07 Mar 07
Stunning.
We could leave describing the Maserati GranTurismo at that, but, in the interests of professionalism, we should perhaps expand on why this latest model from the Italian sports car manufacturer with the trident logo is one of the stars of the Geneva show.
Designed by independent Italian styling house Pininfarina, and inspired by the Birdcage concept car from Geneva 2005, the Maserati GranTurismo continues a tradition started by the company's first roadgoing car, the A6 GranTurismo, also designed by Pininfarina, in 1947. The car's lines are fluid, etching a muscular, sporting shape from the mean-looking front grille, along the elongated bonnet with its V-shaped lines along the top, to the dynamic side profile with its three air intakes just behind the front wheel and chrome highlights such as the logo on the rear pillar and the window frames. However, you only have to look at the car to understand its beauty: it's that obvious.
Inside, Maserati has tried to ensure this is a grand tourer in the best tradition, with two fully electric front seats and enough room in the back for two adults in individual seats. As you would expect for a car in the luxury segment, there's a wide range of high-quality woods (with up to seven coats of varnish), metals and leathers, with the exclusive Poltrona Frau Italian leather in 10 colours used as the basic material. There's even enough room in the boot - for which you can even choose the colour of the carpet - for two sets of golf clubs or a five-piece luggage set designed by Salvatore Ferragamo.
Of course, as it's a Maserati, it's got a decent engine: a 4.2-litre V8 engine, positioned behind the front axle for better weight distribution. It develops 400bhp and maximum torque of 340lb-ft, and it operates in conjunction with the automatic transmission recently added to the Quattroporte. This combination means that the GranTurismo will accelerate to 62mph in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 177mph.
But we still think that stunning says it all.
