2008 Geneva Motor Show: 2009 Maserati Gran Turismo S

Competes with: Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

Looks like: A Maserati for the Mafia

Drivetrain: 440-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 with six-speed automated manual transmission; rear-wheel drive

Maserati's new Gran Turismo S is a performance-oriented version of the two-door coupe. It features a larger-displacement V-8 engine that makes 440 hp, which is 35 hp more than the regular Gran Turismo's V-8. The S also gets Maserati's duo-select six-speed automated manual transmission with paddle shifters in place of the six-speed automatic that the standard model uses.

The new drivetrain propels the car from zero to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 183 mph, according to the company. The task of stopping this sports car falls to a high-performance brake system that features six-piston front calipers.

Exterior differences between the two versions of the Gran Turismo are minor, like a red stripe on the grille trident of the S, but the car does take on a particularly menacing aura when painted black with dark gray rims, like the car in the photos. It also features a sport exhaust system. On the inside, the S has new sport seats finished in leather and Alcantara fabric.

 

First Look: Maserati GranTurismo

We’re not your normal exotic-car destination, but we still find wildly expensive, wildly powerful and wildly designed supercars fun to look at, especially when there’s a new one on the block. Today Maserati unveiled the first images of its new two-door sports car, the GranTurismo, which is sure to get ultraluxury buyers excited when it debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

This is actually a very significant model for Maserati, as the company’s current coupes have not aged well. Most people know of the Quattroporte four-door sedan and its celebrity status in Hollywood, and Maserati’s close ties to Ferrari generate a lot of love from exotic car fans.

The GranTurismo was styled by Ferrari’s design house, Pininfarina, and is powered by a 405-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 engine. Weight is distributed almost perfectly, with 49% at the front and 51% at the rear. Like many new exotics, the GranTurismo features an automatic transmission with shift paddles for manual gear selecting. 

There’s no word on price or an on-sale date, but expect the price to be similar to or higher than Maserati’s current GranSport coupe, which hovers right around the $100,000 mark. For now, you can join us in just taking in this new exotic.

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Maserati Joins Certified Pre-Owned Business

With the launch of the Maserati Trident Discoveries Certified Pre-Owned Program at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, the Italian luxury brand joins Bentley and Ferrari as yet another ultraluxury brand with a CPO program.

Maserati’s program ensures that the odometer is accurate and that the car hasn’t been in a serious accident or driven on a track. We’re not sure how Maserati can claim for certain that the Quattroporte you’re looking at hasn’t been thrown around a racetrack a time or two, but the likelihood of that ever happening is admittedly low. The program also includes a 120-point inspection and roadside assistance.

What do you think of these programs? Do you think the price of certification is worth any extra peace of mind that may come with it — and does it become even more important when springing for a high-dollar used luxury car?

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Year-End Maserati Incentives

Year-End Maserati Incentives

Holiday sales and incentives are usually meant to clear out excess year-end inventory and make way for next year’s models. However, we rarely — and we mean rarely — see an exotic manufacturer offer such deals. Yet here we are, reporting that Maserati will offer special financing on remaining 2006 Quattroporte sport sedans. Or as you may know it, the car from “Entourage.”

You can now finance a 2006 Quattroporte — which starts at $103,700 — for 1.9% over 60 months or 2.9% over 72 months. Compared to the average car-loan rate of 6.96%, that saves you close to $15,000 over the course of the loan.

These are still Maseratis, though, and dealers don’t have fleets of them on their lots. Many dealers might not have any, while others will have only a few on hand; that’s just the volume these specialized shops work in. Interested buyers have to hurry: The deal ends Dec. 31.

In 2007, the Quattroporte will get a new automatic transmission that reportedly is a significant upgrade for the non-sporting enthusiast, but we won’t know more about its performance credentials until the 2007 debuts in Detroit next month.