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2009 Maserati GranTurismo Review
The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo lineup expands to include a top-line S model. This four-passenger coupe shares much of its basic design with Maserati's Quattroporte sedan. The standard powertrain is a 405-hp 4.2-liter V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission with steering-column-mounted shift paddles. New for 2009 is an S model with a 440-hp 4.7-liter V8 shared with the Alfa Romeo 8C. Unlike most front-engine cars, the GranTurismo has a rear weight bias, which Maserati says improves handling. Standard safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front side airbags, and front curtain airbags. Standard on all models are dual-zone climate control, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, and a rear obstacle detection system. Also standard are a navigation system, 10-way adjustable front seats with memory that power forward to ease entry to the rear seats and a power tilt and telescopic steering column that raises and lowers for easier ingress.

Walkaround
GranTurismo's Ferrari-sourced 4.2-liter V8 is somewhat small for the class, thus this coupe lacks the immediate thrust of rivals from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Once underway this engine shines however, pulling vigorously as revs climb. The responsive, well-matched transmission shifts with authority but is never harsh. Far sharper than can be reasonably expected from a heavy coupe, the remarkable balance in corners and direct, communicative steering combine for astounding sports-car-like handling. More music than mechanical noise, the GranTurismo's engine is a delight to hear rev and encourages aggressive driving. The engine is always heard, even in relaxed cruising, but for most Maserati drivers, that's just fine. Large, clearly marked gauges make getting vital information a snap. Most controls are logically placed and easy to use. The standard navigation system is a nightmare of nonsensical buttons and knobs however, requiring lengthy study before use. More private library than car interior, the GranTurismo's cabin exudes luxury with sumptuous leather accented by real wood and chrome accents. Sadly, the standard headliner looks and feels cheap, more appropriate for a Mercury than a Maserati. A $1550 Alcantara headliner goes some distance to remedy this situation on the Quattroporte, but isn't available on the GranTurismo.

Summary
Maserati wants to be the "exotic daily driver," and GranTurismo fits that role nicely. This big coupe is as happy sitting in traffic as it is carving a twisty two-lane back road, and its magical engine note never rises to the level of annoyance. With prices starting in the very-low $100,000 range, this big Italian coupe can be considered a strong value, to boot.

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2009 Maserati GranTurismo S Low Prices and Lease Payments All Color and Options Worldwide Delivery 1-888-861-8080

2009-03-31T19:16:00Z

2009 Maserati GranTurismo S

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2009 Maserati GranTurismo Review
The S gets a new version of Maseratis Ferrari-derived aluminum V-8, with a 2.0-millimeter bore increase (to 94.0mm) and a 4.7mm stretch in stroke, yielding 4691cc versus 4244. With the car operating in Sport mode, which opens a pair of shortcut valves in the exhaust system, this adds up to 433 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque versus the 4.2s 405 and 340.

Walkaround
The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo lineup expands to include a top-line S model. This four-passenger coupe shares much of its basic design with Maserati's Quattroporte sedan. The standard powertrain is a 405-hp 4.2-liter V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission with steering-column-mounted shift paddles. New for 2009 is an S model with a 440-hp 4.7-liter V8 shared with the Alfa Romeo 8C. Unlike most front-engine cars, the GranTurismo has a rear weight bias, which Maserati says improves handling. Standard safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front side airbags, and front curtain airbags. Standard on all models are dual-zone climate control, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, and a rear obstacle detection system. Also standard are a navigation system, 10-way adjustable front seats with memory that power forward to ease entry to the rear seats and a power tilt and telescopic steering column that raises and lowers for easier ingress.

Summary
What you might not expect, though, is a new six-speed automated manual transaxle. Supplied by Graziano, the new unit replaces the GTs ZF six-speed and employs a dry twin-plate clutch. Though not one of the newfangled twin-clutch gearboxes, it has six operating modes, and in the most aggressive, Maserati says shift time goes from 300 milliseconds to 100. The downside of the new transaxle is that operation in full automatic mode is irritatingly slow. But the Maserati marketeers say this shouldnt matter because the S should be regardedand drivenas a manual. They also expect some 200 to 300 U.S. buyers to step up to the $135,000 base pricesome $21,000 more than the GTswith deliveries beginning in November.

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2009 Maserati GranTurismo Low Prices and Lease Payments All Color and Options Worldwide Delivery 1-888-861-8080

2009-03-31T19:06:00Z

2009 Maserati GranTurismo

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2009 Maserati GranTurismo Low Prices Lease Payments Worldwide Delivery 1888-861-8080

2009-03-05T15:37:00Z

2009 Maserati GranTurismo

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New 2008 Maserati Quattroporte Low Prices Lease Payments 1-888-861-8080 FleetRates.com Worldwide Delivery

2008-05-22T19:17:00Z

New 2008 Maserati Quattroporte
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Certain things just sound sexier in other languages, like fancy French perfumes labeled "eau de parfum" and fancy Italian four-door luxury sedans called "quattroporte." But the Maserati Quattroporte is more than a deceptively sexy name; it's a beautiful, performance-oriented Italian luxury car endowed with ample power, sharp handling and two impressive transmissions that make it the closest thing yet to a Ferrari sedan. Since its introduction, the Quattroporte (the name means "four doors" in Italian) has offered what it calls the DuoSelect paddle-shift automated clutch manual transmission similar to those found in F1 race cars. But the DuoSelect's automatic mode tends to shift unevenly in traffic and its operation is a bit unorthodox. To rectify the situation, Maserati has introduced a six-speed automatic that offers crisp response and fast, smooth shifts that place it among the world's best. Despite weighing about 4,400 pounds, the Maserati Quattroporte manages to feel like a car half its size with well-weighted steering, limited body roll and a captivating eagerness to change direction. Contributing to this is Maserati's "Skyhook" adjustable suspension, controlled by a button on the dash. Skyhook can be set to the more comfortable "Normal" mode or the noticeably firmer "Sport" setting -- both calibrated on the supple side on the Automatic model to better suit American tastes. The Maserati Quattroporte, Sport GT and Executive GT arrive with hefty price tags, though, and they don't offer the same straight-line punch as some of their full-size European or Japanese luxury sedan competitors. Yet the Quattroporte is not only a great choice for driving enthusiasts, it's also the more artful choice, with stunning styling by Pininfarina and an interior that's made to order. While its German rivals perform with businesslike efficiency, the Quattroporte is certainly the more passionate expression of "four door" for those so inclined.

Current Maserati Quattroporte
The Maserati Quattroporte is a performance luxury sedan offered in DuoSelect and automatic models, which are further defined by base, Sport GT and Executive GT trim levels. The Executive GT is more luxury-oriented, and the Sport GT will no doubt satisfy more serious performance fans. Options for all trim levels include run-flat tires, rear-seat heating, cooling and massage, pull-down rear-seat tables, DVD entertainment and custom paints and leathers. The Maserati Quattroporte is powered by a 400-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine attached to either a traditional six-speed automatic transmission or a DuoSelect automated-clutch five-speed manual. The DuoSelect can shift automatically or by the driver via paddle shifters, and offers lightning-quick gearchanges and perfectly matches revs when downshifting. Although DuoSelect will appeal to performance-oriented drivers looking for something different, the excellent automatic transmission should better suit American tastes. As a low-volume, high-end luxury car, the Maserati Quattroporte can be customized to meet individual needs with a variety of cabin trims and leather colors that can be mixed and matched. Seating is comfortable for touring and tailored for four courtesy of the rear seat's aggressive contours. The handsome dash and console feature a healthy dose of look-alike buttons, though, so it takes awhile to get used to some controls. While the fully automatic transmission makes the Maserati Quattroporte a bit less sporty, its more familiar gear-selection procedure and crisp, predictable shifts are just right for the American luxury-car buyer. Regardless of transmission, the Quattroporte is responsive and very well-balanced, changing direction swiftly and easily like a much smaller car while offering a smooth, supple ride comparable to other full-size luxury cars.

New 2008 Maserati GranTurismo Low Prices Lease Payments 1-888-861-8080 FleetRates.com Worldwide Delivery

2008-05-22T19:14:00Z

New 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo
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It's rather refreshing to drive something whose name exactly describes what the car is about. That's the case with this new Maserati because Gran Turismo is Italian for "Grand Touring" and this machine is a classic GT in every sense of the term. The roads here near the Austrian border provided the ideal backdrop to put the new Italian 2+2 through its paces. Where two-lane roads meander into tricky corners and long straights, the GranTurismo was right at home, providing the ideal combination of comfort and sport. The GranTurismo replaces the Coupe/Gran Sport in Maserati's lineup. Discontinued in 2006, the Coupe/Gran Sport was sent off with lukewarm praise, as some criticized the car's overall lack of refinement and clunky semiautomatic gearbox. But the GranTursimo is an altogether different animal. Built on a shortened version of the Quattroporte's platform, the GT's high level of quality can be seen and felt as soon as you jump in the driver's seat, from the fit and finish of the sumptuous leather interior to the solid nature of the body. Also, the car is equipped with a new transmission, one that's much smoother and more efficient than the old "F1" box. Manufactured by ZF, this 6-speed torque-converter unit exhibits quick up- and downshifts when engaged in manual mode, and velvety upshifts when driving in full automatic. Although it's not a twin-clutch system (like the Audi/VW's DSG), it shares its level of smoothness...and there's no clunking whatsoever. What's more, this hydraulically activated gearbox (with paddles) allows manual gear changes up to 7200 rpm, a good thing because the GranTurismo's 4.2-liter 32-valve V-8 is a screamer that can spin to 7500-plus rpm. Peak horsepower of 405 bhp is realized at 7100 rpm, with max torque of 339 lb.-ft. coming at 4750. With the throttle pedal floored, the GranTursimo leaves the line briskly, but without the tire-smoking fanfare of, say, a BMW M6 or Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG. In fact, the engine feels a bit flat at launch, though things start picking up when the tachometer needle brushes past 4000. As the revs climb, the car gradually changes its demeanor, from that of a luxury coupe to a true sports car — Maserati claims the GT will run to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph. The GT felt extremely capable taking on the variety of corners in the Italian Alps, but there was a fair amount of body roll through tight turns. That said, the Pirelli P Zero tires stayed firmly planted to the ground, with minimal under- and oversteer when driving at 7/10ths. The car's 49/51 front/rear weight distribution and finely-tuned upper-and-lower-A-arm suspension setup are big reasons why. Unfortunately, our drive didn't include a track session, and we were unable to wring the car out to its limits. As coupes go, the GranTurismo is on the large side, measuring 192.2 in. from bumper to bumper, with a 115.8-in. wheelbase. Curb weight is 4145 lb. But Pininfarina performed a masterful job of designing the 2-door to look smaller than it actually is. The car's profile flows smoothly, creating a dynamic wedge shape, and the face is as pretty as any Maserati in the last dozen years. Eighteen-in. alloy wheels are standard equipment, with 19-in. wheels optional. The GT comes in 19 different paint schemes and a few dozen interior trim colors, giving buyers about a million different color combinations, according to the factory.