Picture this. A beautiful Italian landscape, washed in the warmth of a summer sun. You’re at the wheel of a powerful but refined coupé, scything through that landscape, the sonorous sound of a V6 reverberating across the hills. You’ve just imagined the idea of a grand tour, or, as the Italians would say—GranTurismo.
The Evolution of an Icon
In the early days of the automobile and particularly through its most evocative era—the late 1930s through to the 1950s, the idea of a road trip in a stylish and powerful car fired the imagination of Europeans seeking thrills while being cosseted in luxury. In 1947, Maserati—already renowned in the global racing circuit—exploded on to the world car scene with the A6 1500, creating a new segment of grand tourers. Designed by the legendary Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the A6 1500’s low stance, long bonnet hiding a 6-cylinder engine, a coupé cabin and a short boot became the template for a grand touring machine. Thus was born the GranTurismo.
The modern Maserati GranTurismo and the GranCabrio, which is the convertible version of the GranTurismo, have not only kept the spirit of the Italian interpretation of grand touring alive but also built on that legacy of over 75 years of grand touring heritage. Developed at the Maserati Innovation Lab, the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio blends evocative Italian styling with world-class engineering and mechanics.
Engineering Precision
At the pinnacle of the Maserati GranTurismo range is the GranTurismo Trofeo. Its Nettuno 2992cc twin turbocharged V6 engine produces a maximum of 550HP that pushes the car from zero to 100kmph in 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 320kmph. Transmission of all that power happens to all four wheels through a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. That performance is a nod to Maserati’s own successes in the racing arena, right from the 1920s. In fact, Maserati won the 1939 and 1940 editions of the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed of 183.911 kmph. Just seven years before the company launched the A6 1500. To this day, Maserati remains the only manufacturer to have won this trophy with a fully built car.
The Maserati GranTurismo Modena is more relaxed interpretation of the GT spirit. With 490HP available at the tap of the accelerator pedal, the GranTurismo Modena can get up to 100kmph in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 302kmph. That’s plenty of performance for a sportscar designed to offer the joys of high-performance touring in luxury and comfort.
GranCabrio
For those who like the wind-in-the-hair experience however, there is the GranCabrio, the convertible interpretation of the GranTurismo. Remove the electrically operated fabric roof at the touch of a button and what is revealed to you is the world around you. Like the Modena and the Trofeo, the GranCabrio is also powered by the Nettuno 2992cc twin turbo V6 with the ZF 8-speed auto transmission and all-wheel-drive (AWD). In the GranCabrio, the engine’s output is the same as in the Modena, at 490HP. There is also an all-electric Folgore with a 761HP electric motor.
Visually, both the GranTurismo—whether Modena or Trofeo—and the GranCabrio are stunning. The low stance, the long bonnet and the classic coupé silhouette hark back to the grand tourer design that began with the A6 1500 back in 1947. The bonnet deserves a special mention since the relatively compact Nettuno V6 engine doesn’t require it, but Maserati designershave remained true to the essence of GranTurismo styling in this 100 per cent Made-in-Italy offering.The vertically stacked headlamp, combined with the iconic Maserati trident on the iconic grille and the characteristic triple vents on either side, give the cars a distinctive look. At the back, the swooping roof line ends in a svelte short boot adorned with boomerang tail lamps. The forged 20-inch wheels at the front and the 21-inchers at the rear further enhance its ready-to-go stance. In the Trofeo trim a red outlined Trofeo badging, carbonfibre accents hinting at that ready-to-pounce performance, and red-painted Brembo brake callipers complete the look.
Cabin Craft
On the inside, this 2+2-seater coupé’s dashboard is headlined by the centrally placed clock that has been a Maserati characteristic since the beginning. Only this time around, the clock is digital with the Italian manufacturer reinterpreting an iconic design element to fuse its own heritage with modernity.The carefully crafted interiors house embossed tridents on single seats made using natural leather, alongside premium materials like open-pore wood and regenerated nylon fibre Econyl. In the top-of-the-line Trofeo trim black leather is accented with contrast stitching in yellow, red, or grey, with additional options in tone-on-tone red or ice leather. Alcantara graces the headliner, pillars, and sun visors, adding a tactile richness to it all.
The cabin also continues the narrative of blending these timeless elements with modern technology. A 12.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen with Maserati Intelligent Assist (MIA), paired with an 8.8-inch comfort panel and fully digital cluster, provides information and functionality with intuitive elegance. Optional additions such as a head-up display enhance the experience of driving the GranTurismo without the need to take the eyes off the road.
The party piece however has to be the Sonus Faber audio system. Designed and made by the Italian house of sound, this bespoke sound system transforms the GranTurismo into a concert with the promise of all sound surround experience. Two audio setups are offered: a Premium 14-speaker system with 860 W output, and an optional High Premium 19-speaker system with 1,195 W for immersive 3D surround.
If all this still isn’t enough, then there is Maserati’s Fuoriserie bespoke programme that allows the owner to customise the car to specific tastes. From concept to delivery, the Fuoriserie programme offers a tailor-made element to the entire experience of owning a Maserati GranTurismo. Let the others just travel.
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