Maserati Gran Turismo S

Guests at Sydney’s Australian International Motor Show in October were treated to the Australian launch of Maserati’s latest flagship performance GT- the Gran Turismo S.

And judging by these pictures and the spec sheet, not to mention early test reviews from Europe, the 323kw S has the dynamic sparkle to match its achingly desirable coupe form.

The ‘base’ spec 4.2 litre V8 Gran Turismo was already a beautiful car from almost any angle. Only the busy looking rear taillight treatment has offered up the occasional comment to the negative in what is otherwise a wonderfully resolved design. The car itself has won admirers for its combination of relaxed motoring and spritely straight-line performance especially when coupled with the brilliant 6 speed automatic gearbox.

This Gran Turismo S, though, has been designed to turn up the stylistic volume and add an animalistic element that enthusiasts crave. Just look at it- full of purpose and latent aggression just waiting to be unleashed. New side skirts, a rear spoiler integrated with the boot, an opaque rather than titanium grille and special badgework combine with 7 spoke, 20 inch rims (with 245/35 front and 285/35 rear tyres) to differentiate the S from the standard GT, and contribute to a drag coefficient of 0.33.

Interior wise the seats have contrasting central sections combining Frau leather outer sections with alcantara in the centre. Of course full leather is optional. Aluminium alloy pedals contribute also to the classy ambience inside, layered with a touch of sportiness.

Maserati have stretched the V8 out to 4,691cc from 4,244cc by increasing both cylinder bore and stroke, with red rocker covers distinguishing the new motor from its previous generation sibling. This 11.25:1 compression engine uses a ‘wet sump solution’ similar to the 4.2l that lessens operating noises by reducing the pumps required to push oil through, which are essential to a dry sump system.

That 323kw headline figure is reached at 7,000rpm and is backed up by a robust torque curve peaking at 490nm @ 4,750rpm with 82% of peak torque available from 2,500rpm. This compares with the 4.2 litre outputs of 298kw and 460nm. Red-line is set at 7,500rpm but bursts up to 7,600rpm are allowed under ‘dynamic gear shift conditions’. Maserati claims 16.6l of unleaded (minimum 95 octane) per 100kms on the combined cycle.

As is customary in high-end vehicles with a performance twist, valves in the exhaust system can provide relatively quiet motoring at a cruise, but open when the throttle is squashed to allow a rich symphony of pure Italian V8 to be shared with passers by.

Representing the ‘state of the art in the segment’ the electronically actuated 6 speed transmission utilises a twin plate clutch and a transaxle layout which assists in the big coupe achieving a weight distribution of 47%-53% front to rear. Paddles for the gearbox are integral with the steering column and are of ‘elongated design’ so the driver need never take their hands off the wheel. Again in common with premium machines (and increasingly their more mundane brethren) a sport button selects a range of preset parameters that affect available power, shift speed and, if one ticks the option box for Skyhook suspension, damper settings. There are 3 manual modes, 2 automatic settings and a mode for driving in ice, next to useless in Australia! Maser engineers (or is that Ferrari?) have permitted a quickest possible shift speed at 100ms- not as frantic as a Ferrari F430 Scuderia but then again it is not a racecar for the road.

To haul down the Gran Turismo S’s 1780kg (dry, the same quoted as the standard GT)), a special ‘dual cast’ braking system has been developed in conjunction with Brembo. These utilize a cast iron braking ring with an aluminium hub, ostensibly to create a best of both worlds solution- iron to withstand high temps, aluminium to save weight. 6 piston monobloc calipers are used at the front to clamp 360mm by 32mm discs while 4 piston rears snap 330mm by 28mm plates.

Suspension wise the layout remains similar to the standard Gran Turismo, which means dual wishbones all round but with 10% more damping force through the standard fixed rate steel dampers. New springs and a more rigid rear torsion bar contribute to a 10% reduction in roll. The skyhook option provides variable rate aluminium dampers that allow normal or sport settings with the sport guaranteed to match the fixed rate of the standard shocks.

Performance figures for the Gran Turismo are as impressive as the spec suggests, with a top speed of 295km/h and 0-100km/h being reached in 4.93 sec on its way to a 400 metre time of 12.97 sec. Braking from 100-0km/h is achieved in 35 metres.

The Gran Turismo S can be yours from $328,500, a near $30,000 premium over the standard vehicle which retails at $298,800. For reference the new, even more raucous 4.7l, 313kw Aston Martin V8 Vantage can be had for $258,740 while BMW’s M6 and its mighty 373kw V10 starts at $292,500. If the new Maserati can deliver on its promise to combine the elements of sport and sophistication more completely than both of the above, the price premium will be money well spent.

© 2010 lautista.com.au.