Maserati Granturismo s 

Maserati Granturismo s 

Maserati Granturismo s getting hotter out there. Barely one year after launching the new GranTurismo coupé, Maserati Granturismo s has unleashed the S version. This is the hair-on-fire model, equipped with the lunatic 4.7 litre V8 that Alfa Romeo uses in the stunning 8C Maserati Granturismo s coupé, albeit differently tuned. In the Maserati Granturismo s , it produces 433bhp, compared with the regular GT’s 400bhp.

Visually, the Maserati Granturismo s gains subtle side-skirts and a lip spoiler on the bootlid. Down below, the two oval exhausts are surrounded by a valance, which gives the tail an even more planted look. The overall effect – along with new 20in alloy wheels meant to evoke Maserati Granturismo s trademark trident – is to toughen up an already gorgeous form without making it look like a Halfords tack-on job.

Maserati Granturismo s 

Maserati Granturismo s let’s start with that engine, which is just epic. Slide in behind the Maserati Granturismo s thick-rimmed steering wheel and slot the ignition key in – it’s good to see there’s no red-glowing start-button affectation going on here. Maserati Granturismo s after just one crank, the big V8 burbles gently into life with a low-key moan. If Maserati Granturismo s sounds a bit anticlimactic, the driver can fix it by prodding the “Sport” button on the instrument panel, which, thanks to pneumatic valves within the exhaust system, immediately transforms that gentle throat-clearing engine note into an angry, sharp-edged cackle with a “ragga-ragga-ragga” beat. If ever a V8 had an Italian accent, this one does.
Maserati Granturismo s noise at idle is a Hollywood soundtrack, the uncorked symphony is pure Bullitt meets Days of Thunder but with a dash of Italianate refinement.Maserati Granturismo s leaving Sport mode engaged and hammering the throttle provokes a rising, jagged snarl that snaps any pedestrian within 200 yards to attention, and even colleagues in following cars report a devastating wall of sound as the engine wails to its 7000rpm power peak. Lift off the throttle and you get a rolling thunder of

Maserati Granturismo s 

A shame, that, because otherwise the Maserati Granturismo s is a supremely capable GT. The Maserati Granturismo s has a thicker rear antiroll bar than the regular model, uprated brakes, stiffer suspension and those larger wheels. Couple that with excellent weight distribution and you’ve got a coupé that has balance and poise through long bends, and enough agility to take on tricky, tight country roads. Body roll through corners is nicely contained, and the car keeps a close connection to terra firma over crests and dips.
The Maserati Granturismo s ride quality is surprisingly good, too, given the larger wheels and stiffer setup – it’s firm, but there is none of the nasty crashing through potholes and badly broken tarmac that I’d foreseen.
The cabin is a lovely place to spend time. Maserati Granturismo s driving position is fine, with an electric adjustment of steering wheel reach and tilt to fine-tune it. And the flappy paddles have been lengthened, especially at the top. The idea is that as you tackle a tight corner with lots of steering lock you can still grab a gearchange without moving your hands on the wheel.
There’s even room in the back for occasional adult passengers, although you wouldn’t want to be driving far. In the interests of better support for front-seat occupants – on account of the car’s more sporting brief – the seatbacks are quite firm. The support is good when you’re going hard but I did find them a bit too unyielding in longer runs.
Then there’s the price. The Maserati Granturismo s will cost £89,900 when it goes on sale here in September. That’s £21,150 more than the Porsche 911 Carrera S and £18,905 more than a Jaguar XKR. You’d need to beat up the options list heavily on either of those contenders to get anywhere close to the Maserati Granturismo s price tag. Even something as rarefied as the Aston Martin Vantage V8, which is arguably just as gorgeous as the Maserati, is a less expensive proposition than the S (admittedly, you could fix that by going crazy with the Aston’s long, long options list).
Maserati Granturismo s all of those competitors are extremely accomplished, and even if the Maserati Granturismo s gearbox isn’t an issue for potential customers, they might struggle to justify the extra spend. The GranTurismo is a gorgeous creation with a sensational engine, but are those two elements really worth an extra £20,000?