2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible (GranCabrio)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
With a wonderfully throaty purr, the 2010 Maserati GranTurismo has impressed auto reviewers all over the world who were privileged to give it a test drive. Photos of this beauty show that the ears do not lie if they hear what this wonderful sports car sounds like yearning for the road while delivering unprecedented comfort and style.
Performance
The GranTurismo is available in three styles for 2010: the GranTurismo, the GranTurismo S and the GranTurismo Convertible. The base Turismo has a 4.2-liter V8 engine that harnesses 405 horsepower at a top speed of 177 miles per hour and the ability to cover the first sixty of those in 5.1 seconds. The Turismo S has a 4.7-liter V8 that rides on 433 ponies with a top speed of 183 miles per hour and can get from zero to sixty a little faster than its little brother at 4.9 seconds. The Convertible is the power-star of the Turismo fleet- called the GranCabrio in other countries – it is powered by a 4.7-liter V-8 engine which provides a driver with the reins to control 440 horses using a 6-speed automatic transmission. This convertible will go from 0-62 miles per hour is only 5.4 seconds.
The engines for the 2010 Maserati GranTurismo have been derived from the Ferrari engine and this car sure likes to pretend it is one of those ultra-expensive cousins. Ultra-capable handling is what you’d expect and that is exactly what the 2010 GranTurismo delivers. As a bonus feature, the convertible is the first four-seater ever made by Maserati so you can share the fun with not just one, but three of your friends.
Exterior Features
As a coupe, the GranTurismo and GranTurismo S both have extremely distinctive exterior styling. Seven metallic colors are available, two non-metallic (black and white), and four special colors – including police officer eye-catching red – are available for the exterior. The front grille is large and uninterrupted by anything but the small, centered Maserati logo in the middle that seems almost embarrassed to be there. Fog lights are deeply set and out of the way.
For the Convertible Turismo, the soft top is able to retract out of the way in 24 seconds, magically subtracting nothing from either the trunk space or the rear seat when it is down. Standard wheels are 19-inches with the 20-inch Birdcages or 20-inch Neptune Nero wheels available optionally. The brake calipers may also be custom-colored for only $750.
Interior Features
Ten color options await the customer who is designing their own 2010 GranTurismo. Of course the interior is leather – Poltrona Frau leather to be exact – along with three wood trim options. The Steering wheel can either be finished in leather, wood or carbon fiber in various choices depending on taste as well. Contrast stitching in the seats, carpet borders and even options for the color of the seatbelts make for a truly customizable vehicle.
Of course the workmanship inside is quality, and the room is impressive in the coupe base Turismo as well as the S. You do give up a little space in the back seat for the Convertible, but it is still sufficient to put a pair of small to medium-sized adults in with minimal discomfort.
Safety & Specifications
Detailed safety information for the 2010 GranTurismo is not available at the time of this writing. The Maserati is not usually a candidate for government crash-test rankings.
Upgrade Options
For a car in the $125,000+ range starting price, you can generally expect that customizations begin with the customer’s wishes. There are some things that Maserati won’t do, but there aren’t many. Standard upgrade options include the Maserati Skyhook active suspension system, 20-inch Birdcage Wheels, a Bose Surround Sound system, dual-twin sport exhaust and rear parking sensors. Of course with the already impressive list of standard features offered in a Maserati, not adding options isn’t exactly our idea of roughing it.
Upgrade packages for the 2010 GranTurismo are given such exotic names as “evolution I, II, and III, and offer other features including front deflectors and a rear spoiler done in carbon fiber that will increase the vertical load for faster cornering and superior traction if that’s your thing for this kind of sports car. A premium sound system is standard as well as hard-drive based navigation, Bluetooth, and power front seats for both passenger and driver.
How the GranTurismo Compares to Other Exotic Sports Cars
GranTurismo competition includes the Porsche 911 Turbo which costs a hair less than the base Turismo but is not as luxurious and will easily cost significantly more as you add features to bring it more in line with what the GranTurismo offers. The Porsche Panamera Turbo is also a competitor, slightly higher priced, it is a better performer and offers the same type of interior room and styling, but lacks much of the distinctive Porsche look.
Conclusion: Is the 2010 GranTurismo a Smart Buy?
Unparalleled luxury for its price range and a means to perform as well as many sports cars near twice its price point, the Maserati GranTurismo offers a comfortable ride, quality and head-turning looks for less than what you might pay for comparable vehicles when loaded to its specs like the Porsche 911. The roominess available in the GranTurismo – even as a convertible – make it worthy of serious consideration as well over the competition.
[automobile.com]
