Maserati chooses the Geneva International Motor Show to unveil its new GranTurismo Sport. Bolstered by the success of a model that brought the entire concept of the Grand Tourer up to date, the new GranTurismo Sport stands out from the crowd thanks to thorough restyling and a host of new technical features that further enhance its sporty nature in terms of performance and design – inside and out.
The new GranTurismo Sport with its dual soul offers sporty handling and high-performance on one side, without compromising on elegance and passenger comfort on the other, characteristics no Maserati can be without. The new GranTurismo Sport in the Maserati MY13 product range replaces the GranTurismo S previously proposed in two versions, with automatic and robotised manual transmission. In the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand it will be marketed beginning with the MY 2013 range.
THE NEW GRANTURISMO SPORT 460 HP 4.7-LITRE V8
The powerful 4.7-litre V8 engine can now deliver a maximum power of 460 HP (338 kW) and a peak torque of 520 Nm, without penalising fuel consumption and emissions. These parameters, coupled with the electro actuated gearbox featuring MC Shift technology for faster gear changes (down to 100 ms), enable the GranTurismo Sport to reach an impressive top speed of 300 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The version with automatic transmission and MC Auto Shift management software (which is also used in the GranCabrio Sport and Quattroporte Sport GT S) also benefits from significantly enhanced performance, achieving a top speed of 298 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
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With regards to the suspension, the new GranTurismo Sport is fitted with the Sport Skyhook system, an evolution of the continuous damping control system that makes the car even more reactive and fun to drive, whilst at the same time increasing passenger comfort. In SPORT mode the car is pin sharp in responding to the driver’s input, while in normal mode it constantly adapts the damping to absorb the roughness of the surface for a smoother ride. All this equates to a superb handling capability that combines sports performance and comfort in all driving conditions.
The GranTurismo Sport is available with two different types of transmission: a ZF 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed electro actuated gearbox, with dry twin-plate clutch (not available in North America). The first enhances driving comfort without compromising on performance, while the second offers a more involving driving experience.
External restyling
The restyling of the bodywork has further enhanced its already sporty nature.
The front bumper has been redesigned to improve the air flow and the cooling of the front brakes, whilst at the same time to enhance the appearance of the nose of the car, thanks to a new styling element that unites the space between the new headlights and the traditional oval grille. The chromed rident with red accents takes pride of place at the centre of the grille: a detail reserved to the most powerful Maserati cars, in keeping with the tradition of the marque.
The front light cluster maintains its original profile, but it has been completely redesigned and improved thanks to the addition of DRL LED technology. The new LEDs give the headlights a further style boost as well as improving functionality and visibility, benefitting car safety.
Behind the impressive 20″ Astro Design alloy wheels lies the equally impressive braking system of the new GranTurismo Sport, which employs Brembo dual-cast technology coupled with 6-piston brake calipers at the front and 4-piston brake calipers at the rear. The disc, in a slotted and perforated version, is made of two different materials, cast iron and aluminium, reducing weight by between 15% and 20% and delivering enhanced comfort, reduced corrosion and wear and superior component performance.
The caliper, meanwhile, represents a new feature for Maserati and Brembo in terms of colour, introducing a brand new oxidised blue which, thanks to its matt finish, enhances the car’s ultra-sporty nature, emphasising once again the meticulous attention Maserati devotes to detail in order to ensure total customer satisfaction. This extends to even the tiniest design detail, fully embracing the “tailor made” principle.
The rear of the car has been made even sleeker than before thanks to restyled, darker light clusters that accentuate its dramatic look.
The new model introduces a brand new colour called “Blu Sofisticato” which shows off the car’s lines to best advantage and frames the countless innovative stylistic features that characterise this new GranTurismo Sport.
Sporty interior
The interior of the GranTurismo Sport has been treated to a sporty makeover. Passengers can now relax in an interior where luxury, craftsmanship and attention to detail take on new forms.
Of particular importance are the new front and rear seats, which not only improve and update the look, but also provide a more ergonomic design; the seats offer better support as well as optimised comfort for driver and passengers on longer journeys. The distinctive new design of the rear shell of the front seats, in leather, also frees up more space for rear seat passengers (+20 mm).
Particular attention has been devoted to enhance the dynamic yet refined spirit of the GranTurismo Sport. New details in EcoChrome grey and the Poltrona Frau leather upholstery, feature alongside sporty elements such as the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel, inspired by the design of the Trofeo race car, and the aluminium pedals.
The steering wheel is also new and is now even more ergonomic and better suited to sports driving, thanks to a flatter rim and a grip with accentuated profile.
With these characteristics, the new GranTurismo Sport follows in the footsteps of one of the most successful cars in the entire history of Maserati. Since its launch at the Geneva Motor Show, back in 2007, around 15,000 GranTurismo models have been delivered to customers all over the world.
Last year the GranTurismo range accounted for 44% of the total Maserati sales, with over 2700 cars delivered to clients all over the world. The United States was once again the number one market, not only in terms of overall product range sales, but also sales by model, with almost 900 GranTurismos sold in 2011, followed by China and Italy.
KUBANG, Maserati SUV Concept Car
The Kubang sport luxury SUV concept, which made its global debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011 and recently at the International Auto Show in North America 2012, displays the resourcefulness and ability of Maserati to offer an Italian alternative in one of the market’s most competitive segments. Like other cars by rival manufacturers, the future sport luxury SUV will be produced in North America and will represent an important part of the future Maserati range.
The Kubang represents both discontinuity and continuity as it enables Maserati to enter a new segment, whilst still maintaining the integrity of its DNA. It is the natural direction for Maserati to follow, given the company’s intent to expand its product range and reinforce its presence on the world market.
The idea of a sport luxury SUV is not new to Maserati, indeed the company presented the first Kubang concept at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2003. At a time when very few other car makers were heading in the direction of a sport luxury SUV, Maserati was already exploring the idea.
The elements that constitute a sport luxury SUV are a perfect match for Maserati’s expertise, while synergies within the Fiat-Chrysler group offer the ideal content to enable the company to give its own personal take on this type of car.
The car that will be developed from the Kubang concept will have all the characteristics associated with a Maserati. All the major system components will be 100% Maserati, in seamless continuity with the brand’s core values of sportiness, elegance, glamour, luxury, performance and craftsmanship. The distinctive style and essence that make the Kubang instantly recognisable as a true Maserati have been created by the Maserati Style Centre headed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.
A new generation of high-tech Maserati engines is currently being developed by Paolo Martinelli, Head of Powertrain Development at Maserati in Modena. The new Maserati engines will be produced by Ferrari in Maranello, Italy, and will be coupled to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Components, including suspension, brakes, steering and electronics with specific high-performance settings, will be developed exclusively by Maserati engineers in Modena.
MASERATI GRANCABRIO FENDI LIMITED EDITION
Following its highly successful debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, the GranCabrio Fendi will go on sale with a limited production of 50 units, starting this Spring.
Each of the 50 cars will feature a plaque, positioned on the right of the dashboard next to the GranCabrio logo. The plaque is engraved with the famous Maserati trident, the Fendi logo and a serial number identifying that particular car.
All fifty cars will be produced in “Grigio Fiamma Fendi”, a specially developed shade of grey with a unique iridescent gold effect developed, like the rest of the interior trim, in partnership with Silvia Venturini Fendi to tie in with the iconic Fendi colours of yellow and grey. Completing the exterior fittings are 20″ alloy wheels featuring Fendi’s unmistakable double “F” logo in the centre, Fendi yellow brake calipers and a special plaque on the soft top.
As for the interior, the seats are in Fendi’s finest “Grigio Chrono” leather embossed with the Fendi logo in the central section, while the headrests are emblazoned with the Maserati Trident logo embroidered in yellow. Fendi’s finest “Cuoio Romano” leather lines the instrument panel and the gear lever, with shift paddles on the steering wheel too. For an even more luxurious, exclusive interior, “Pergamena Fendi” wood inserts line the restyled interior, spanning the length of the dashboard and the doors, embracing the front and back seats.
MASERATI AND BULGARI TEAM UP TO CELEBRATE STYLE, ELEGANCE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Shared values like innovation, prestige, quality and elegance have enabled Maserati and Bulgari, both sector leaders, to forge a partnership with the mission of creating an exclusive series of wristwatches: Octo Maserati.
This exclusive model, which will make its debut at the Maserati stand in Geneva, will be officially unveiled by Bulgari at the World Watch and Jewellery Show in Basel (8th March). Octo Maserati combines the essence of the two brands and shows off their shared values of quality, precision, reliability, style and elegance.
GIOVANNI SOLDINI AND MASERATI
Giovanni Soldini and his crew on board Maserati took 10 days, 23 hours, 9 minutes and 2 seconds to travel the 3884 miles of the route which links Cadiz to San Salvador, thus establishing an excellent time reference – the first – for the monohull category. Having set sail from Cadiz on 2nd February at h 11 50′ 08” GMT, they travelled 4632 real miles at an average speed of 17.6 knots.
Having chalked up a great performance in this first trip, Giovanni Soldini and his team are now preparing for other record challenges, starting from the 24 hour challenge which will see Maserati attempt to cover as many nautical miles as possible over 24 hours of uninterrupted sailing. They will also challenge the record for the Miami-New York route (947 miles) towards the end of March, followed by that set for New York to Lizard Point in the United Kingdom (2925 miles).
The record attempts by Giovanni Soldini and VOR 70 Maserati can be followed, almost live, on Giovanni Soldini and Maserati’s new website (www.maserati.soldini.it): the site contains news, videos and photos of life on board, and provides continuous monitoring of the marine weather conditions, as well as online tracking to check the position and speed of Maserati in real time. Continuous updates are also available on Facebook (Giovanni Soldini’s official page) and Twitter (@giovannisoldini; @borisherrmann; @BradVanLiew) sites.
THE NEW FRONTIERS OF THE TROFEO MC MASERATI: USA AND CHINA
Following the resounding success of the last two seasons, the Trofeo Maserati MC 2012 single-make series is all set to go intercontinental. The fifth race of the 2012 season will take place on the 23rd of September at the Infineon Raceway in California (USA) in what will be the first Trofeo Maserati race held outside Europe.
To further emphasise the international character of the Trofeo MC Maserati, the sixth and final race of the 2012 season will be staged in Shanghai, China, on the 4th of November.
In addition to these first intercontinental events, the third season of the Trofeo MC championship will usher in a number of changes, including a new race format with a series of special “endurance” events in which the combination of performance, strategy and stamina can make all the difference. These events make for an exciting, intense race programme in which drivers can compete either individually or in pairs.
The championship consists of 3 “standard” events (two 40-minute races) and 3 “endurance” events (two 30-minute races and one 50-minute race with compulsory pit stop).
Other changes concern the architecture of the racing car. The upgraded Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo 2012, featuring a new set-up, new aerodynamics and reduced weight, will further enhance performance.
The first edition of the Maserati Trofeo JBF RAK staged in the Middle East was also a huge success. This thrilling championship has involved the most prestigious race tracks in the Middle East, with races held at Formula One tracks in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, as well as at the Losail circuit in Qatar and the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates.
2011 for MASERATI
Maserati ended 2011 having delivered 6159 units (+8.5%), reporting revenues of 588 million euros. With 2437 cars sold and a 20% increase on 2010, in 2011 the United States was once again Maserati’s largest market while, for the first time in the company’s history, China was second, with 842 cars sold (almost double those of 2010). Sales in Japan were also up significantly compared to 2010 (+22%).
In 2011, Maserati’s trading profits stood at 40 million euros (trading margin:6.8%). This marked increase compared to the 2010 operating profits of 24 million euros (trading margin:4.1 %) was achieved thanks to a better mix and continuous optimisation of operating costs.
In the last quarter of 2011, Maserati reported revenues of 143 million euros. The trading profits for the quarter came to 14 million euros (against 8 million euros for the same period in 2010).
NEW MASERATI STORE WEBSITE
The new Maserati store website is now online at www.maseratistore.com, providing fans of Maserati with an official e-commerce channel. The new website design, understated and stylish in the iconic Maserati colours, eloquently expresses the values of elegance, luxury and sportiness automatically associated with the Maserati brand, using its layout to enhance the image of the products displayed on the homepage, with enlarged views showing products to best advantage.
Navigation too has been improved, allowing users to access the various products available in the online store in a more varied, intuitive way: a side menu presents the products grouped in emotional categories, through the Contemporary, Heritage, MC and Yachting lines, while in the new top menu products are arranged according to product type.
New functions include the option of filtering results by colour or size, and a larger search box that remains visible throughout navigation, which makes finding exactly the right Maserati product easier than ever. Among a raft of interesting new features, the introduction of recommendations, drawing users’ attention to other Maserati items they might also like. In addition, there is the chance to share the chosen product on Facebook and Twitter, by simply clicking on the corresponding share button.