2011 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S sees an upgrade to 433 horsepower, a tuned suspension, a sports exhaust and styling modifications.



Maserati says that remapping the engine delivers 433 horsepower, an upgrade of 8 horsepower over the 425-horse Quattroporte S. The transmission software has been reprogrammed to allow for faster shifts, as well.



Specially designed for high-performance driving, they provide outstanding grip for quick and precise movements on the brake and accelerator pedals.



The sound system features a hard-drive based satellite navigation system, a CD player, an iPod connection, a 30GB hard disk for storing mp3 files, satellite radio, voice control, Bluetooth connection, and a USB/AUX-in connection that doubles as a USB reader.



Traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, brake force distribution, and anti-slip regulation systems are only the beginning of the safety and handling features the Quattroporte S brings to the table.



Outside, the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S gets red accents, new headlamps in a metallic titanium finish and shadow-line finishing. GT S buyers are treated to new Alcantara and leather-covered seats an titanium-colored Titanex composite trim inside.



The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, the latest jewel in the Maserati range, makes its official debut at the prestigious Geneva Auto Show.



The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, based on the Quattroporte Sport GT S, aims to combine in one car all the features that have made the Trident flagship a benchmark for its segment:



Completing the interior space are the special brushed aluminum door sills and Piano Black satin-finish wood moldings.



A special exterior Awards Edition series plate completes the car’s look and makes an already unique car even more unmistakable.



The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition will be available in the latter half of 2010 as model year 2011.



The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, based on the Quattroporte Sport GT S, aims to combine in one car all the features that have made the Trident flagship a benchmark for its segment. The new Quarzo fuso finishing – a pearlescent metallic grey with golden nuanced colour – exclusive to this model.

CARS | Maserati GranCabrio Sport 2012 | GALLERY

Maserati has taken the spruce convertibles are converted to a new level of performance with the new Maserati Gran Sport convertible. There is more power, faster moving, and a decidedly aggressive look, Sport Maserati GranTurismo has cut the convertible bonds harder to sit next to Maserati Gran Turismo S and Quattroporte Sport GT S flagships of their ranges.

Publicly presented in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Maserati GranTurismo Sport combines the enhanced 4.7-liter V8 engine with 10 horsepower to 450 hp and lower fuel faster transmission with Auto Shift MC. With a top speed of 285 kmh and 0-100 km / h sprint in just 5.2 seconds, Maserati GranTurismo is rich in sports performance and luxury refinements as well as inside and under the basket winner.

Its six-speed transmission has an Auto mode ™ high-speed movement and was developed for Sport Maserati GranCabrio directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The management has been improved by a higher speed, even with updating and revision of the Skyhook active suspension and the adoption of the package more responsive brakes.

Visually, the Sport Maserati GranTurismo is characterized by a stronger-dynamic aspect. This seems to start GranCabrio distinctive nose, and continues to host small, fully integrated with the changes in the body and interior.

Maserati GranTurismo S 2011

In the Maserati GranTurismo S, an advanced MC-Shift dual-clutch transmission replaces the ZF six-speed automatic. Due to the cross-axis configuration, weight distribution of S is partial rear, at 53 percent, compared with 51 percent of regular cars rear bias.

Maserati added this performance-oriented Maserati GranTurismo S one year after launching the latest generation coupe.

Due to the transaxle configuration, the weight distribution of the S is more rear-biased, at 53 percent, compared to the regular car's 51 percent rear bias.

New high-power Brembo brakes improve stopping distance and offer higher resistance to fade. Maserati claims the car can stop from 62 mph in less than 115 feet. The system features front brake discs made with dual-cast technology, resulting in pairing up iron and aluminum for better weight, heat transfer properties, and squeezed by aluminum mono-bloc 6-piston calipers.
Compared to the standard Maserati GranTurismo, the S rides on unique 20-inch wheels, up from 19-inch wheels.

The Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic is designed for drivers looking for a granturismo in its purest form. This Maserati coupé provides power, driving pleasure and space for four adults in an exquisitely finished interior. The increased torque, mostly felt at low-mid range, together with the six-speed automatic transmission, brings out the car's true GT spirit.
The "Maserati GranTurismo S" Automatic is built like an athlete.

2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport - First Drive Review

It was a peaceful and elegant scene, the bright sunlight glinting off the top-down Maserati GranTurismo convertibles parked on the Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia in Trieste. Passersby admired the gorgeous cars, one of Pininfarina’s masterpieces. Then a legion of uprated 4.7-liter V-8s ignited with a snarl, and peace and elegance were the last things on our mind.
About that wonderful engine, fitted in the top-spec GranTurismo Convertible Sport. Purists still lament the fact that Maseratis, which were long defined by powerplants that developed peak power at low rpm, are now equipped with high-revving buzzsaws bought from its former arch-rival, Ferrari. But the GranTurismo Convertible Sport's 444-hp variation of the 4.7-liter V-8 is sure to create a few converts.
It’s an evolution of the regular GranTurismo convertible’s 433-horse 4.7-liter with less internal friction thanks to a revised oil sump and slipperier coatings for the valve tappets and cam lobes; this upgraded version also powers the GranTurismo MC Stradale coupe. Compared to its lesser sibling, the droptop Sport exhales through a freer-flowing exhaust, the main purpose of which seems to be to create as much beautiful noise as is legally allowed. It’s aided in that pursuit by active valves that open at 2500 rpm when the transmission is in its Automatic Sport mode. We predict the V-8 will haul the 4600-pound droptop to 60 in 4.8 seconds.
Fantastico Automatico
As in the U.S.-market MC Stradale and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, power flows through a six-speed, torque-converter automatic supplied by ZF. But don’t lament the fact that there’s no hard-core gearbox; the automatic has been extensively reworked for duty here, and offers Normal and Manual Sport modes in addition to the aforementioned Automatic Sport, as well as launch control. Gearshift times are improved by up to 50 percent, it blips the throttle for downshifts, and, in Manual Sport mode, it doesn’t downshift when you hit the kickdown switch or upshift unless you tell it to. There’s more: You can call for a lower gear if there’s any leeway whatsoever before redline (most transmissions won’t let you downshift unless the resulting engine speed is farther down the tach from redline) and the exhaust flaps are always open in Manual Sport. This automatic is so good that you'll hardly miss a dual-clutch transmission—or the Euro-market MC’s single-clutch automated manual. Of course, you might miss a proper clutch-pedal manual gearbox, but Maserati doesn't offer one anymore.
Chassis Changes, Too
Underneath, the front and rear springs and anti-roll bars are stiffer on this derivative, the dampers are modified, and the ZF Sachs–sourced "Skyhook" damping system has been re-tuned. On twisting roads, the Sport handles well and generally does what you ask of it, but there’s simply no masking the car’s two-ton-plus weight or its somewhat uncommunicative steering. The body flexes more than it should, too. To be sure, the GranTurismo Convertible Sport is an enjoyable companion in nearly every situation, but it’s less full-bore sporty than its sinister looks and capital-S “Sport” badge might let on. So when a well-driven Audi R8 Spyder closes in on you from behind, our advice is to just let it pass. Take solace in the fact that the Audi will never sound as glorious as the Maserati, or seat four as comfortably (or at all).
There are a number of competitors: BMW's new 6-series droptop, the soon-to-be-new Mercedes-Benz SL, the Porsche 911 cabriolet, the Audi R8 Spyder, and, of course, the Jaguar XK and its distant cousin, the Aston Martin V-8 Vantage roadster. The Maserati acquits itself well by informal comparison: It’s more spacious than most (even if the trunk is tiny), it’s not outrageously expensive by the standards of the segment, it offers incredibly luxurious accommodations, and it just might have more character than the whole bunch combined. Those qualities ought to satisfy most anyone—trident purists included.

 

 

Source : Caranddriver.com

2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

The GranTurismo MC Stradale is powered by an enhanced version of the Italian marque’s 4.7-litre V8. The bulk of the savings are due to the Stradale’s carbon fibre seats (26kg reduction), reduced sound insulation (25kg), carbon ceramic Brembo brakes (18kg) and lack of a rear seat (16kg).
The removal of the rear seat makes the Stradale the first two-seater Maserati since the MC12 supercar.
The first examples of the 2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will arrive in Australia in June.

Maserati has taken 110kg out of the Maserati Granturismo S to create the racing-inspired MC Stradale. Read on for CAR's first drive review of the new Maserati MC Stradale to see if the claims are true.

The new Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale certainly looks like it means business...

It also earns top score for cabin ambience, thanks to lightweight body-shaping bucket seats, a four -oint shoulder harness, a partial roll cage dislodging the rear seats, wall-to-wall Alcantara and carbonfibre trim.

Driving the Granturismo MC Stradale
Through Barcelona, the big coupe catered primarily for eyes and ears. Further enhancing the ground-effect talents are a lower ride height (by 10mm and 12mm front and rear respectively), stiffer springs and tauter fixed-rate dampers, thicker anti-roll bars as well as minor camber and castor changes.

Switch to Race mode, and the MC behaves like a boxer flexing his muscles. Thank the serious diet: lightweight seats (-26kg), minimised sound deadening (-25kg), the now standard carbon brakes (-18kg), and the absent rear seats (-16kg).

Verdict
At £109,995, the MC Stradale is significantly more expensive than the entry-level Granturismo model.

Alas, we now have evidence of Maserati’s wild side. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale special edition has been tweaked and modified as a direct result of the lessons learned from Maserati’s three racing programs. More details about the car will be released closer to its official unveiling.
Updated 03/24/2011: Maserati has unveiled today a new video showing the MC Stradale in action on a race track.

The MC Stradale is inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC, but it needed to be modified in order to become road legal. For that Maserati needed a car with great aerodynamic down force at high speed without creating more drag, even while it is diverting airflow into effectively cooling its brakes.

Undeer the hood of the new GranTurismo MC Stradale Maserati has placed a 4.2 liter V8 engine that delivers 450 HP and 376 lbs-ft of torque at 4750rpm. The MC Stradale will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4,6 seconds and will hit a top speed of 186 mph.

Yes, the Porsche model is faster than the MC Stradale, but the Maserati model has the advantages of delivering a better aerodynamic, and it is also better looking than the GT3 model.

2011 Maserati Gran Turismo Review

2011 Maserati Gran Turismo is equipped with an automatic gearbox and adaptive control system, which adjusts the driving condition and it even shifts the gear mode according to the driving style.

The electronically controlled front seats are covered in Poltrona Frau Leather upholstery.
Changes are light for the 2011 Maserati GranTurismo, with a new wood steering wheel, aerodynamic bodywork trim for S models, dark surrounds for the headlights, minor interior trim revisions and matte paint options.

The font-engine, rear-wheel-drive GranTurismo is one of those rare cars that once seen is hard to forget. As the name suggests, the GranTurismo is a touring car, not an out-and-out exotic sports car.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Maserati GranTurismo is a four-passenger coupe that is offered in two trim levels: base and S Automatic. The base GranTurismo features 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights with washers, foglights, power-folding and heated sideview mirrors, automatic wipers, Brembo brakes, an electronically adjustable suspension, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver seat memory, wood interior trim, voice-activated navigation, Bluetooth, and an 11-speaker Bose surround-sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, digital music storage, iPod integration and auxiliary/USB input jacks.

The GranTurismo S Automatic includes all of the above, plus a more powerful engine, an automated manual transmission, larger brakes, a sport exhaust, 20-inch wheels, and unique front and rear spoilers. Options for either of the GranTurismo trims include front parking sensors, two-tone interior colors, a faux suede headliner, a wood steering wheel and perforated leather seats.

Powertrains and Performance
The base 2011 Maserati GranTurismo is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 that produces 405 horsepower and 339 pound-feet or torque. Standard safety features for the GranTurismo lineup include antilock brakes with brake assist, automatic hill hold, stability control, traction control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags.

Interior Design and Special Features
Front seat comfort is excellent, with well-bolstered seats and ample cushioning for long-distance comfort. Unlike other cars in this class, the GranTurismo also boasts comfortable rear seats for medium-sized adults.

Driving Impressions
The 2011 Maserati GranTurismo artfully balances a luxurious ride with sporting athleticism. For drivers desiring even more sports car dynamics, the Sport mode revises gearshift points, sharpens throttle response and stiffens up the suspension.

The beautiful Maserati GranTurismo returns for the 2011 model year with its companion Convertible--and with few changes.

Both sport a six-speed automatic transmission that cured Maserati's terrible automated-manual transmission, which was offered through 2008. Top speeds are 177 mph and 183 mph, respectively.

Big Brembo brakes give excellent stopping power, with the brake pedal feel of an exotic car.
Narrow seats and footwells are the hallmark of the GranTurismo interior.

The GranTurismo has not been crash-tested, but its safety gear is impressive. Anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard.

Maserati allows owners to custom-order their cars, and offers a wide array of upholstery, wood and color combinations.

For more on the Italian sports car, see our most recent full review of the Maserati GranTurismo.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte

Designed by Italy's Pininfarina design firm, the rear-wheel-drive Maserati Quattroporte is available as a standard luxury model or as a sport model.

The 4.2-liter continues in the base Quattroporte, while the Quattroporte S and Sport GT S get a 4.7-liter V-8 with varying outputs. Mechanical features includeCall it the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte, however, and suddenly it doesn't sound so plain.

The 2011 Maserati Quattroporte delivers a smooth and quiet ride that rivals that of cars from any other luxury brand, along with that certain little Italian ingredient -- passion. This car's handling is also noteworthy, even in its base-model configuration.
The 2011 Maserati Quattroporte is a performance luxury sedan offered in base, S and Sport GT S trims.

Standard equipment on the base Quattroporte includes 18-inch wheels, adaptive bi-xenon headlamps, foglamps, power-folding and heated outside mirrors, a power-actuated trunk lid, power-assisted doors, rear parking sensors, a sunroof, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, auto-dimming mirrors, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, 14-way power-adjustable front seats with driver memory, a refrigerated storage compartment in the front armrest, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power rear sunshade. The S model adds the 4.7-liter V8, 19-inch wheels, larger brakes, adjustable "Skyhook" suspension dampers and polished Wenge wood interior trim. Also offered is the Plus Pack, which includes all of the Base Pack's features plus front parking sensors, ventilated front seats with massage functions, heated rear seats and a wood and leather steering wheel. Additionally, buyers can add tinted glass, four-way power-adjustable and heated rear outboard seats, window blinds, rear-seat climate controls, fold-down trays in the front seatbacks and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The base 2011 Maserati Quattroporte is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. Maserati estimates 0-60-mph acceleration at 5.6 seconds for the base model and 5.4 seconds for the S. Standard safety features for all 2011 Quattroportes include antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

The base model Quattroporte delivers a luxurious and tranquil highway ride.
The smoothly sculpted roofline tapers into an elegant tail, marking a high point in the perpetual compromise between a sporty stance and elegant sedan bodywork. Unlike the bigger German sedan rivals, the Quattroporte is more like a four-door sports car. A 425-hp Quattroporte Sport GT S model can hit the same mark in about 5.0 seconds. The Quattroporte's cozy interior suffers from limited head room in back, but the front seats have ample room surrounding them. There aren’t any independent crash-test results for the Quattroporte, but with seat-mounted side airbags up front and head-protecting curtain bags covering the front and rear, the car at least covers the bases. Anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard, as are great bi-xenon HID headlamps.

2012 GranTurismo Convertible Sport

GENEVA — Maserati will introduce its latest performance model, the GranCabrio Sport, next week at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. The car will arrive this August at U.S. dealers, rebadged as the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport.

For the U.S. market, the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport gets a more powerful engine and tauter suspension tuning.

The 2012 GranTurismo Convertible Sport features a black grille with red accents, as well as body-color side skirts and front corner splitters.

Maserati has official shown their latest addition to the line-up of sports cars, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport at the 81st International Auto Salon in Geneva.
The upgraded four-seater luxury convertible comes with a refreshed black grill with integrated Maserati logo.

Conceived to give the GranCabrio a harder edge, the GranCabrio Sport takes up its rightful spot alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S. Visually, it’s distinguished from the “regular” GranCabrio by black grille with a red-accented trident and a new colour – Rosso Trionfale, inspired by the red national colours of 1950s’ racing Maseratis (most notably, the 1957 Maserati 250F of F1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio).

Handling is improved through tuning revisions to the Skyhook active suspension system. The GranCabrio Sport is expected on sale in all markets in summer 2011.

2010 Maserati GranTurismo

Two years ago, the Maserati GranTurismo replaced the GranSport model. The standard 2010 Maserati GranTurismo comes equipped with a 405-horsepower 4.2-liter V-8, while the sportier GranTurismo S gets a 4.7-liter engine with 433 horsepower on tap. The GranTurismo Convertible also gets the more powerful 4.7-liter V-8. Standard across the GranTurismo range is a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. The 0-60 mph run now takes just 5.1 seconds in the GranTurismo, while the GranTurismo S gets there in 4.5 seconds. Top speeds are 177 mph and 183 mph, respectively.

Maserati’s new GranTurismo Convertible is a beautiful addition to the family of powerful sporting cars designed for the true enthusiast. The guidance of former Formula 1 racer Ivan Capelli is helpful in getting us out of the dense Roman traffic and into the countryside, where we find a delightful winding road with elevation changes, switchbacks and challenging corners to test the Convertible.

Beneath the broad sloping hood lies the excellent Maserati GranTurismo 4.7-liter V-8 engine boasting 440 bhp and 361 lb.-ft. f torque. Out on the open winding road, the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible really struts its stuff--with excellent handling, sharp acceleration, super braking feel and a level of confidence that makes driving this car a joy. The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible (called the GranCabrio in the home market) goes on sale in the U.S. this spring, priced at $139,700.

2008 Maserati

2008 Maserati is preparing a large coupe based on the Quattroporte saloon and meant to compete against luxury GTs such as the Mercedes Benz CLS or Bentley Continental GT. Spy photographers have caught in tests at Nurburgring a large Maserati coupe very similar to the Quattroporte. Overall proportions and visible design details clearly point that this future coupe is closely based on the Maserati sedan.
We can then guess that Maserati has chosen to diversify their offer by producing a large size classic coupe, a true granturismo to compete against the Merc CL-Class, BMW 6 Series, Aston Martin DB9 & Co.

The spec sheet is rife with fodder: Relative to its Porsche 911-fighting Coupe/Gran Sport predecessor, Maserati's new GranTurismo is over 14 inches longer, an inch wider, nearly two inches taller, and-mamma mia!-550 pounds heavier! Supersizing to the Quattroporte sedan architecture afforded Pininfarina room to package a roomier rear seat under a sleeker fastback roof with classic long-hood, short-deck, flying-wedge proportions. The headlamps and the optional 20-inch Trident-spoke wheels riff on Pininfarina's Birdcage concept car. Mechanically, the car is a Quattroporte automatic with 4.8 inches sawed out of the wheelbase and 2.6 inches off the tail. The drivetrain and "Skyhook" adaptive suspension are tailored to the GranTurismo's sportier mission. Press the dash button marked "Sport" and throttle responsiveness increases 20 percent, the dampers stiffen to curtail body roll and float, and the transmission shift logic becomes more aggressive. A separate "Ice" setting blocks first-gear launches and forces upshifts at 3000 rpm.
Outside there's a choice of 19 body colors and two wheel designs in three finishes.

The Quattroporte comes in three trims: Executive GT, Sport GT, and Sport GT S. Rear-wheel drive comes standard.