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2006 Maserati GranSport Coupé and Spyder Road & Track Test

Maseratis Grand Tourers Win Over with Performance, Refinement and Class

If you were in the market for a luxury sports car, something in the $80K-and-up range, would you consider a Maserati? If youre like most people youd probably figure on the vaunted marque being too expensive, and while its least pricy model, simply named Coupé GT, starts at a significant $79,900, when you stack up its standard features and heady performance beside rivals, it actually looks pretty reasonable. But then again, who worries about value for money in this range? Youd be surprised.

Fortunately, those who might choose the Maserati for pragmatic reasons wont be let down with regards to its other attributes, as even the least of cars that wear the famed Trident badge delivers everything and more than most would expect from a top-tier

Maseratis value leader still costs more than $80K in base form, but its oh so nice. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

sports car. And by more I mean more luxury, more performance and more style.

Italian carmakers have long bridged the gap between German efficiency and British opulence, and the new Maserati GranSport Coupé and Spyder, the top-line versions of the entry-level model, epitomize this philosophy. From the outside, chrome sparkles effervescently where a Teutonic roadster might feature stoic matte black trim, while the Italian

The interior is as sumptuous as anything in the luxury class. (Photo: Maserati)

cars overall shape is understated elegance. Inside, its rich fabrics and leathers, plus fine metal detailing are as sumptuous as anything from jolly olde England yet the design is riskier, and depending on color choices, sometimes downright flamboyant.

I tested a couple of different versions, one dressed in gorgeous light-blue metallic exterior paint and, complementing this, a rather over-the-top light blue hued cabin with a racy woven cloth dash insert. OK, this one wasnt for me, but I can appreciate that there might be someone who finds it the

A little color can change the entire ambience. (Photo: Maserati)

cats meow (Robin Williams character from Birdcage - how fitting being a Maserati - comes to mind). Fortunately, Maserati was just providing a sample of its bespoke program that allows owners to pick and choose from a palette as varied as color combinations are possible, plus interior packages that can be tailored to suit individual tastes. Even the brands car configurator available at www.maserati.com features more possibilities than any other build-a-car application Ive ever seen. Try it out, you can even change the caliper color in the photo, or replace the silver Trident badge with a gold one...

Dark red yes, but fortunately ortunately my Mexico didnt have as ghastly a color combination as what you can come up with in Maseratis ultimately cool online configurator. (Photo: Maserati)?

how 80s.

I suppose Im more of a traditionalist, liking my Italian cars with classic tan leather interiors, and sometimes, even a trace of hardwood. My 67 Maserati Mexico originally had natural pigskin hides and a mahogany dash, after all, although some git died the leather dark red and painted the exterior a dark Mercedes blue somewhere along the way, and while still attractive, it is hardly the way I believe Vignale, the cars designer, had initially envisioned it.

Fortunately, the questionable paint and interior

Coupe our convertible, the GranSport delivers fabulous foward thrust via its 395-hp 4.2L V8. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)?

color scheme didnt play havoc with my Mexicos powerful 4.7-litre quad-cam V8. Even by todays standards its a force to be reckoned with, but then again its 300 or so horsepower hardly compares with the GranSports 395-horsepower 4.2-litre V8. The quad-cam, 32-valve engine, if you werent aware, comes via a technology partnership with Ferrari; although up until recently Ferrari owned the Trident marque... that is until Fiat, with newfound riches that came from a well-orchestrated, or more likely a ruddy fluky deal with GM, pulled Maserati away from the prancing horse brand in order to align its future projects

Nero Competizione (Competition Black) always shows good taste. (Photo: Maserati)?

with Alfa Romeo, or something like that.
At this point, I think its important to pay tribute to Maseratis past, at least when it comes to engine development. When the first Mexico debuted in 1964 as a 1965 model, it was one of few road cars that offered a quad-cam V8. Certainly dual-overhead cam technology was available with Alfa Romeo and other (mostly Italian) manufacturers, but not many automakers had fused the two high-tech banks of cylinders together into a V-formation. Even vaunted Ferrari mostly offered single-overhead cam technology with its lovely V12s, while you could pick up a humble four-door Quattroporte a year prior to my Mexico with the much more advanced powertrain.

The seats are wonderfully supportive and general layout ideal for performance driving. (Photo: Maserati)?

The Maserati (Mexico in this case), mind you, was quite a bit more expensive than a comparable Ferrari of the era.

How times have changed. The most accessible Ferrari now costs a sweet $168,005, and we already know a Maserati with Ferrari technology can be purchased for almost exactly half that price. While Im not going to try and compare an F430 to a Coupé GT, or a Spider to a Spyder for that matter, the Maserati is every bit as formidable in its Grand Touring market segment as the F430 is in its exotic sports car category. The GranSport just cranks up that capability a tad more, and as part of the package treats its fortunate owner to some extra flash and features.

I

It rides and handles like few others. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) ?

already mentioned the Blu Metal (Metal Blue) fabric that covered the dash of one of my testers, but didnt go on to explain that tasteful hides, carbon fibre accents and woods can be added at will, while the same unique seat piping color can also trim the centre stack. That fabric, which is standard, can also be had in Grigio Nickel (Nickel Grey) or Nero Competizione (Competition Black). The dash plastics are all top-quality, as is the switchgear.

I certainly found the drivers seat comfortable, and capable of holding my rear in place during aggressive maneuvers. Theyre power adjustable, of course, and can be had with heated

You can get the Brembos in a variety of colors... (Photo: Maserati)?

cushions from front occupants plus memorized settings on the drivers side.

Maserati has trimmed the GranSports centre tunnel in carbon and leather, while tasteful chrome surrounds the Cambiacorsa control selector and the secondary commands.

Primary control switches, including the blue Start button are positioned closer to the driver, while the climate control and CD player switchgear are integrated within a carbon panel on the centre console.

The main interface between man and machine, a gorgeous three-spoke steering wheel, features a moulded rim wrapped in perforated leather with carbon accents, and felt at one with this scribe. Peering through the spokes will find blue-faced gauges with white graphics, a nice

Through Road Atlantas esses, the GranSport is absolutely fabulous. (Photo: Maserati)?

touch that minded me of expensive wrist watches. Speaking of watches, the GranSports analog clock at dash-central is shaped like the brands badge, and is a work of art.

While such a timepiece might be a throw to the past, the GranSport is all about high-tech wizardry. For instance, it features a rear-mounted transaxle and differential unit, plus stability and traction control (MSP) integrating with ABS, ASR, MSR and EBD, all features that a driver can deactivate if needed or desired. The front and rear suspension system is independent, of course, with double wishbone geometry at both ends and Maseratis available Skyhook adaptive damping system, which incidentally will instantly and automatically adapt the damper calibrations to suit a drivers style and or the road conditions while offering up a duo of settings

Fast? Oh yeah... (Photo: Maserati)

to choose from, Normal and Sport, just like with the base coupe.

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