Maserati GranTurismo S Automatica

GranTurismo S Automatica

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How much?	$ 147410
Engine:	4691cc, 8cyl, 433BHP @ 7000, 361lb ft @ 4750
Transmission:	Automatic
Fuel Economy:	15.2 - l/100km
Performance:	5 sec 0-100kph , 295kph
How heavy?	1880kg

Shahzad Sheikh
18 May 2009

Haven’t we seen this before?

The GranTurismo S Automatica? No.

This was only launched a few weeks ago and we’re the first magazine in the UAE to drive the car. You must be referring to the regular GranTurismo which we employed in an attempt to drive across the Emirates, border to border, on a single tank of fuel.

Yeah, I knew about that car. But I also read your story on the GranTurismo S. As I understood it, that car addressed your performance concerns in regards to the Maserati GT.

You’re absolutely right. Maserati replaced the 400bhp 4.2-litre V8 with the 433bhp 4.7 from the Alfa Romeo 8C for the S. It then took the automated manual F1 transmission, found in Ferraris, and dubbed it Cambiocorsa.

Finally an innocuous ‘Sports’ button whips up the exhaust noises by cracking open some valves and gives the throttle a direct line to the torque. Basically it turns the performance dial right up to 10.

Okay right, so whereas the regular S is a clutchless manual with paddleshifts, the Automatica is a proper automatic with… er… paddleshifts. Right?

Almost. This is less an S with a full torque converter automatic and more a normal GranTurismo with the engine out of the S.

It does without the menacing detailing of the S Cambiocorsa like the black-backed lights and red-tipped Tridents. It even gets its own unique design for the 20-inch wheels – they’re softer, less brutal in appearance.

But is this not the most gorgeous, curvaceous and sexiest Grand Tourer on the planet?

Amen to that. Let’s just take a moment to drink in the magnificence presence ably captured by snapper Nemanja Seslija’s marvellous pictures. The Pininfarina lines are beautifully judged with exquisite curves, delicate detailing and perfect proportions.

You just know the men and women who put this car together back in Modena do so lovingly. Passion pervades through the car’s personality endowing it with a sensational and subtle sensuality that few other cars can match. It’s irresistible.

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