Maserati has long been the Italian supercar for grownups. While Ferrari and Lamborghini reach for the crazy and flashy side of elite performance automobiles, Maserati looks to combine more subtle, refined styling with that same elite speed and handling capability.
The face of that Maserati philosophy must be the GranTurismo. The powerful, yet comfortable and advanced sports coupe is immediately identifiable with its sloping lines and brooding, low-slung grille. Its latest incarnation made a money-soaked splash for its debut this week as the 2018 GranTurismo greeted those Big Apple denizens best able to afford her outside the New York Stock Exchange.
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The model on official display was the GranTurismo MC (Maserati Corse) trim in Grigio Granito color and black leather interior. Maserati brought its entire automotive line (and the Maserati Tipo 151 that participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1962), but the 2018 was front and center.
A proper performance machine inside and out, the GranTurismo offers a naturally aspirated 4.7 liter V8 engine producing 454 horsepower and 384 ft-lb of torque. That’s mated to a six-speed ZF Automatic Gearbox. That familiar low slung grille and is on station, but reengineered to allow better airflow distribution and reduce aerodynamic drag.
Maserati put all of that to work to build a car that will out-perform 2017’s model. In those silly Euro numbers, the GranTurismo Sport accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and promises a top speed of 299 km/h (…which I think figures out to about 406 mph, give or take. I’m not good with conversions…). The lighter MC tackles 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and has a top speed of 301 km/h (…I won’t bother trying again…).
Inside, the latest Maserati GranTurismo offers a new 8.4-inch touch screen infotainment system and Harman Kardon Premium Sound. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring will be on hand once the car arrives for the 2018 model year.
