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.
