A design icon makes a major comeback as Maserati have just officially announced the new Gran Turismo coupé, marking a new chapter in a story that began seventy-five years ago. As might be expected, this new model is achingly beautiful from all angles. Does anyone else make a car that looks this good?
Combining the high performance we expect from a sports car with comfort suitable for long distances in all three versions, either with a powerful internal combustion engine as always or with an innovative and fully electric power-train; the first car in the brand’s history to adopt a 100% electric motive power.
On The Outside
Well, what did we expect? From a purely aesthetic point of view, the new Maserati Gran Turismo design represents an ideal balance between beauty and functionality, without ostentation and with undeniably unique and immediately recognisable lines dominated of course by the trident-mounted front grille.
The classic proportions of the car have been maintained, with the long bonnet and the central body flowing through the whole length. The roof line drops dynamically to emphasise the curve of the pillar that also features the legendary Trident logo.
The rear features new tail-lights, a design drawn from the classic boomerang form from many Maserati models in the past. Illuminated by Full LED technology, this shape gives the Gran Turismo an unmistakable, very assertive design signature, even at the rear. 20” alloys, with 21” wheels at the rear, finish off the look.
On The Inside
With the car’s interior design the fortunate owner can expect the usual Italian architecture and craftsmanship merged with state-of-the-art technology. This provides a contrast between luxury and technology, noticed immediately when entering the cabin, where the uniquely crafted materials join large screens, metal finishes and a practically full digital cockpit.
Everything is devoted to functionality: the interior design offers a clean, modern look. The lack of a gear lever means the space can be used to the full, with a series of useful compartments that look great. The completely button-free central tunnel (all commands are digital) also features high-quality materials.
The layout is a sports car’s, with a highly dynamic design for the door panels and a colour division that highlights the design of the dashboard: a slim, delicate upper section sweeps over the main part, enhanced by the craftsmanship of the various trim levels.
The sporty yet comfortable seats, with built-in headrests, take up the theme of the cabin, even in the backrest. They are built on a lightweight frame, for a lower overall weight of the car. The rear seats also follow the look of their front counterparts, as two real, extremely comfortable spaces. The new Gran Turismo steering wheel takes sportiness to the next level. The Start/Stop and Drive Mode Control buttons are built into the central section. The ‘Nero’ ‘lucido’ accents and stitching match the colour of the leather with chrome detailing.
The Maserati Gran Turismo’s modern cabin is equipped with innovative technology, including the Maserati ‘Intelligent Assistant Multimedia’ system, the latest infotainment, a comfort display that brings together the main functions in an integrated touchscreen interface, a digital clock and, as an option, a Heads-up Display.
The sound experience is completed by the immersive ‘Sonus Faber’ 3D sound system. Designed and made by Italian craftsmen in sound, the audio system offers two levels of customisation, giving it up to 19 speakers and 3D sound with an output of up to 1,195 W, for truly unique roundness of sound.
On The Road
This fabulous new coupé is equipped with the revolutionary V6 engine, available in two versions: the Modena delivers 490bhp from a 3.0 litre V6 ‘Nettuno’ Twin Turbo. Meanwhile the high- performance Trofeo version is based on the same engine, upgraded to a maximum power of 550bhp.
Alternatively, and this is where things get really innovative, the Gran Turismo Folgore adopts a 100% electric battery-based power-train. The Folgore system is based on 800-volt technology and has been developed with cutting-edge technical solutions derived from Formula E racing. It offers, we are told, superb performance, made possible by the three powerful 300-kW permanent magnet motors.
The battery has a nominal capacity of 92.5 kWh and a discharge capacity of 560 kW, to continuously transmit around 760bhp to the wheels, which is plenty. The specific set-up and innovative layout of the battery result in the containment of vehicle height to 1353 mm, without compromising its sporty nature. The shape of the battery pack, known as ‘T-bone’, forms part of Maserati’s “zero compromise” approach and avoids placing the battery modules under the seats, mainly moving them around the central tunnel and therefore considerably lowering the car’s centre of gravity.
Extensive use of lightweight materials such as aluminium and magnesium is used in construction, together with high-performance steel. Such a multi-material approach required new manufacturing processes to be created, resulting in best-in-class weight levels, say the brand. The EV system also comes with advanced level 5 cyber-security and flash-over-the-air features. The fulcrum is the ‘Vehicle Domain Control Module’ master controller, a fully Maserati project consisting of the software that provides 360° control of all the most important car systems, for the best driving experience in all conditions.
It’s not a Maserati if it doesn’t sound right so the Gran Turismo also offers an “all-round sound experience”, guaranteed by the iconic signature sound of the Maserati engine, even in the electric version thanks to innovative work by engineers.
Available To Order
Sportiness, luxury and comfort: by focusing on customer requests from the earliest stages of development onwards, the new Gran Turismo is enabling Maserati to solve the impossible equation of combining sports performance with comfort suitable for long distances, both with powerful internal combustion engines and with the most innovative 100% electric solutions. It represents a benchmark in the segment. Contact us here at MHH for the latest information on this wonderful coupé.
