If you’re after a hot-looking sports car with useable room for four passengers, the pickings are relatively slim.
Although a number of cars fit the brief in terms of their performance and space, what I’m talking about is something with an exotic (preferably Italian) badge and a rara avis personality that really turns heads.
Maserati’s two-door, four-seater GranTurismo Sport can count itself in that rarefied shortlist, as it gracefully straddles the usually conflicting requirements of lust factor and utility. Its Pininfarina-penned styling has real beauty and presence, and the fact that you don’t see too many Maseratis on the road hikes its exclusivity factor a good few notches.
With its lusty lines, this R1.7-million Italian steed turns heads like a Victoria’s Secret model. Our electric blue test car even awoke some Gauteng drivers from their usual hypnotic or aggressive stupors, and elicited several smiles and waves as we cruised past.
GENUINE SPACE FOR FOUR
This isn’t a size zero Victoria’s Secret model, however, and there’s genuine leg- and head-space for four. The beautifully-sculpted leather bucket seats will accomodate two burly adults up front, while the back will accept a pair of medium-sized ones without requiring advanced yoga techniques – even if the small rear windows create a somewhat claustrophobic effect. The boot’s a useful 260 litres in size.
The blue-chip cockpit radiates athletic elegance, and customers can choose from three available finishes: leather, leather and Alcantara, or carbonfibre-Alcantara. Blue instrument dials and aluminium pedals add playful glamour, while tradition (in the form of Maserati’s elegant analogue clock) co-exists with modernity (the large digital multimedia interface).
Behind the gaping trident-badged grille is a 4.7-litre petrol V8 packing 338kW and 520Nm of normally-aspirated thrust, which the factory says should be good enough to light up a sea-level drag strip to the tune of 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 300km/h.
If you don’t drive it like you stole it, 14.3 litres per 100km is what your fuel budget can expect.
NOT QUITE EXPLOSIVE
With a heavy 1.9 tons of grand tourer to lug, and no turbo to assist the V8’s breathing at high altitude, the power’s not quite explosive and hold-on-for-dear-life. But it gathers momentum in an appealingly linear and thrustful way, all the while hollering a goosebump-inducing, pupil-dilating growl that becomes even more operatic when you push a Sport button on the centre console that opens valves in the twin exhausts.
The same button calibrates the suspension and gear changes for max-attack mode, making this sporty grand tourer huff and puff with more intensity.
The rear-wheel drive car’s available with a choice of two six-speed transmissions: a regular torque converter automatic mounted up front with the engine, or a rear-mounted robotised manual (which Maserati calls MC Shift) which is similar to the old SMG transmission offered by BMW. Robotised manuals work well in the full-attack mode of a racetrack but tend to be slow-shifting and jerky in normal driving, so I was relieved that our test car was fitted with the regular torque-converter. It swops cogs smoothly and quickly, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel if you wish to do it manually.
DYNAMIC BALANCE
Where beauty and practicality enjoy similar billing in this Italian steed, so too does this grand tourer serve up a fine balance of corner-carving prowess and ride quality. Variable dampers (dubbed Skyhook suspension in Maserati-speak) continuously adjust their stiffness to suit road and driving conditions, and they’re very effective. The car attacks corners with flair, its low centre of gravity and almost perfect front-to-rear weight symmetry (49%/51%) ensuring nimble direction changes. Stability control is there as an electronic nanny should enthusiasm overwhelm driving talent.
At the same time, the GranTurismo Sport has a remarkably compliant, bump-soaking ride for a sports car. It’s all part of the dual personality that gives this flamboyant but functional Maserati its appeal. What you have here is drop-dead looks, muscular performance with an enthralling sound, and enough space to take three other people along for the ride.
It’s like bedding a Victoria’s Secret model and finding she cooks a mean breakfast, too. -Star Motoring
Test car from Viglietti Motors Bryanston.