Maserati GranTurismo S MC Sport Line

Maserati has chosen the GranTurismo S, their popular two door grand tourer as the platform for their first entry in the newly announced MC Sport Line performance catalogue.

The MC Sport Line customization program focuses on Maserati's racing heritage fresh from its latest international triumph in the FIA GT championship with the Bertolini-Bartels duo in Argentina, the land of Juan Manuel Fangio.


Modifications include aerodynamics, using front and rear carbon fiber spoilers to optimise the vertical load, and the side skirts add a dynamic look, especially with that matte black finish. Carbon fiber appears on mirror housings and door handles, while the black 20-inch rims match these dark finishes.

Matte black Maserati GranTurismo

We like matte black cars especially on an exotic Italian, and it looks like we're not the only ones. Design house Italia Independent used a Maserati GranTurismo to gain attention at last year's Pitti Uomo fashion expo to gain attention for its clothing featuring "natural" colors. Because having one cool Italian in an ultra-cool paintjob wasn't enough, they also painted a Fiat 500 and Vespa scooter in the lack-luster finish to complete the effect. (...)

Maserati to roll out GranTurismo GTS, convertible

Click above for a high-resolution gallery of the Maserati GranTurismo

For an automaker with only two model lines, Maserati is certainly keeping busy. One of a handful of luxury carmakers to improve its sales figures in 2008, the Trident marque is undoubtedly looking to build upon its growth with an eye towards setting yet another sales record. Fortunately that push is product-driven, prompting Modena to improve upon its already-mouthwatering offerings and give us something new to drool over, too.
First up is the Quattroporte GTS, the sportiest version yet of Maserati's performance luxury sedan, which debuted at the Detroit show and goes on sale next month. That will reportedly be followed by a similarly-equipped version of its two-door counterpart. Called the GranTurismo GTS, we can't help but wonder if it was named by someone with a stutter... or maybe by former UN sec-gen Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Naming aside, the high-spec GranTurismo is expected to ditch the robotized manual in favor of the performance-tuned automatic coupled to the 433-hp, 4.8-liter V8 from the Quattroporte GTS. Other changes will include a tighter suspension and sporty touches all around.
The bigger news, however, will be the debut of the new Spyder. While a smaller sports car has been speculated, sources expect this Spyder to be GranTurismo-based, retaining its four proper seats under the open sky. The new Maserati Spyder could make its public debut as soon as Frankfurt later this year, so stay tuned.

Maserati Quattroporte Centurion for American Express Black Card holders

The Centurion Card, known as the Black Card, is a credit card issued by American Express to the very elite. To become a Black Card holder, one must meet a strict criteria by American Express and must pay an annual and initiation fee. It comes with a lot of benefits, which now includes a limited-edition [...]

The Centurion Card, known as the Black Card, is a credit card issued by American Express to the very elite. To become a Black Card holder, one must meet a strict criteria by American Express and must pay an annual and initiation fee. It comes with a lot of benefits, which now includes a limited-edition Maserati Quattroporte.

Unveiled at Forbes House in London to an exclusive audience of Black Card holders, the Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion special series is exclusively built to order. The model is finished in metallic Nero Carbonio (carbon black) with a Bianco Polare (polar white) Poltrona Frau leather interior with embossed Centurion logo on the headrests. It also has a bespoke numbered plaque, titanium colored trim and 20-inch wheels.

Power comes from a 4.2L V8 making 400-hp allowing Black Card holders to go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 167 mph. There is also a Quattroporte for Centurion 4.7 which is powered by a 430-hp allowing for a 0 to 62 mph time of 5.4 seconds.

Pricing starts at £88,315 ($124,352 USD) for the Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion 4.2 and £94,185 ($132,617) for the Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion 4.7.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Review

Road test

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

18 out of 20

£89,860

Driven March 2009

(See other road tests)

This is the finest large sporting saloon in the world. It sits at the top of a distinguished and expensive heap, including the V10 Audi S8, the 525bhp Mercedes S63 AMG and the all-new BMW 7-Series V8 twin turbo, and it trounces them all in different ways.

High praise indeed, but this new Quattroporte Sport GT S is that good. All the planets seem to have aligned at Maserati with this car, and the combination of a raft of small changes makes it completely rock.

First, a catch-up with the Maserati model line-up, in case it's overtaken you lately. Anything with an ‘S' means the new wet-sump 4.7-litre V8 is under the nose. So, the GranTurismo coupe comes in standard (4.2-litre) and S (4.7) forms. The coupe S uses a version of Ferrari's F1 ‘flappy paddle' robotised manual 'box, fitted at the rear in a transaxle layout.

This Quattroporte Sport GT S gets a very similar 4.7-litre engine, tweaked to give 433bhp (8bhp more than the standard QP S and 38bhp more than the 4.2) but mated to a conventional ZF automatic gearbox - the same 'box you'll find on Jags, Mercs and BMWs, but tweaked to Maserati's high-revving requirements. It is a fantastic auto - quick to change in manual mode, and smooth and direct in automatic, a perfect match for the car's character.

One more feature worth noting is that this QP Sport does not get the adaptive ‘Sky Hook' suspension of other Masers - it gets stiffer springs all round and sits lower, but you can't adjust it. Fine. We'll take what the engineers think is best. Cosmetic changes like darkened headlight lenses, black concave grille spars and oval pipes complete the picture.

At the end of all that, what you have is a striking-looking and strongly built saloon with tremendous handling, a car that can be quiet and comfortable when it needs to be. Then, hit the Sport button, and some flaps open in the exhaust to send the sound straight through. This is one of the very, very greatest engine sounds - a delectable V8 howl, a spine-tingling note that will have you driving through towns in Sport mode with the windows down in first gear at 4,500rpm, just to hear the sound bouncing off the walls.

Then there's the handling, aided by an engine that sits entirely behind the front axle line, effectively making the car front-mid-engined. Its ability from turn-in to apex is electric and instant, with steering that gives you plenty of feel. Weight balance is 49 per cent front, 51 per cent rear, aided by a fuel tank that sits behind the rear seats and cuts into the boot. Who cares? Not us.

Bring on the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Rapide. The Quattroporte Sport GT S awaits them, unblinking and unafraid. No full-sized four-door car goes harder or better

NOVITEC TRIDENTE Refines the Maserati GranTurismo S

NOVITEC TRIDENTE now also refines the Maserati GranTurismo S: The newly developed supercharged engine represents a jump in rated power output of the V8 engine from standard 440 hp to 600 hp / 442 kW. With it, the 2+2-seater sprints to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 315 km/h.

Sebring 12 Hours High Resolution Images

I photographed Sebring this year for TeamSpeed.com. I had a fantastic time. Below you can find my write-up and images of the show as posted on my site at chrisgrosserphotography.com and also on TeamSpeed.com.

View my write-up and 69 of the photos below after the jump in high resolution (full size).