with the day-to-day luxury of a fully automatic transmission.


This six-speed transmission includes the super-fast MC Auto Shift mode and has been developed for the Maserati GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S.


The MC Auto Shift mode contains a launch-control mode and is active in both Manual Sport and Automatic Sport modes to provide faster gearshift times and to automatically "blip" the throttle during down-shifts.


To operate the MC Start Strategy (launch-control mode), the driver turns off the MSP in Auto Sport mode, then holds the brake pedal while pressing the accelerator. The driver should reach the optimum revs for a fast start (between 2300-2500rpm), and then simultaneously release the brake pedal and press the accelerator pedal completely. This manouvre is only recommended for use on a race track or in closed conditions of complete safety.


Like the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the MC Auto Shift gives the driver even-greater engagement by holding gears in the Manual Sport mode, even when the engine reaches its rev limiter, and introducing a digital in-dash display to indicate the ideal gear-shift timing.


The transmission gives the driver five distinct operating modes: Auto-Normal, Manual-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Sport and Ice.


Chassis and Handling
The handling has received significant attention, with a new, sportier tune of the Skyhook active-suspension system and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.


The upgraded "Sport Skyhook" uses acceleration sensors to register wheel and chassis movement. It sends this data to a central processor, which also analyzes the road conditions and the driving style and instantly and precisely regulates the dampers to suit any situation.


With the Maserati GranCabrio Sport, the Skyhook system received upgraded management software and dampers to give a sharper focus on handling, grip and balance, while even the springs and anti-roll bars have been upgraded.


Derived from the GranTurismo's high-strength steel monocoque architecture, the GranCabrio and GranCabrio Sport feature aluminium structural reinforcements beneath the floor for extra rigidity at the cost of only 100kg compared to the GranTurismo S.


Attached to the front of this architecture are aluminium wishbones with forged aluminium hub carriers and struts, aluminium gas dampers and springs, while at the rear adds a radius bar for each wheel to control toe-in.


The changes to the brakes, with grooved, ventilated and drilled discs on all four wheels, have targeted a sporty, responsive and consistent feeling for the driver.


The grooves have been designed to keep the brake pads clean by avoiding dust build-up, which can reduce braking performance, while the drilled holes ensure the uniform wear of the disc and the pads for long-term consistency. This all helps the GranCabrio Sport to stop in just 35 metres from 100km/h.


Optional equipment
The Maserati GranCabrio Sport will have the MC Sport Line packages available immediately at its launch, including interior and exterior carbon fibre features. For example it is possible to change the front splitter to carbon-fibre, while the side skirts are also available in black.


The Astro-design, 20-inch wheels are also available in Shiny Anthracite Grey to create a darker, more-menacing look.


It is also possible to change the body-coloured waist line around the cabin from black (Shadow line) to the same Chrome-line that is standard on the GranCabrio.


The Chrome-line can also be fitted to the door handles, the capote mouldings and the exhaust tips.


Maserati GranCabrio Sport Specifications
Body: High-strength steel monocoque, under-body aluminium cross bracing
Layout: Front-mid-engine, rear-drive
Engine: 4.7-litre all-alloy V8
Power: 450hp (331kW) @ 7000rpm
Torque: 510Nm @ 4750rpm
Capacity: 4691cc
Bore x stroke: 94mm x 84.5mm
Compression ratio: 11.25:1
Maximum engine speed: 7200 rpm
Oil delivery: Wet sump
0-100km/h acceleration: 5.2 seconds
Top speed: 285km/h
Fuel consumption
Urban: 22.5 litres/100km
Extra-urban: .8 litres/100km
Combined: 14.5 litres/100km
CO2 emissions: 337 grams/km
Transmission: Six-speed automatic (ZF 6HP26) with MC Auto Shift
Ratios
First: 4.171:1
Second: 2.340:1
Third: 1.521:1
Fourth: 1.143:1
Fifth: 0.867:1
Sixth: 0.691:1
Reverse: 3.403:1
Final Drive: 3.73:1
Differential: Asymmetric limited-slip (25% in traction, 45% in release) with bevel drive
Steering: Engine-speed sensitive power steering, rack-and-pinion.
Turning circle: 12.3 metres
Length: 4881mm
Width
with mirrors: 2056mm
without mirrors: 1915mm
Height: 1353mm
Wheelbase: 2942mm
Front track: 1586mm
Rear track: 1590mm
Front overhang: 873mm
Rear overhang: 1066mm
Boot/trunk capacity: 173 litres
Fuel capacity: 75 litres
Dry weight (EU): 1887kg
Kerb weight (EU): 1980kg
Weight distribution
roof closed: 49% front/51% rear
roof open: 48%/52%
Brakes: 360mm front discs, 330mm rear discs
Tyres: 245/35 ZR20 (front); 285/35 ZR20 (rear)

MASERATI GRANCABRIO

Pricing and market
This is the new and very stunning — Maserati GranCabrio, the open-top version of the potent GranTurismo coupe, which goes on sale in Australia in April for $338,000. That's $19,500 premium over the hardtop but that hasn't deterred 20 buyers who have already put their hand up for one. And numbers will be limited. Australia's allocation for the year is just 43 cars.

Maserati has had cabriolets before, but the Spyders have all been two seaters. This is the brand's first four-seater and it's aimed directly at the American market Maserati gambling its prestigious brand combined with the extra seating capacity will prove a marketing winner.


In Australia, true four-seaters, as against two plus two, are thin on the ground but Maserati is up against models from Benz, BMW and Jaguar for the up-market ‘fun in the sun’ dollar.  Maserati is counting on pulling power of the cabrio — the third model in its lineup behind the coupe and Quattroporte sedan — to drive it out of the global financial crisis to add even more sex appeal to the famous Italian brand.


It does so in spades. This is adult-rated car porn; a cabrio to lust for. A car that should equally appeal to both sexes but for different reasons.


It has performance, and it has style.  But the cabrio nearly didn't make it to market so early in 2010. Maserati's marketing director Massimo Farao hinted to Carsguide that the company, which has been regaining ground after years of financial losses, had considered stalling the launch because of the worldwide economic crisis.


"Sure we looked at it (delaying the launch) but decided to go ahead and introduce this new model. The global situation had a very serious impact on our markets but, with careful planning, we finished the year in the black. It was the right decision; the GranCabrio adds a third model alongside the Quattroporte and the GT to round out our lineup," he says.


While it may seem an easy task to create the GranCabrio by simply chopping the roof off the Turismo, Farao says the task was not that simple. "We had to do a lot of work to strengthen the car because the cabin is so long," he says. "We did a lot of strengthening around the sills and under the car and we kept the weight difference (over the coupe) down to less than 100kg, which if you look at our rivals is a remarkable achievement."



Fabric roof
Defying modern trends, Maserati opted for a three-layered fabric roof instead of a folding metal lid, although the mechanism itself is very similar to that used by Ferrari in its California. The decision Farao says was made on tradition, style and practicalities. The soft roof allows for proper four seats and luggage space, albeit it's limited. Opening and closing the top can be done on the move up to 30km/h, taking 20 seconds plus another eight seconds to open or close the windows.


Drivetrain and performance
The GranCabrio shares all of the underpinnings of the coupe, including the 4.7-litre V8 (323kW/490Nm) from the GT-S version and the six-speed ZF transmission from base model GT. It misses out on Maserati's lightening quick electro-actuated semi-automatic gearbox which can make gear changes in just 100 milliseconds. It's a safe bet however the high performance gearbox will feature in an S version of the cabrio which is believed to be under development and due in a year's time.


And like the Turismo there is a downside: the V8 engine is thirsty at 23.9l/100km in the city and averaging 15.4l/100km (combined cycle) for a mix of urban and highway running. Nor is it clean and green, producing 358g of CO2 per kilometre. It's an area Maserati says is working on to improve for the next generation of cars, expected after 2012.


While the lighter coupe is quicker over the standing 100km/h dash at 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 295km/h, the cabrio shouldn't belittled. It's only marginally slower, at 5.3 seconds to 100km/h, and tops out at 283km/h with the roof closed and 274km/h with it open.


Body and styling

At 2942mm, the new Maserati has one of the longest wheelbases on the market and uses the space to provide a luxurious Italian leather-bound. But it's not all good news. While Maserati says you can get two sets of golf clubs in the boot, the luggage space is compromised by the folding rag top. The same top severely reduces visibility to the rear quarter and rear headroom is going to be tight for anyone over 6ft.
The cabrio's sensuous styling with its sleek profile is all thanks to Pininfarina, while Maserati also worked with Bose to design the audio system, tailored for open air driving.


This cabrio also comes packed with safety features including multiple airbags, traction and stability control, the latest generation of anti-lock brakes with brake assist and a patented rollover protection system the hoops are electronically fired in less than 190 milliseconds. There's also an elaborate alarm system designed to deter thieves from pinching items from the cabin if the roof is down.


Driving
Who would be mad enough to launch a cabriolet in winter. The Italians, who want their new model ready for summer, that's who.  To set the picture: The first snowstorm in 25 years blankets Rome as it spreads across Europe. Blocked roads, cancelled flights, stranded passengers sleeping at airports, chaos on the cobblestoned streets, Romans building miniature snowmen on the backs of their scooters. It's beak and freezing and we can't drive the car.


The Maserati team take it on the chin. "Hey, we have built a beautiful car for summer," one quipped. And they have.  The following day it takes me exactly 11 seconds to make my mind up about that. That's the time it takes to circle the boulevard cruiser. That's twice as long as it takes for the cabrio to hit 100km/h from a standing start.


Hey, this is supposed to be a cruiser not a bruiser, but a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds for a car which weighs in just under two tonnes says Maserati means business. This is no show pony and the ride and handling show Maserati's development work in producing a car which soaks up the bumps but also allows flat cornering has worked a treat.


Despite its stunning looks, there is no hiding the fact the GranCabrio is a big lump of a car. This is a high flying four seater first class lounge on wheels. But any cabrio is always going to be a compromise. Removing the roof creates enormous engineering problems to maintain rigidity, while storage of the folding room is going to rob luggage space. But Maserati has done a good job here.


The rear pews are tight but comfortable and there is some boot space which is a bonus and there's little in the way of buffeting indeed the cabrio is so well protected the optional wind blocker is not needed..  The GranCabrio is two cars in one. Left in its normal settings it is a very capable cruiser. Push the sport button next to the steering wheel and it's a whole new ball game.


Sport means the suspension becomes stiffer, the gear changes are quicker and, beyond 3000rpm, the V8 get a much deeper and louder note thanks to a small gate being opened in the exhaust which allows a free flow of gases, partly bypassing the muffler.  The engine note is nothing short of breathtaking.


Deep, sonorous, sexy and mind-blowing with the roof down.  Like it. No. I'm in love with it.


Maserati Grancabrio
Price: $338,000
Engine: 4.7-litre V8, 323kW @ 7000rpm, 490Nm @4750rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with sequential shift
Performance: 0-100km/h 5.3s. Top speed 283km/h (roof up) 274km/h (roof down)

Dimensions: kerb weight 1980mm , length 4881mm, width 1915mm, height 1353mm, wheelbase 2942mm, turning circle 10.7m, boot capacity 173l.
Fuel Economy: 15.4l/100km (claimed, European test); 358 CO2 g/km

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE SPORT GT S

Introduction
The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S sets another milestone in terms of sportiness in the high performance luxury sedan segment. Conceived and developed as "a real driving machine in the guise of a luxury sedan", the Quattroporte Sport GT S is the ultimate expression of Maserati's sportiness in the Quattroporte range. 

The uniqueness of the car in its segment is denoted by some important features.


First of all, it truly offers sporty handling thanks to a suspension set-up which further enhances the Quattroporte's already optimal dynamic balance. The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is targeted at those customers who demand the unparalleled handling of a thoroughbred sports car even in a luxury sedan. 


Secondly, it features the latest evolution of sporty automatic gear-shifting software, designed to win over committed and demanding drivers, seeking an exciting driving experience.


Last but not least, it is equipped with a sports exhaust which, by means of the "Sport" button, makes it possible to deploy the full power of the engine and produce a deeply enveloping and throaty exhaust note. 



Powertrain overview
The technical changes to the new Quattroporte Sport GT S compared with the Quattroporte S concern four areas: the engine mapping, the gearshift management software, the suspension set-up and the exhaust system.


1. V8 4.7 liter engine power is increased to 323kW (433 hp) thanks to the adoption of a sport exhaust system that allows the vehicle's power to be fully exploited;
2. specific gear-shifting software with new features designed to increase driving enjoyment;
3. front and rear suspension featuring single-rate dampers, stiffer springs and lower ride height
4. sports exhaust controlled by pneumatic valves for a deep, throaty and captivating sound enhanced by large twin-oval tailpipes.


Engine
The Quattroporte Sport GT S's engine has been developed to favor maximum power output. 
Emission levels conform to Euro5 regulations. 


Main technical data:
• Displacement: V8 4,691 cc
• Power: 323 kW (433hp) @ 7,000 rpm
• Torque: 490 Nm ( 361 lb/ft) @ 4,750 rpm
• Max engine speed: 7,200 rpm


Exhaust system
• "NORMAL" MODE – FLAPS CLOSED
In "Normal" mode, the valves are closed forcing the exhaust gases along a long route so that they lose their energy and are emitted with very little noise, thus facilitating on board acoustic comfort. 
• "SPORT" MODE – FLAPS OPENED
When the "Sport" button is pressed, the valves which were initially closed, open up through a pneumatic control and the flow of exhaust gases are channeled down a route that leads directly to the outside, providing enthusiasts with a distinctive sound, giving voice to the deep and throaty V8. 


Transmission
The new Quattroporte Sport GT S is equipped with an automatic six-speed transmission developed with sportiness in mind thanks to the employment of a new and specific gear-shifting strategy: the MC-Auto Shift. Introduced for the first time on this model, it represents the ultimate evolution of the automatic transmission software in terms of sportiness and features specific characteristics which further enhance driving pleasure.
• "MC AUTO SHIFT" mode: 
Some of the car's features are exclusively dedicated to those people with an adequate driving experience, and recommended only for the use of the car on the race track and in a situation of complete safety.


In Sport Automatic mode the gearshift technology enables sporty driving. Moreover, in order to optimize standing starts, the automatic gearbox offers the MC Start Strategy, which functions with the MSP off. The driver should press and hold the brake pedal, then start pressing the accelerator and releases the brake pedal only when the optimum revs are reached (between 2300-2500 rpm). This fast start strategy, recommended only for use on the race track and in a situation of complete safety, reduces the 0 to 100 Km/h (0-62 mph) time from 5.3 seconds to 5.1 seconds.
• "MANUAL MODE": 
In manual mode the gear-shift is directly controlled by the driver, allowing the engine to reach its top speed.
In order to allow the driver to find the optimum gear-shifting point, the car features a digital "rpm indicator" on the dashboard display (same as on GranTurismo S). Moreover, the paddle shifts (Active Shifting), integrated with the steering column, present an ergonomic layout (same as on GranTurismo S) with effective results in on-the-limit driving conditions on winding roads. 
• "MANUAL SPORT"/"AUTO SPORT" mode: 
When down-shifting, the throttle blip is matched with the SPORT-mode exhaust sound to facilitate maximum driving enjoyment. 


Handling
The Quattroporte Sport GT S features a sporty passive damping suspension system designed to further enhance the Quattroporte S's already state-of-the-art dynamic balance.


The new suspension set-up reduces the front and the rear ground clearance. In addition, the spring stiffness has been increased by 30% at the front and 10% at the rear.


These new features facilitate
• Greater agility when cornering and greater steering wheel responsiveness;
• more grip when exiting corners;
• improved cornering stability.


Style


Exterior
At the front, the sportier, more "aggressive" look of the new Quattroporte Sport GT S is expressed by the new black grille with concave vertical fins featuring the Trident logo with red accents, typical of the sportier versions of Maserati models. It is also further enhanced by the new headlights, in metallic titanium finish.


The Trident logo with red accents also features on the "C" pillar.


The side and the rear of the car feature a new "shadow line", which includes black finishing around the doors, body-colored door handles and black twin oval exhaust pipes.


New 20" Multi Trident Silver wheels are fitted as standard, together with red brake calipers and Dual Cast technology brakes. 


The exterior body color range includes all 19 colors available for the Quattroporte and the Quattroporte S.


As an option, dark chrome 20" Multi Trident wheels are available, as well as dark chrome 20" seven-spoke wheels and the "Chrome Line", which includes chrome door line, chrome handles and chrome exhaust.


Interior
The sporty look of the interior features new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara® and leather upholstery. 


The standard trim is the new Titantex: designed to further enhance the car's sporty characteristics, this "titanium colored" composite material, provides a light colored trim with a remarkable 3-D effect. The dashboard trim incorporates the "Quattroporte Sport GT S" script.


The steering wheel features the Maserati "Active Shifting" paddles (longer for improved ergonomics).


The new additional digital rpm display on the dashboard indicates when to change gears. 


The interior configuration range features 10 leather colors (Avorio, Sabbia, Cuoio, Marrone Corniola, Grigio Ghiaccio, Grigio Medio, Blu Navy, Rosso Corallo, Bordeaux, Nero) which can be combined with 5 Alcantara® shades (Beige, Pearl Beige, Grigio, Blu Trofeo, Nero).


Among the new interior options clients can choose: 
• Aluminium sports pedals 
• Full leather upholstery, at no extra cost. 
• Carbon-fiber interior trim 
• Head lining in Alcantara® in a choice of five colors: Beige, Pearl Beige, Grigio, Blu Trofeo, Nero


Technical Specifications*
*US Specifications on separate document 


ENGINE Quattroporte Sport GT S 
Displacement 4,691 cm3
Bore 94 mm
Stroke 85 mm
Compression Ratio 11 : 1 
Maximum Power 323 kW (440 CV) 
Engine speed at maximum power output 7,000 rpm
Peak torque 490 Nm
Engine speed at peak torque 4,750 rpm
Max engine speed 7,200 rpm


PERFORMANCE Quattroporte Sport GT S 
Max speed 285 Km/h 
0-100 Km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration 5.1* s
Stopping distance 100-0 Km/h (62-0 mph) 35 m


FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS Quattroporte Sport GT S 
Urban cycle 23.95 l/100 Km
Extra-urban cycle 10.91 l/100 Km
Combined cycle 15.71 l/100 Km
CO2 emissions – combined cycle 365 g/km

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS Quattroporte Sport GT S 
Length 5,097 mm
Width 1,895 mm
Height 1,423 mm
Wheelbase 3,064 mm
Front track 1,582 mm
Rear track 1,595 mm
Front overhang 891 mm
Rear overhang 1,142 mm
Turning circle 12.3 m 
Boot capacity 450 L 
Fuel tank capacity 90 l
Dry weight 1,880 Kg
Kerb weight 1,990 Kg
Weight distribution 49% front. ; 51 % rear. 
Tires 245/35 – 295/30 ZR 20 


* with MC Start Strategy

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE S

Maserati has tampered with the Quattroporte, a sedan that inspires visceral, carnal automotive lust wildly out of proportion with its size and door count. Perhaps fearing cries of "blasphemy!" the factory proffered these historic precedents: DaVinci's do-over of his "Virgin of the Rocks" masterpiece and Henri Matisse's reinterpretation of "Le Luxe."

Well, okay, in that context, we might forgive Pininfarina for extending the nose 1.4 in. and the tail by 0.4 in. and giving it a larger grille with vertical slats (chromed to distinguish the new S model) to strengthen its resemblance to the GranTurismo. It's also incorporated new bi-Xenon and LED lighting and expanded the already staggering array of interior trim choices to 10 leather colors with 11 piping hues and myriad woods or lacquers from which to choose. Other interior upgrades include new cluster graphics, reshaped seats and a new multifunction wood and leather steering wheel with sporty thumb rests. We can certainly forgive the infusion of 25 extra horses and 22 lb-ft of torque that come with the S model's half-liter-larger V-8. If you take umbrage at these aesthetic amendments, you'll surely embrace the quantum improvement in ergonomics brought by Bose's new multimedia/nav system, standard on base and S models (only these two trim levels are offered; the outgoing Executive model's many extravagances are now optional on either).

Still need convincing? Take an S for a blast along any twisty, hilly road with a bit of slow-moving traffic to overtake and you'll never look back. Everything wonderful about the current Q'porte (now the best-selling Maserati of all time, with 15,000 units delivered) is still here, from the high-hosannas engine note and smooth-shifting ZF automatic to the Ferrariesque steering, braking, and neutral handling-but it's all espresso-caffeinated. The new red-headed 4.7L V-8 (base 4.2s are blue) fattens the torque curve significantly from 2000 to 4500 rpm and the power curve from 6000 to 7000 revs. At least a little of that added oomph comes from a new "perforated foil" catalyst design that allows exhaust to flow more homogeneously over the precious metals with significantly reduced backpressure. The Skyhook adaptive dampers are firmer in normal and sport modes and a new valve design improves their frequency response. Bigger front rotors (see Technical Highlights) on the Brembo brake system easily erase the extra momentum the engine so quickly gathers, and the larger 19-in. Pirellis (245/40 front and 285/35 rear) deliver that extra thrust with no smoking or fishtailing on dry pavement, even with the stability controls off.


Inherently great handling attributable to the Quattroporte's 49/51-percent front/rear weight distribution has always made this car feel more agile than its size suggests, and the S-model enhancement make it seem nimbler still-on a par with the far lighter Jaguar XJR, but with a far more stirring engine note. So intoxicating is this sound that you'll find it flat impossible to think about carbon footprints, gas prices, or dwindling oil reserves during a rush to the 7200-rpm redline. These sound frequencies compel unrepentant hooliganism that leads to paddle-shifted overtaking of even fast-moving cars. $124K will buy a lot of great sedans with better resale and JD Power stats, but none will make you look or feel as fabulous as this one does.


Technical Highlights
Dual-cast front rotors
Many performance cars today feature composite rotors with a cast-iron friction surface fixed to a much lighter aluminum hub, but most use a system of pins to join the dissimilar materials. The Brembo/Maserati approach, which made its world-production debut on the Quattroporte Sport GTS model, is quite different. Here, the iron rotor is cast with eight "spokes" that extend inward toward the aluminum hub, which is cast in a separate operation encapsulating the iron spokes. This design saves as much weight as the pinned designs (the Quattroporte S's new 14-in. front rotors end up weighing the same as the base car's 13-in. all-steel rotors), but costs far less to produce.


Low-risk deployment passenger airbag
The new Quattroporte's passenger frontal airbag is designed to deploy without harming a child while protecting heavier than average occupants. The two-stage design senses what's hitting it and deploys the second stage or blows its vents as needed to provide the appropriate level of cushioning. The dividend for those who don't crash into anything is the elimination of the unsightly gap around the old airbag door that was necessary to accommodate bags with different deployment rates for different markets. Because this system doesn't require a passenger-weight sensor on the seat, U.S. customers can now order the seatback tables (a load on these tables would have altered the sensor's reading before).


Bose Multimedia System

The Bose/Maserati approach to controlling lots of functions with a minimal number of buttons draws inspiration from the traditional car radio, which placed a volume knob on the left and a tuning knob on the right, both of which have a secondary knob behind them. The concentric knobs on the right will tune the radio frequency, but also serve as a multifunction controller. Six buttons above the screen tune preset stations, while the six below the screen bring up menus for radio, digital media, navigation, or phone. The knobs on the right control functions from there, and the screen graphics are keyed to the knob's rotation. The logic is such that with a brief orientation and a few minutes' fiddling new users should be able to perform most functions with ease.

MASERATI GRANTURISMO S

Looks
The Maserati GranTurismo S made a big impact on the Auto Trader team when it arrived for its test drive. Everyone loved the looks, which are pretty much everything anyone expects from an Italian supercar, or as one impressed onlooker exclaimed: “it’s the Bat Car!”.

Combining look-at-me features including seven spoke 20-inch trident-inspired alloys with spadefuls of style isn’t necessarily an easy act to pull off but the Maserati GranTurismo S does it. It also features chrome-trimmed side vents, red-painted Brembo brakes, oval section exhaust pipes you can fit an arm in, black headlights new-design side skirts, boot-integrated rear spoiler and of course that gaping grille with the iconic Maserati badge.


Looks inside
The class continues into the car with electric assist on the doors giving that touch of luxury. Once in front of the three-spoked steering wheel the first thing you notice is what’s missing, with “R” button and “1” buttons instead of a conventional gear stick. The black fabric roof lining adds to the feeling this is very much a driver’s car of serious intent and the displays dominated by a shift indicator are clear and easy to read. The trident-embossed headrests look the part too.



Practicality
The Maserati GranTurismo S is a two door coupe with useable rear seats. The boot may require some thoughtful packing with just 260-litres available.


Ride and Handling
The transaxle layout combines a front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive with the weight distributed 47 per cent over the front axle and 53 per cent over the rear. It features the same suspension layout as the regular GranTurismo. However, vehicle roll has been reduced by ten per cent as a result of modified springs, bars and dampers. The car is certainly comfortable enough for long journeys, even over poor surfaces, while a variety of settings detailed in the Perfomance section below helps deliver an engaging drive when that’s what is required.


Performance
The Maserati GranTurismo S is powered by a 440hp V8 4.7-litre power train, following an increase in displacement from the 4.3-litre engine which powers the Maserati GranTurismo. This takes the car from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 183mph.

Press the Sport button to open two pneumatic valves fitted close to the two rear silencers and generate what Maserati describes as “a distinctive resonance”, or what we would call “one helluva roar”. The Sport setting also increases available power output, accelerates shift speed and adjusts the damper settings.


Kick downs are impressive. The smooth six-speed automatic gearbox can also be controlled by paddles integrated with the steering column. There are six possible settings to play with in all Manual Normal, Manual Sport, Manual Sport in MC-Shift (in which shift phases are partially overlapped to make them even faster), Auto Normal, Auto Sport and Ice. These provide a satisfying range of set-ups to accommodate a spectrum of driving needs.


Running Costs
Car tax falls in the top bracket and ownership will enable you to get on first name terms with the petrol station staff. Average fuel consumption is 17.01mpg. CO2 emissions are 387g/km.


Reliability
The Automatic version of this car was launched in 2008 and no problems have come to light as yet. The finish is all you would expect from an £88,000 car, there is a strong sense of quality inside and out.


Safety
The Maserati Stability Programme is there to help keep you out of trouble, though it can be turned off for track action. Brembo brakes come as standard and there are six airbags.


Equipment
Standard equipment includes: 20-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, CD/radio with satnav and a 30GB hard drive, in fact most of the features described here. Options include a variety of finishes ranging from metallic paint at £540 to pearlescent paint at £4,485.


X-Factor

We love the engine noise but all in all it’s got to be looks. This is a car which says: “I like driving and I’ve got taste” (before being drowned out by the sound of its own engine).


Key facts
Model tested: Maserati GranTurismo S V8 Automatic 2dr
On the road price: £88,000
Price range: £78,210 – £88,000
Date tested:  June 2009
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

MASERATI GRANTURISMO

The 2008 Maserati GranTurismo ranks 4 out of 4 Exotic Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 9 published reviews and test drives of the Maserati GranTurismo, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Maserati GranTurismo exhibits superb handling dynamics, jaw-dropping body style, and a luxurious interior. Still, reviewers contend that for its class and price range, it should offer a more in terms of performance, comfort and convenience features. Overall, it ranks near the bottom of its class.


The 2008 Maserati GranTurismo's most impressive characteristics are its sleek design and smooth handling dynamics. It's a car that people buy, not because they fall in love with its performance numbers, but because they fall in love with its style. 



The GranTurismo isn't the right car for someone looking for pure performance.  Yes, it offers blistering acceleration and handles hairpin corners with ease compared to the average sports car, but it actually trails most exotic cars in those tasks -- and its brakes take a beating in the press.


"The GranTurismo has to be one of the smoothest cars on the road, in more ways than one," says Car and Driver . "It is not the fastest, smartest, or best value on the market, but the GranTurismo has panache in abundance."

The 2008 GranTurismo features a 405-horsepower V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission with manumatic shifting.


Performance
Test drivers find that the GranTurismo's power and handling dynamics allow it to easily conquer twisted roadways. One test driver even recorded a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. AutoWeek  writes, "The new GranTurismo is the perfect car in which to drive fast over the Passo di Costalunga in the dramatic Italian Dolomites with your mistress or, as the case may be, concubine, boy-toy, secretary, whatever (we had none of those, only some guy from some other magazine)." Still, in its highly competitive class, the GranTurismo ranks near the bottom for performance.


Exterior
Auto writers find the GranTurismo to be both sleek and sexy. "It is Coke-bottle slim around the waist, with a neatly detailed, curvaceous rear end complemented by a sculptured front with trademark portholes and a big-mouth grille that recalls Maserati's 1957 3500GT," writes Automobile Magazine . "In terms of head-turning ability, the long, low, and wide GranTurismo gives away nothing to the Ferrari 599GTB." Still, the GranTurismo's exterior design ranks in the middle of its class.


Interior
Though the Maserati GranTurismo is criticized for its uncomfortable seats and lack of standard convenience features, it receives accolades for its overall fit and finish. "The other cars don't look like the GranTurismo, and the interior's sumptuous hand-stitched surfaces make the others' seem more commonplace," reports Car and Driver . Regardless, the GranTurismo's interior ranks near the bottom of its class.


Safety

The 2008 GranTurismo has not been crash tested by the federal government , but features an impressive list of active and passive safety features, including a parking distance sensor and multi-stage deployment front air bags


Reliability
Maserati offers insurance coverage and 24-hour roadside assistance .

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE SPORT GT

Few car companies can get away with inviting journalists to fly halfway around the world to spend a couple of days driving what is essentially a tarted-up two-year-old model. But when the car company’s name ends in “i” and the invitation is to visit Modena, Italy, well, you go.

But first, some background. Maserati introduced its top-of-the-line Quattroporte to much critical acclaim nearly two years ago (“Four the Italian Way,” March 29, 2004). The elegant four-door (hence the name Quattroporte) shape from Pininfarina exudes the sexiness one expects from a car with an Italian lineage. Beneath the hood beats a 4.2-liter V8 built at the Ferrari shop down the road in Maranello. So as far as Italian street creds go, the Quattroporte is loaded.


But a lot has changed for Maserati since the car’s launch. Maserati was joined at the hip with Ferrari when the Quattroporte was introduced. While the company still has a strong relationship with the Prancing Horse, Maserati is now functioning on its own beneath the large umbrella of the Fiat group. Two years ago Maserati had a technology-sharing agreement with Audi, but that has gone by the wayside, too. Maserati is now working closely with Fiat sibling Alfa Romeo.


A new leader has taken over at Maserati—Karl Heinz Kalbfell, the man BMW tapped to relaunch the venerable Rolls-Royce marque, is now in charge.



“This is a sound company,” Kalbfell said. “The significant work done by Ferrari is evident [Ferrari building the engines, for example]. It’s very impressive, and we’re on our way to further progress.”


That progress means a couple of things in Kalbfell’s mind. One, of course, is sales, where the Quattroporte is playing a big role. In 1998, suffering from a weak model lineup and an even weaker reputation for quality, Maserati sold just 518 cars. Last year, through 281 dealers in 57 countries, Maserati sold 5654 cars. While that number is a smudge on most automakers’ annual sales charts, it is huge for a company that churns out 25 mostly hand-built cars per day (16 Quattroportes and nine Coupes/Spyders).


The other measure of progress is in customer satisfaction. To that extent Maserati has 50 people now working in quality control at the factory, trying to make sure body panels are fitted properly, paint is perfect, and all the electrical and mechanical things work the way they are supposed to. In today’s cutthroat car world, being beautiful and Italian will take you only so far. If 50 sounds like a small number, consider the factory employs just 700 people total.


Of the 5654 Maseratis sold last year, 40 percent found homes in the United States, and 1550 of those cars were Quattroportes. Kalbfell sees room for Maserati growth—up to 9000 vehicles coming out of the Modena factory—by expanding models within the two product lines: sports cars (two-door models) and what he calls “sports business” cars (four-door models) in the Quattroporte family.


“We smell success, but the competition is more than tough,” Kalbfell says.


So Maserati is offering a couple of fresh variants of the Quattroporte—the Executive GT, which is an interior trim package that will be sold primarily in Europe, and the Sport GT, which is the car that lured us to Italy and is expected to be a big seller in the United States.

The sumptuous shape of the car that dazzled us a couple of years ago remains the same. But the Sport GT model gets a blacked-out honeycombed grille and a small GT badge on the B-pillar. The car rides on unique 20-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels with visible titanium brake calipers and cross-drilled rotors. Look closer and you’ll see braided metal brake lines.


Inside, carbon fiber trim replaces all the wood found in the standard model, and there is a new multifunction steering wheel and drilled aluminum pedals.


Mechanically, no changes are made to the 4.2-liter V8 engine that delivers 393 hp at 7000 rpm and 333 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. A new sport exhaust is fitted, and the resulting song coming from the quad pipes is exactly what you want from an Italian sports car. The Sport GT’s 0-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds is the same as the Quattroporte we wrote about two years ago, so the $8,500 premium for the Sport GT won’t help you at the drag strip.


The same six-speed DuoSelect transaxle operated via steering column-mounted paddle shifters remains, though the electronics running it now make the gear changes quicker than before. Maserati says once the Sport button is engaged, the unit will change gears in 40 milliseconds at 7000 rpm. The Sport mode also stiffens the Skyhook electronic suspension and fine-tunes the Maserati Stability Program, allowing for a firmer ride and an invitation for more aggressive driving.


The car really rewards a spirited approach. Not only is peak power near the upper reaches of the 7500-rpm rev range, but the gear shifts snap off crisply one after another while in the rpm stratosphere. At slower speeds, frankly, the gearbox remains clunky until you get the hang of revving up the engine, letting off the throttle and shifting. Smooth gear changes can be done at slow speeds but not as easily as in hard driving. In the gearbox’s automatic mode, forget it. Smooth is not a word one would ever use to describe its operation.


Kalbfell admits a true automatic transmission, probably a six-speed unit, is in the works, but that it is at least a couple of years off. In the meantime Maserati dealers have been instructed to stop telling customers the sequential manual gearbox is “just like an automatic.” Customer satisfaction numbers are important, even to Maserati. The tricky part for Maserati, Kalbfell says, will be developing the automatic while keeping the car’s weight balance where it is now—47 front/53 rear. “Whatever we do, we do not want to change the balance of the car,” Kalbfell said.

That balance is important, because the Quattroporte Sport GT has rather amazing handling characteristics considering the car weighs 4334 pounds. Driving it on twisty roads south of Modena—the same neck of the woods where Sen. Bob Dole was wounded while a member of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II—the car feels much, much lighter than it is.


Pushing the Maserati hard into corners, we never felt it get out of sorts, with the chassis and suspension working to keep the car well-balanced and leaving us hungry for the next corner. The car’s cornering ability is far greater than our willingness to find its limits. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have fun trying.

MASERATI MC12 CORSA

The MC12 is a two-door coupe with a targa top roof, although the detached roof cannot be stored in the car.The mid-rear layout (engine between the axles but behind the cabin) keeps the centre of gravity in the middle of the car, which increases stability and improves the car's cornering ability. The standing weight distribution is 41% front: 59% rear; at speed however, the downforce provided by the rear spoiler affects this such that at 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph), the effective weight distribution is 34% front: 66% rear.


Interior
Even though the car is designed as a homologation vehicle and is a modification of a racing car, the interior is intended to be luxurious. The interior is a mix of gel-coated carbon fibre, blue leather and silver "Brightex": a synthetic material which was found to be "too expensive for the fashion industry."The centre console features the characteristic Maserati oval analogue clock and a blue ignition button, but it has been criticised for lacking a radio, car stereo or a place to install an aftermarket sound system.



Exterior

The body of the car, made entirely of carbon fibre, has undergone extensive wind tunnel testing to achieve maximum downforce across all surfaces. As a result, the rear spoiler is two metres (79 in) wide but only 30 millimetres (1.2 in) thick, the underside of the car is smooth, and the rear bumper has diffusers to take advantage of ground effect. Air is sucked into the engine compartment through the air scoop; its positioning on top of the cabin makes the car taller than the Enzo. The exterior is available only in the white and blue colour scheme, a tribute to the America Camoradi racing team that drove the Maserati Tipo Birdcages in the early 1960s.The car is noted for the awkwardness that results from its size: very long and wider than a Hummer H2.This, combined with the lack of a rear window, makes parking the MC12 very difficult.


Engine
The MC12 sports a 232 kilogram (511 lb), six-litre (5,998 cc/366 cu in) Enzo Ferrari-derived V12 engine, mounted at 65°.Each cylinder has four valves, lubricated via a dry sump system, and a compression ratio of 11.2:1.These combine to provide a maximum torque of 652 newton metres (481 lbf·ft) at 5500 rpm and a maximum power of 630 PS (460 kW; 620 hp) at 7500 rpm.[4] The redline rpm is indicated at 7500—despite being safe up to 7700—whereas the Enzo has redline at 8200 rpm.


Chassis
The MC12’s chassis is a monocoque made of carbon and nomex, with an aluminium sub-chassis at the front and rear. It has a roll bar to provide additional strength, comfort and safety. Double wishbone suspension with push-rod-operated coil springs provide stability and dampers smooth the ride for the passengers.The front of the car can be raised for speed bumps and hills by pressing a button that extends the front suspension.There are two modes for the chassis' tuning which can also be changed with a button in the cabin: Sport, the standard setting, and Race, which features less of the Bosch ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) traction control, faster shifts and stiffer suspension.


Wheels

The MC12 has 480 millimetre (19 in) wheels with a width of 230 millimetres (9 in) at the front and 330 millimetres (13 in) at the rear. The tyres are Pirelli P Zero Corsas with codes of 245/35 ZR 19 for the front tyres and 345/35 ZR 19 for the rear.The brakes are Brembo disc brakes with a Bosch anti-lock braking system (ABS).The front brakes have a diameter of 380 millimetres (15 in) with six-piston calipers and the rear brakes have a diameter of 335 millimetres (13.2 in) with four-piston calipers.The centre-lock wheel nuts that hold the wheels to the chassis are colour coded: red on the left of the car, blue on the right.