Maserati GranTurismo: Luxury, sport and style - the Trident complete

Once the Quattroporte had taken the world by storm, and the storm had calmed, it was time for Maserati to shift gears and appeal to a different buyer. Based on the Quattroporte platform, the company chose to harness the skills of Pinifarina designer Jason Castriota to create a smarter, sexier coupe version of its four-door car – and what came off the drawing boards on to the press shops would go on to become a Pininfarina masterpiece.

While the GranTurismo remains one of the most sought after Maseratis currently thanks to its looks, its performance is also well in line with a marque that takes great prides in its motorsport heritage. The GranTurismo was initially launched with the 4.2-litre V8, much like the Quattroporte, but a 4.7-litre engine was soon added to the options. The smooth shifting 6-speed ZF gearbox was much appreciated by the media and enthusiasts from around the world. The GranTurismo was also equipped with the Skyhook adaptive suspension as an option – a move that was much appreciated thanks to car’s improved ability to match the driver’s aggression and the road surface.

It may look like a tough upkeep from the outside, but the GranTurismo also received acclaim for the space inside, which pleased many despite being a 2+2 design. All in all, the car remains one that comes closest to representing the Maserati brand in its entirety – first comes the beauty (and many, many “2007 Most Beautiful Car” awards), then the precision and agility of a well-balanced handler, and finally a massive dollop of luxury and comfort on the inside.

: