At the Detroit Auto Show Maserati showed off the Quattroporte Sport GTS, which increased the power in V8 4.7-liter engine by 3 hp for a 433 hp grand total. The GTS package also gave a new shift pattern to the automatic transmission. Now it’s time for the GranTurismo to get the GTS packaging (looks like someone forgot the rules of alphabet soup), making it the first time a fully-automatic transmission will be offered in the car.
The bigger news coming from the Italian automaker will be what is being considered a third model in its lineup called the Spyder. It should should have seating for four, and may be ready for public viewing as soon as the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The Spyder will be heavily based on the GranTurismo but is being considered its own model by Maserati.
Design house Italia Independent used a Maserati GranTurismo to gain attention at last year’s Pitti Uomo fashion expo to gain attention for its clothing featuring "natural" colors. Because having one cool Italian in an ultra-cool paintjob wasn’t enough, they also painted a Fiat 500 and Vespa scooter in the lack-luster finish to complete the effect.
Maserati has released a new video of the accessories for the GranTurismo S.
This just shows how bias we really are. We wouldn’t get excited or post a video about the anti-stone chipping film for the front grille, different color brake calipers, or a floor mat kit for a Honda Accord.
The Maserati MC Sport Line made its debut at the beginning at this month at the Bologna Auto Show. And today the company revealed a video with the car at the show. There’s no new info on the car, but a video of a Maserati is always good time.
The MC Sport Line adds front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers, side skirts with a matte black central panel, carbon fiber mirror housings and exterior door handles, and glossy black 20" wheel rims. Maserati also added performance enhancing elements. The suspension has been upgraded to stiffer springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. There’s also new software for Maserati’s Stability Program, which the company says allows the driver "more freedom".
The second video (after the jump) includes the entire Maserati line-up in Bologna.
Of the two models Maserati is working on (a smaller car that will compete with models like the Porsche Boxster and a Spyder version of its GranTurismo) the GT Spyder is the easiest to imagine. After all just take the current GranTurismo and chop off the top.
There’s nothing new rumored to be going on underneath the skin either. The spyder is expected to share architecture with the Quattroporte and utilize a 399 hp 4.2-liter V8, just like the hardtop version. But the fact there’s no improvements doesn’t matter, it’s still a beautiful Italian. In fact, its a topless beautiful Italian. So we will be first in line at 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show to try and find out more.
Looks like Maserati is getting into some territory usually reserved for the customizers when it unveiled a new special edition at the Bologna Auto Show, the MC Sport Line. Starting with a GranTurismo S, Maserati adds front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers, side skirts with a matte black central panel, carbon fiber mirror housings and exterior door handles, and glossy black 20" wheel rims.
Maserati also added performance enhancing elements. The suspension has been upgraded to stiffer springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. There’s also new software for Maserati’s Stability Program, which the company says allows the driver "more freedom".
Because this comes directly from Maserati everything is done in good taste. This makes it a much harder sell for some of the custom jobs out there. Although this MC Sport Line is based on the GranTurismo S, Maserati says it will bring the Sport Line features to the GranTurismo and then the entire Maserati line-up in 2009.
The Maserati GranTurismo is more elegant than aggressive. The engine may sound like it could blow the doors off the competition, but the smooth bodywork looks like it would rather caress other’s doors off. Now customizer Elite Carbon seems to trying to change come of that with their kit for Maserati’s GT.
The body kit itself features a new front bumper with a clear-painted exposed carbon lip and brake intake surrounds. The kit also has new side skirts with an exposed carbon-fiber lip, new back deck spoiler, new rear diffuser, new exhaust surround, and 21-inch alloy wheels.
The only thing that must be skipped is the improved exhaust system. It may have high performance headers, but you should never risk messing with a Maserati’s exhaust note.
Maserati has a lot on its plate for a small car manufacturer. There are rumored plans for new "S" sport models GranTurismo, a GT Spyder version, a new baby coupe and sedan, as well as its already shown off a racing version of the GranTurismo. The Italian boutique Italian firm has so many projects going on, we sometimes question if it will be able to go through with them all. So we are a little comforted to see progress being made on one of the more obviously needed projects, the GranTurismo Spyder.
The spy shot shows a car with a metal folding hardtop, but according to Car Magazine spacial requirements for the trunk require a cloth roof in production. Car’s closer inspection confirmed there will be back seats in the GT’s Spyder (something that was deleted on the 3200 and 4200 drop-top models.)
The new Spyder is designed by Pininfarina and will use the family architecture of the Granturismo and Quattroporte. It will use the same the same 4.2- and 4.7-litre V8 engines. Expect to see an almost finished version in late 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show with sales to begin in 2010.
It almost seems like the tuning world is saying that Maserati knows how to make a beautiful car body, but it lacks skills with the wheels. After seeing Hamann’s new wheels for the GranTurismo last week, now Project Kahn is having its turn with the Italian.
Project Kahn mounted 20-inch Kahn RS-V wheels to the GT. The company says serves a real purpose by improving stability at high speeds. That could also be attributed to the suspension upgrade that is needed to properly facilitate the new wheels. Just like the Hamann car, Kahn saw no need to add any modifications to the car body or the 405 hp V8.
It’s a problem many of us have. You’ve just picked up your new Maserati GranTurismo, but you’re afraid that it’s just like everyone else’s $110,000 Italian sports car. Now it’s Hamann to the image rescue with its new wheels for Maserati’s GT. These are 21 inch EDITION RACE wheels: FA 9.0Jx21 with tires 245/30ZR21 and RA 12.5Jx21 with tires 345/45ZR21.
No details yet on if Hamann went to work on the GT’s 405 horsepower, but when we know more, you’ll know more.
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