Filed under: Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Maserati
Geneva '08 Preview: 440hp, twin-clutch Maserati GranTurismo S
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Right from its unveiling at last year's Geneva Motor Show, we were instantly smitten with the Maserati GranTurismo. It's one of those rare designs that, not unlike an Armani suit, manages to embody both elegance and aggression at once without sacrificing either. Unfortunately, its driving dynamics have been lamented as regrettably sedate, but emerging reports suggest that the Trident marque plans to turn things up a notch with a more performance-oriented version of the GranTurismo at this year's Geneva show.
The reports are spurred on by these teasers released by Maserati suggesting the following specs: two plates, 1/10th of a second, 4.9 seconds, 35 meters, and an "S" designation. From these details we can surmise that the Maserati GranTurismo S may adopt the more powerful V8 from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione – itself another gorgeous GT based on Maserati underpinnings – boosting displacement up to 4.7 liters over the stock GranTurismo's 4.2 and power to 440 hp up from of 405. A dual-clutch gearbox will replace the smooth-shifting but torque-converting ZF six-speed automatic in the standard GranTurismo, possibly moving to the rear transaxle to improve weight distribution. Brembo brakes, subtle visual enhancements and some interior touches are reported to round out the package. All the upgrades will enable the sport model to hit 100km/h (62mph) in 4.9 seconds and come back to a standstill in 35 meters. Maserati is expected to confirm all of this tomorrow ahead of the car's debut next week, and we'll be on high alert for both. In the meantime, you can check out Maserati's teaser specs, a leaked magazine scan and two images which AutoExpress obtained prior to the vehicle's launch, all in the gallery below.
Gallery: Maserati GranTurismo S teasers
[Source: World Car Fans and AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3seriesisking 11:20AM (2/25/2008)
Can't wait to see this one. Looks really great and the power train definately looks to be promising.
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Franz 11:27AM (2/25/2008)
Sweet. Can't wait to hear some numbers.
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MemphisNET 11:44AM (2/25/2008)
Very hot indeed.
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David(Postal) 12:01PM (2/25/2008)
Gorgeous! I'd buy that if I had the money
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Bruxell 12:04PM (2/25/2008)
As if the Alfa 8C's pedigree weren't clouded enough, no Maserati is going to use that version of the motor in what amounts to an extended version of the same chassis... Again, all I can do is lament what has happened to the great names of Italy under Fiat rule.
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psarhjinian 12:12PM (2/25/2008)
Agreed. FIAT and VW seem to be trying really hard to make the same mistakes GM has made in North America: too many brands, too much intracompany competition. VW is further along this curve, but FIAT's showing the same disease.
I like Maserati. I like Alfa Romeo. I like Ferrari. All three of them should not be making products that can be cross-shopped against each other. I'd leave the high-end to Maserati (GTs) and Ferrari (sports cars), let Alfa compete against BMW/MB/Audi, and pick either FIAT or Lancia as the low-end brand and don't let them bleed into each other, or into Alfa.
FIAT is actually doing reasonably well these days. Stuff like this, though, makes it seem like that sucess is going to their collective heads.
DKB_SATX 12:56PM (2/25/2008)
I agree that Fiat could probably drop Lancia and no one would notice... it's like an odd-looking stopgap between Fiat and Alfa. The mainstream Alfas would be improved by "adding lightness" and improving handling to get them back toward their roots, but I don't see any big issue with that they've been doing with Maserati and Ferrari. Maseratis are the softer, more luxurious option for people who find Ferrari to be too extreme but want a more Italian design than the Germans offer... sort of an Italian Aston Martin.
psarhjinian 1:12PM (2/25/2008)
I think it's warning signs like the 612 Scaglietti and the 8C Competizione that scare me. It seems like the start of a slippery slope that could eventually see Ferrari with Lancia badges.
Not that it will happen, but you can see this sickness in GM and VW and it's not hard to imagine it at FIAT.
Bruxell 1:13PM (2/25/2008)
Ok, let me clarify that I have issues with Ferrari/Maserati/Alfa Romeo sharing major components at all. Alfa have totally lost their way, and are now producing the most boring rang of products in the history of the company. Ferrari are on an un-sustainable role, relying ever more on electronic technology instead of material and mechanical know how. Lancia, once the builder of the best cars in Italy has been reduced to nothing more than Fiat’s version of Buick… But what the parts sharing has done to Maserati, and the higher end products of Alfa Romeo is unforgivable. Both names are even more evocative than Ferrari, and they deserve their own product line, not to simply be forced to use dumbed-down Ferrari tech. Look at Maserati, nothing it builds is allowed to challenge Ferrari in any way, and thus, the cars are made inferior. I really wish that Fiat would just go bankrupt so that someone could buy these abused names away from them and try to bring some polish back to Italy’s once great motoring industry.
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axel cortez 1:49PM (2/25/2008)
you people seems to forget that alfa want to re enter in the usa, that is why we have the 8c a numbered car so rich people buy alfa 8c car and the poor people says wow an nice car lets see what alfa offers in other price ranges.
maserati is a upper luxury brand like aston you have nice sporty luxury coupes and sedans
and ferrari is the top of the brands and in the last year all of them have been doing great specially ferrari and maserati
alfa with their new line up are going to have nice cars and fiat if keeps innovating they will come out of the hole they are right now
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Bruxell 2:31PM (2/25/2008)
I think you may have just restated my problem. None of these other brands should be subservient to Ferrari. I don't care that Alfa is re-entering the US market because other than the 8C none of the cars they're making are worth buying, and the 8C is an Alfa in name only. It's a Maserati, nothing more, and now I hear that Lancia may get its own version of the car...
almost Dr. G.. 2:05PM (2/25/2008)
this car turns me on. i hope the guys at top gear get a hold of it bc that's as close as ill ever come to it (no pun intended).
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TKE 2:25PM (2/25/2008)
Just what this beauty needed. Seeing it in motion (http://goodcarbadcar.blogspot.com/2008/01/car-with-8c-430-scuderia-maser-gt-to.html) shows just how great the potential the GranTurismo had (and now has) to be one of the greats.
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Jonathan 3:06PM (2/25/2008)
Is the GranTurismo S coming to America?
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Ben 9:00PM (2/25/2008)
440 HP and 4.9 seconds (est) 0-60? How much does it weigh?!
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