The Maserati GranTurismo was Maserati’s most recognisable model from the mid-2010s. It was known for its glorious V8 noise which, with only a few modifications, could produce eargasmic notes. Sadly, Maserati failed to refresh it with time which is why it garnered a lot of negative press and became synonymous with constant unreliability issues. Despite these problems, it still meant a net positive for the brand as it made it easy to sell their Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte models thanks to GranTurismo’s Halo Car Status. You will be delighted to know that the legendary GT has returned in an impressive package which includes a convertible GranCabrio and an Electric 750hp Folgore. However, we will talk about the Modena/Trofeo models for the day. We will explain why it is the best mixture of old and new forms of the beloved Italian sportscar manufacturer.
Maserati has made some of the best-looking cars such as the MC12 and Ghibli from the 70s. That designing prowess continues into the modern era with clean lines and stylistic touches. The new GranTurismo is an evolution. It may have been done after almost 19 years because the old version was praised for its styling so Maserati may have thought to keep the overall styling and modernise rather than revolutionise the GT. One of the main design highlights is the Maserati trident. It looks cool so they decided to put it everywhere. You will find them beside the rear window and multiple other places including the Logo under a logo as you look at the front where the Maserati Trident also doubles as a radar sensor.
On the inside, the Maserati has all the exquisite materials you would expect from a luxury grand tourer. You will immediately notice the analogue clock housing a digital display. You would think that the housing would be there to change something but that isn’t the case. The clock is customisable into multiple types of watch faces and can be repurposed to display Compass, G-Force Meter, or the amount of throttle and brake you’re applying. Under the clock display, you will find the Google-based 12.3-inch infotainment system and just below it is an 8.8-inch permanent screen meant to control the climate control.
However, a quick look at it will make you think there are a lot of controls on it. This is because it’s the only way to control the headlights, open the glove box, seat memory and various other things which would’ve had a permanent button but it is on a screen. The Centre screen is intuitive with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto and is a major upgrade over the previous Chrysler Uconnect Rip-Off. The gauge cluster screen has a lot of configuration capability which allows the option to choose what type of feel they are going for. It also includes choosing between various critical information you may desire. There is another screen which is the rear-view mirror that helps to increase visibility in a tightly packaged high-performance car.
The rear seats are better than the old model and Maserati even wrapped the rear seatbelt brackets in leather. The Steering Wheel has various buttons to control media functions and cruise control including two main buttons wherein one is the start/stop button and the other is a dial which controls the 4 driving modes i.e. Comfort, GT, Sport and Corsa.
The Maserati GranTurismo has two trims which are the Modena (base) and Trofeo. Both trims have the same Nettuno V6 from the MC20 which is the most radical change to the car. The Modena makes 482hp and does 0-100 in 3.7 seconds. The Trofeo makes 542hp and does 0-100 in 3.2 seconds thanks to its increase in power. All GranTurismos send power to all 4 wheels via an 8 Speed Automatic Transmission which you can control from the buttons just below the centre screen and shift manually using the fixed Aluminium Paddle Shifters!
According to Road Tests, the GranTurismo is sharper than the old model and can manage the handling and suspension comfort well. Overall, it can be understood that the GT is fun to drive. People have complained that the brakes could feel better. But, we will reserve our opinion until we get to drive it.
As a Grand Tourer, the Maserati GranTurismo is an excellent car to use and drive as compared to the old GT, and its stiff competition with the likes of Ferrari Roma and Portofino, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Mercedes AMG GT and various other GT Supercars. While pricing is expensive, from Rs. 2.72 Crore to Rs. 2.90 Crore Ex-showroom, that is the case with most GT Cars.
We would’ve loved for the GranTurismo to be offered with a Manual but we understand the decision to go fully automatic. Moreover, we also feel that Maserati could’ve taken inspiration from the Alfieri Concept and made the exterior a little more drastic. However, we can’t wait to get our hands on the GranTurismo and the future-bound GranCabrio and Folgore Models!
