Maserati GranTurismo S Gets New 4.7L Engine

If there has been one criticism towards Maserati's latest coupe, the GranTurismo,

Maserati built Alfa Romeo's 4.7-litre engine for the 8C. Now it's found another use for it. (Photo: Maserati)

it's that the beautiful two-door grand tourer is a bit too soft, and that it isn't as fast as it could have been. OK, that's two complaints. To satisfy customers who want a little more performance, Maserati is unveiling the GranTurismo S, a sportier version to compete with the likes of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW M6, and Porsche 911.

Maserati's modifications have resulted in a bit of a one-two punch to sweeten the GranTurismo's dynamics. The 4.2-litre V8 engine has been swapped out in favour of the one used in the Alfa Romeo 8C (which, incidentally is built by Maserati) that stands at 4.7 litres, although its output is slightly detuned from the Alfa to 440 horsepower. This should help to drop the GranTurismo's 0-100 km/h time to well under five seconds.

With the new engine comes a new transaxle, improving weight distribution. (Photo: Maserati)

And here's where things get interesting. Where the Quattroporte Automatic and the standard GranTurismo both feature six-speed ZF automatics that are mounted right behind the engine, the transmission in the S model is completely different in type and layout. Like the old Coupe/Spyder, the S features a six-speed transaxle located at the rear of the vehicle for improved balance and weight distribution. It's electronically linked to the gearshift lever.

Visually, Maserati has kept the differences between regular and S models very subtle. To provide extra stopping power, the GranTurismo S gains new six-piston Brembo front calipers, new alloy wheels, and as an extra decadent touch to its occupants, the S gets upholstery that is a combination of Alcantara and Poltrona Frau leather.

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