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Maserati was founded in 1914 in Bologna Italy by a man called Alfieri Maserati, a company with over 1,100 employees as of 2015. For most, the name Maserati rings unreliable and unsuccessful but the numbers speak for themselves. In 2015 Maserati globally had a revenue of AED 10,722,561,000, yes that's 10 Billion!
The GranTurismo has been around since 2007 without a single facelift and rumor has it that an all-new model is coming in 2018. Now the GranTurismo is in a competitive category with the likes of Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes AMG-GTS and the mighty Porsche 911. So where does it stand amongst the competition?
| Key Features: | |
| Engine | 4.7L V8 |
| Transmission | 6 Speed Automatic |
| Power | 453hp / 520NM |
| Top Speed | 290km/h |
| Price | AED 485,000 As Tested |
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Exterior
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The outside of the Maserati GranTurismo remains untouched with the only noticeable changes throughout the years being the front end being improved slightly for a more aggressive look as well as the splitter below the front bumper. They've also slightly tinted the taillights for a stealthier appeal.
I do believe that the GranTurismo needs a revamp, that’s for sure, but from where I stand they could mess it up. The rear of the car is where the GT needs the revamp. Its old and if I may say so myself, slightly boring compared to the front.
Having said that, the front of the GT looks fantastic. It exudes aggression and luxury, and for AED 485,000 that's expected. I believe there's not much more Maserati could do to make the front of the GT look better as the long sweeping hood with pointed splitters and large air intakes is unmistakably Maserati.
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Interior
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As you slide into the cabin, you get a real feel for where your money is going and it feels about as Italian as it gets with aesthetic buttons, exotic materials and a beautiful centralized clock on the dashboard. The leather is everywhere and we had the brightest red leather I’ve ever seen. Now I don't usually like red interiors but this was something special.
The rear passengers also get an eyeful of expensive materials with a plush center armrest wrapped in red Nappa leather and headliner made from Alcantara as well as the very comfortable seats. Surprisingly, the rear is spacious and provides ample amounts of legroom.
The instrument cluster is simple, sporty and informative, just what you need when you're in a super tourer. The infotainment system is a winner as the user experience is smooth and easy. Although I did find out something I thought was slightly backwards: you can't connect a smartphone for streaming audio. If you want to listen to music, it's either a CD or the radio.
My biggest issue with the interior, and don't get me wrong it's not a huge one, is the number pad built into the dash, it's pointless! I just don't know when anyone would ever use it and Maserati claim it's still there because they are handmade and want to keep it somewhat classical. Anyways, it's something I could live with as every other aspect of the interior is gorgeous.
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Safety & Tech
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As far as safety features go, the GranTurismo comes standard with driver and passenger front and side airbags as well as height adjustable safety belts. The safety belts also have pre-tensioners which tighten automatically under hard braking or acceleration to keep its occupants securely in position.
As expected you get traction control and an Anti-lock Braking System. The headlights are high intensity low/high beam, Bi-Xenon’s and are also directionally adaptive. The taillights are LED and the doors come with curb illumination. The GT comes with little in the form of tech with its only impressive feature being the exceptional Bose surround sound system. You don't even get a reverse camera.
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Drive
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The GT’s naturally aspirated 4.7L engine is one to behold. As Maserati has passed on turbocharging or supercharging, the GranTurismo Sport is the best sounding sports car I have ever driven. Every time you open the throttle up slightly you get cracks, pops and roars from the rear. All this noise encourages you to use the large 15 cm paddles and when you do, it only takes a split second to realize the 6-speed auto gearbox is absolutely ballistic with lightning fast changes up and down.
The A pillars are slim providing a great view and minimal blind spots out the front and back. One thing I need to mention is, the front seat belts. They are incredibly difficult to reach as there is no seat belt extender, sorry Maserati but the AMG GT/S has you there.
The GranTurismo manages to complete the 0-100 sprint in 4.7 seconds and it won’t stop until you hit 290km/h. On long and open roads I love it and do strongly believe as a tourer it is the best in its category. Unfortunately, the GranTurismo weighs nearly 2000 Kg making it the heaviest car in its category and everything quickly unfolds when you point it around a corner.
It’s loose and sloppy and it would get mullered by any of the competition round a track or even some windy roads. Realistically, you wouldn't be doing that in the GT the majority of the time. And for that reason, I believe, in its price category it is the best super tourer money can buy. Having said that, I would wait for the 2018 model before running out and blowing all my savings on one.
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Verdict
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The Maserati GranTurismo Sport has its quirks and doesn't make sense all the time, with its sloppy handling and archaic center console. It's hard to pair it against its rivals, but the one thing the GT has going for it is the noise it makes. Absolutely glorious and for that simple reason, I’m going to start saving.
Pros:
- Cabin is pure luxury
- The best sounding car money can buy
- Top class comfort
Cons:
- Weighs too much
- Poor handling
- Old style features
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