Maserati of Minneapolis Blog

Cars & Coffee MN - August Recap

2008-08-04T10:02:00.004-05:00

Saturday's Cars & Coffee was amazing - over 250 cars came out on a beautiful Saturday morning. The sheer diversity of cars was incredible - from an incredible 1960's Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, to some really clean old Bugs. Next month promises to be even bigger - and we're working on an adjacent lot that can handle the extra turnout.

Here is a slideshow of pictures I took:

[edit: 8-22]
Matt Desmond just posted his video:

Wheels of Italy - 2008

2008-07-30T17:10:00.005-05:00

August 24th
10am - 4pm
Free for owners, Free for admirers
All Italian vehicles welcome.
FREE Gift bag to the first 250 Italian cars on display!

View Larger Map

Cars & Coffee

2008-07-10T15:21:00.005-05:00

This past Cars & Coffee event was awesome - we had more cars representing more makes and eras than any previous event. This monthly meeting continues to grow and should become a permanent part of twin cities car culture. If you haven't yet made it down - you're really missing out.

Cars & Coffee happens on the first Saturday of each month. After each event there is a rotating schedule of driving activities - from dyno pulls to photo shoots. We will try to continue to hold get-togethers indoors during the winter, with karting, open houses, and other events in planning.

I maintain an e-mail announcement list for the Formula 1 events here at the dealership, for all of the Cars & Coffee events, and other events of interest to high-end automotive enthusiasts. To sign up for this list, send me an e-mail mark.potter@morries.com. I send out an e-mail once every two weeks on average - so don't worry about your inbox being filled with junk.

Video from July:

The next C&C is scheduled for August 2nd - details here

Followup: More Photos of the Bellagio Fastback and A8 GCS

2008-05-13T13:13:00.002-05:00

The reborn Carrozzeria Touring made a big splash at Villa d'Este. As the featured marque of the Concorso d'Eleganza this year, the fathers of the classic Superleggera construction method took the wraps off two stunning coachbuilt Maseratis. While we wait for Touring to release more information on the swoopy A8 GCS sportscar and Bellagio Fastback, the Carrozzeria has graced us with a few new images of the two cars.

[source: AutoBlog]

Gran Turismo S: Now Accepting Orders

2008-05-13T13:10:00.002-05:00

When the Maserati GranTurismo was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Auto Salon it was an instant success. The gorgeous bodywork, styled by Pininfarina, was the obvious reason crowds flocked to the Maserati stand to admire the new Italian beauty – and once they were there, they found much more. The signature Maserati V8 engine, a fine leather-clad interior which is both sumptuously elegant and sporting, and – what sets it apart from the cars which aspire to be its rivals – two full-size rear seats.

Remarkably, Maserati found a way to repeat the success for the 2008 Geneva Show, which saw the debut of the GranTurismo S. A version of the car aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts, it was the undoubted star of the show; for the second year, the Maserati stand was on the ‘must see’ list for visitors.

With the engine uprated to 4.7 liters, producing 433 hp, the GranTurismo S can sprint to 62mph in 4.9 sec and accelerate on to 183mph, given an autobahn or a racetrack. Bringing proceedings to a halt are the Maserati-exclusive dual-cast brakes, first seen on the Quattroporte Sport GT S. These brakes, developed in conjunction with Brembo, feature cast iron rotors for strength and heat dissipation cast as one piece with aluminum hubs to reduce unsprung weight.

The GranTurismo S also sees the return of the paddle-shift manual transmission, improved and refined for smoother and faster shifts. Integrated into the rear axle and differential assembly in a transaxle layout, this setup gives the GranTurismo S an even more aggressive rear weight bias for even better balance, handling and grip under both acceleration and braking. The new MC-Shift software in the automated manual transmission can change gears in just 100 milliseconds at wide open throttle, while also retaining a fully automatic mode for cruising town. To make the most of the rear weight bias and extra horsepower, lowered and specially tuned suspension increases handling precision and reduces body roll by 10%.

The GranTurismo S has some exterior and interior enhancements, too. New side-skirts and an integral rear spoiler improve aerodynamic efficiency in addition to giving the car a more sporty, aggressive look – and the look is further enhanced by the new seven-spoke 20” wheel rims incorporating a subtle Trident pattern. Inside the surprisingly spacious cabin the seats feature horizontal piping, while the dashboard can be finished in AluTex, a new woven aluminum trim.

The GranTurismo S is a high-performance coupe aimed squarely at the driving enthusiast. Designed for a very particular clientele, it will be produced in very limited numbers and will be sold for one model year only. Deliveries of the 2009 GranTurismo S are expected to begin in late fall or early winter, but Maserati expects the car to sell out long before then. Each car will be built to order, and the order book for the GranTurismo S is now open at authorized Maserati dealerships; if the GranTurismo S appeals to your inner enthusiast then the word from inside the factory is this: don’t delay!

A ground-breaking coupe, enhanced with new engine, transmission and suspension, and with more sporty styling – no wonder the driving cognoscenti mobbed the Maserati stand at the Geneva show. Visit or call us today to find out how to turn their dreams into your reality, and put a limited edition Maserati GranTurismo S in your garage.

Cars & Coffee 2008: May 3rd Recap

2008-05-06T18:22:00.002-05:00

This past weekend's cars & coffee had (barely) better weather, but a bigger turnout and a small group of us drove down to the autocross at Valleyfair afterwards. Cool cars included a Ferrari 360 and Testarossa, a Caterham Super 7, Noble M400, a bunch of Mitsu Evos, Porsche 911s, a couple of Maseratis, and about 40 others.

Here is another video that Matt Desmond put together:

The next cars & coffee is scheduled for June 7th.

Carrozzeria Touring unveils two new Maserati based cars

2008-04-28T19:06:00.002-05:00

This week, Carrozzeria Touring has unveiled two new Maserati-based cars, including the Quattroporte based Bellagio Fastback and the GranTurismo inspired A8 GCS.

In March 1957 the 3500GT was unveiled to the world at the 'Salon International de l'Auto' in Geneva, featuring a body by Allemano, and a second by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. While Allemano was the traditional designer for vehicles coming from 'The house of the Trident,' the elegant Superllegera design from Carrozzeria won out. This was to be Maserati's first mass-production Gran Turismo, and would lay the foundation upon which Maserati would build, eventually leading to today's Gran Turismo.

Carrozzeria Touring holds a special place in Maserati's history, which gives these new models more significance than they might otherwise enjoy.

This is the Carrozzeria Touring Maserati Quattroporte Bellagio Fastback, a 5-door version of the Quattroporte. This car was first shown to the public this week at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, on the shores of Lake Como in Italy. Truly a beautiful alternative to the SUV.

And this is the Carrozzeria Touring Maserati A8 GCS. While you might think this is essentially a re-skinned Gran Turismo, it is actually a traditional body-on-frame sports car which shares only engine and transmission with the GT. The car shows a tasteful mix of retro and modern, with a stunning fastback body.

It is worth noting that neither of these cars will be mass-produced, and you're not likely to see a Carrozzeria Touring badge on a Maserati any time soon, but clearly they are still a world-class design house, and they are still going strong after 80+ years.

Cars & Coffee 2008: April 5th recap

2008-04-07T14:38:00.002-05:00

The first Cars & Coffee event was awesome. About 40 cars showed up, lots of spectators, and afterwards a bunch of us went on a drive out to the Autobahn Motorplex in Chanhassen.

One of the guys uploaded this video:

I have all of the future event details (times, location, map) loaded into my calendar, which you can see here

This promises to be a great regular event throughout the year, so wash your car and come spend some time with us on the first Saturday of each month through October. More events with this group of people are sure to come, so stay tuned!

Quattroporte Collezione Cento - On display in New York

2008-04-02T14:27:00.003-05:00

The Quattroporte Collezione Cento is the ultra-exclusive, high-tech limited edition of the world's finest sports sedan, and this is your invitation to view it in person.

"Collezione Cento", Italian for "Collection of One Hundred", signals the rarity of this technological, performance and luxury tour de force. The famed Maserati factory will create only 100 of these automotive jewels for clients worldwide, and only a few will be made available to discerning North American enthusiasts. With paint available in an exclusive striking ivory white unique to the Cento, a chromed honeycomb finish for the grille and side air vents, and special 20" ball-polished alloy wheels, the exterior literally reflects the car's special status.

Maserati designers and engineers reserved the strongest magic for the Cento's exciting cabin. Interior badging and the famed Trident logo on the shift lever are in authentic mother of pearl complemented by the texture of Wengé wood trim. The buttery soft leather is, of course, Poltrona Frau, and the seats feature distinctive diamond-stitching that evokes the opulence and craftsmanship of motoring's first golden era.

While every Quattroporte entertains the occupants of its front seats with breathtaking performance and handling, the Cento reserves some special treats for those riding in the highly adjustable, climate-controlled rear seats. They will enjoy the tremendous personalized multimedia experience offered by Maserati's leading edge technological innovation and accessibility. As the car traverses cities and continents, the Cento's rear seat passengers can use the built-in Windows-based PC and large integrated LCD screens and a fold-away wireless keyboard to surf the World Wide Web, manage and enjoy their music through iTunes, and check their e-mail. The multimedia system even includes a matched set of wireless headsets for listening to music and enjoying movies on the built-in DVD player. This is the ultimate in Twenty First Century motoring.

Come and enjoy the craftsmanship and technology of the exclusive Quattroporte Collezione Cento on display only at the Maserati Corporate Showroom, 410 Park Avenue & 55th Street, New York, NY 10022 Stop in any time during business hours or phone ahead to set up a special appointment.

Where:
The Maserati Corporate Showroom
410 Park Avenue at 55th Street
New York, NY

When:
10AM to 7PM Monday through Friday
11AM to 5PM Saturday

Phone Number: 212-593-2080

New Maserati GranTurismo S Video

2008-03-11T19:03:00.002-05:00

This is going to be one cool car

Formula 1: 2008 Season

2008-03-03T16:34:00.004-06:00

After a first-year run of hosting all of the Formula 1 races live at the dealership, we're pleased to announce that we will be hosting all of the races during the 2008 season as well. On March 17, the season gets underway and like last year, we're planning a big event to celebrate. (Conveniently it's also St. Patrick's Day.)

The 2008 season should be exciting - last year's championship wasn't decided until the final race, we've got two new tracks including a night race in Singapore, traction control has been banned, and as always, we expect plenty of drama.

Come enjoy the camaraderie of a group of race fanatics as we celebrate the wins, debate the losses, and participate in the car hobby throughout the year. Throughout the 2008 season we will be adding additional after-race drives, car shows, and other enthusiast events.

I've loaded the entire 2008 schedule into this calendar: (times posted = door opening times - subject to change as events are updated)

To view or subscribe to this Google Calendar click here.

I maintain an e-mail announcement list for the Formula 1 events here at the dealership, for all of the Cars & Coffee events, and other events of interest to high-end automotive enthusiasts. To sign up for this list, send me an e-mail mark.potter@morries.com. I send out an e-mail once every two weeks on average - so don't worry about your inbox being filled with junk.

Maserati \ Ferrari \ Alfa Romeo V8 Lineage

2008-02-13T16:29:00.007-06:00

Did you know that the V8 under the GranTurismo's hood has some sisters?

This engine was originally developed in an engineering partnership between Maserati and Ferrari, while Maserati was under Ferrari's full control. This engine would be the heart and soul of Maserati's reintroduction to the United States market, and would become Ferrari's first all-new V8 engine since the 1950's. (The Ferrari 360 was the last car to use an engine based on the Dino V6 and V8 engine lineage that began in 1955: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_Dino_engine)

This V8 comes in 3 main flavors - Maserati's 4.2L, Ferrari's 4.3L, and Alfa's 4.7L:

Maserati GranTurismo
92.0 x 79.8mm
4244cc
11.1:1
400hp@7100rpm
339lb-ft@4750rpm
7500rpm redline
Variable intake valve timing

Ferrari 430 Scuderia
92.0 x 81.0mm
4308cc
11.9:1
503hp@8500 rpm
347lb-ft@5250 rpm
8500rpm redline
Variable intake and exhaust valve timing
Variable intake manifold
Flat-plane crankshaft
Dry-sump lubrication

Alfa 8C-Competizione
94.0 x 84.5mm
4691cc
11.3:1
444hp@7000rpm
347lb-ft@4750rpm
7500rpm redline
Variable intake valve timing
Dry-sump lubrication

Fangio Footage

2008-01-21T11:12:00.000-06:00

I ran across some great vintage racing footage of Fangio behind the wheel of the Maserati 250F:

"In his memoirs, Giulio Borsari, one of the most famous mechanics to have worked for both Maserati and then Ferrari, says “the Nürburgring is recognised as Fangio’s greatest victory in his entire career: on that occasion he drove impeccably, sealing his fifth world title.”"

"On lap 12, Fangio came into the pits for his planned tyre change, but unfortunately, the mechanics lost a rear knock-off spinner under the car. Fangio, frustrated to say the least, not only sat and watched as his advantage was lost but also saw the distance between him and the leading car increase dramatically. When he got back into the race, the “Maestro” was 45 seconds behind the first Ferrari. Fangio recalled: “I was really disappointed. I was on the way to win the race and take my fifth world championship, but there were only 10 laps to go and I realised that there was little hope of winning unless I managed to do something very special.” "

"Although after the race Fangio declared “I had never driven like that before, and I knew I never would again”, his courage, strength and sensitivity led him to win a magnificent victory on the Eifel mountains. With this success, he earned a permanent place in Formula 1 history and legend. And with him, so did the 250F."

Maserati has setup a great minisite to celebrate Fangio's success behind the wheel: maseraticelebratesfangio.com

Quattroporte Collezione Cento

2008-01-18T17:43:00.000-06:00

Unveiled at the Detroit Autoshow, the new Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento is a limited edition masterpiece.

Created from brand new materials and constructed using traditional methods, the Collezione Cento is dedicated to those looking for the last word in luxury, but who do not want to compromise on comfort and advanced technology.

The car's elegant Avorio livery, with its contrasting air vents, catches the eye. The chrome honeycombed front and side grilles give the berlina an executive air while the 20" ball-polished rims provide a refined look.

The interior oozes taste with its tan Poltrona Frau seats. These feature diamond shaped stitching and colour coordinated button covers. The new polished Wenge wood can be found on the steering wheel and central console, a characteristic enhanced by the mother-of-pearl insert that spells out the name of the car and traces the Trident set in the gearknob.

Conceived for technology buffs, the 'Maserati Multimedia Entertainment' integrated system has audiovisual functions that can be accessed via two 10.4" touchscreens set in the back of the front headrests. The system also boasts a hi-fi set up equipped with Bluetooth headphones. Using the internet and sending emails is easy thanks to the keyboard that folds away inside the armrest.

This new take on luxury and innovation is achieved by employing original styling cues. These create an immediately warm and welcoming interior, but one that is, at the same time, both smart and modern. The numbered plate set in the dashboard, running from 1 to 100, is another sign of the car’s exclusivity.

Master Maserati Driving School

2008-01-18T16:56:00.000-06:00

After a hugely successful 2007 season, Maserati is once again offering a full season of performance driving instruction with their world-class 'Master Maserati' program. This represents your chance to learn from some of the best drivers in the world - 10 instructors under the direction of Ivan Capelli (Veteran of 98 Gran Prix races in F1). Vehicles include the brand new GranTurismo (5), the brand new Quattroporte Sport GTS (2), as well as the GranSport (6), and Trofeo Race Cars (2).

The 2008 Maserati Master GT 2-Day driving course is organized by Maserati Spa, open to existing and potential owners, with an emphasis on the GranTurismo and safe driving techniques. The course takes place at the Varano de Melegari autodrome, a technically demanding track perfectly suited to driver training. The track boasts centrally controlled artificial rain, low grip resin, a skid machine, on-board telemetry, and lecture room with video-replay feedback.

Groups of 24 people per course are split into 3-4 smaller groups of 6-8 participants each, with track time broken up among the different vehicles, and progressing from classroom theory through demonstration laps in the Maserati Trofeo. Topics covered include emergency braking, power oversteer with and without ASR, high-speed pendulum turns, a high-speed contest, and laps on track following a "pace" car - under a green not yellow flag... Educational sessions are broken up with on-track time with telemetry analysis.

Each exercise is tailored to improving your skills as a driver, and to get the most enjoyment out of your current or future Maseratis. After all - these cars are meant to be driven, and with Maserati's 90 years of racing history - its in their blood.

Dates: 23/24 April, 28/29 May, 10/11 June, 27/28 August, 18/19 September, 8/9 October, 27/28 October
Accommodations at Hotel Palace Maria Luigia, a 4-star superior hotel in Parma, Italy. Dinners at exclusive local restaurants, lunches at the track.
Price: € 3700 (incl. VAT) per participant, all-inclusive; €784 per companion

Speaking of racing, new for 2008 is the Master Maserati Master Racing program.

The Master Maserati Racing course is designed for a limited number of participants, who can now spend a whole day at the wheel of the Maserati Trofeo and the Maserati GranSport. This is a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of Maserati competitions with the support of a highly professional staff and the latest equipment.

The Racing course is limited to 12 participants, and utilizes the Maserati Trofeo, GranSport, and GranTurismo vehicles.
Cost: €3999 per participant, all-inclusive

For more information, or to sign-up, please e-mail me: mark.potter (at) morries (dot) com

8 Championships in 3 Years

2008-01-18T16:46:00.002-06:00

[from MaseratiMonthly.com]

"The final three races in the FIA GT Championship season proved one thing: The Maserati MC12 is a must-have for any team or driver with ambitions to win championships. Over those last three races, Maserati has clinched the Manufacturers’ Cup, for the second time in three years, and Vitaphone Racing has pulled off the unprecedented feat of a third consecutive Teams’ Championship. Thomas Biagi clinched the Drivers’ Championship, the second year in a row a Vitaphone driver has taken the title. For good measure Ben Aucott has clinched the inaugural Citation Cup, the trophy for ‘gentleman drivers’... While the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins and Corvettes put up an admirable fight, at the season’s end it was Maserati alone that won every championship in the series, for drivers, teams, and manufacturers."

Long story short, the MC12 was on every podium in 2007, except 1, and in three years of competition, the MC12 has won 2 Manufacturers Trophies, 3 Team Titles, 2 Drivers' Crowns, and the 1st ever Citation Cup.

50 years after Fangio, Maserati is still proving they have what it takes to win.

"I've raced and won in cars of all marques but I always had a special relationship with Maserati: not only were the cars safe, reliable and always absolutely technically avant-garde, but there was a very special friendship and atmosphere between myself and the marque. I felt completely at home."

- Juan Manuel Fangio, 1957
Five Times Formula One World Driving Champion
1957 Formula One World Driving Champion for Maserati

Alpina B7 Video Walkaround

2008-01-13T00:40:00.000-06:00

My second video is now complete and online. This proved to be much harder than the GranSport Spyder. I took about 20 minutes to research and take notes, but still had a bit of trouble with my narration. This took me about 10 tries to get all of the video together, and needed more editing than the previous video, but I'm happy with the outcome. Considering these are the first two videos I've created start to finish and uploaded to YouTube I think I'm doing alright. The biggest challenge might actually be fighting my perfectionist tendencies.

Here is a player which should automatically load all of our movies, with newest first:

In addition, here is a link to our video channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=maseratiofmpls

Maserati GranSport Spyder Walk-Around

2008-01-11T16:34:00.001-06:00

While many technologies, start-ups, and trends come and go on the internet on an almost weekly basis, its clear video is here to stay. Cars in videos is nothing new, but we are going to start offering video walk-arounds of select cars for sale, and eventually every car in our inventory. This video is the first of the bunch, with many more coming soon.

Have some feedback? Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

I'd love to hear them: mark(dot)potter(at)morries(dot)com

Car Magazine Video: Maserati GranTurismo Alfa 8C Competizione Ferrari Scuderia

2007-12-19T19:37:00.001-06:00

These are the hottest Italian cars of 2007, and Car Magazine decided to do a quick group test. Here is video from the article appearing in the Jan '08 issue of Car:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Video/Search-Results/Video/Features/From-Monaco-to-Modena-1/

GranSport Zagato Followup: Video

2007-12-19T19:23:00.001-06:00

This is in follow up to a previous post about the GranSport Zagato, which can be seen here: http://maseratiofminneapolis.blogspot.com/2007/05/zagato-bodied-gransport-spyder.html

GranTurismo Review by Fifth Gear

2007-09-24T13:04:00.000-05:00

The press swirling around the Maserati GranTurismo continues to heat up. This video comes on a tip from theMaseratilife.com forums. This video really showcases the car's good looks, interior room, updated ICE (In Car Entertainment), and gives a great sneak peek into the sounds we will soon be enjoying.

Wheels of Italy, 2007

2007-08-03T10:36:00.001-05:00

Click for fullsize poster
Wheels of Italy, the annual all-Italian car and motorcycle show hits Minneapolis August 26th, from 10a - 4pm. As always, the show is free to attend, and features 200+ cars and motorcycles from Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, MV Agusta, and much more. These vehicles range in age from the brand new to classics. We will have a booth and cars on display, so please stop by and say hi.

http://www.wheelsofitaly.com for more information.

Maserati GranTurismo Videos

2007-06-13T19:28:00.000-05:00

I've been scouring the web for some good videos of the new GranTurismo, and these are the cream of the crop.

This first video is from the GranTurismo's world premiere:

This next video is a CGI teaser:

This video is from Edmunds' Inside Line, and features video form the world premiere at Geneva:

This final video is part of the Official Maserati GranTurismo Podcast, which I highly recommend subscription to:

(click here for my previous post with information on subscribing to the Maserati Podcast)

Ferrari Club of America North Central Region Drive

2007-06-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

This past weekend a few guys from Ferrari Club of America's North Central region got together for a spirited drive through the back country of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Everyone had a lot of fun, and it should make for an awesome yearly adventure for the North Central Ferraris. Many thanks to Dan and Dick for their work to put this together, as well as everyone else that showed up for an awesome Saturday drive. Definitely the most fun I've had behind the wheel in a long long time.

Click any of the images for fullsize. Most are through the windshield while driving, so not the best quality, but still cool.

This is what happens when you let a tractor lead.

The Maserati Stamp of Approval

2007-05-25T12:48:00.000-05:00

Maserati has been ruthless in its pursuit of excellence in every single component it fits to its cars. Around 10 percent of Maserati’s production staff is dedicated to maintaining exceptional levels of quality, and each stage in the production process is minutely scrutinised.

The GranTurismo has taken this fastidious tradition to a new level, attaining the highest standards of quality ever reached by the Modenese company.

Maserati’s advanced quality-control procedures benefit from an unusually close relationship with its suppliers. These suppliers are continually checked – and that means both the parts they supply and also the production process they employ. The aim is to perfect the already excellent quality of Maseratis through the strict control of the entire supply system, from the prestigious materials Maserati uses on the interior to the highly advanced mechanical components.

Twenty GranTurismos were dedicated to extensive and exhaustive development, endurance and reliability testing. These tests were conducted over hundreds of thousands of kilometres on a variety of roads all over the world. They were aimed at examining how the Modenese sports car performed in all conditions, and the engineering teams simulated – and even exaggerated – every type of driving condition.

Every one of the hundreds of tests had a specific aim. These aims ranged from the development of the product, its durability, reliability, safety, performance and handling in all road conditions.

The hottest areas of Spain and South Africa were the setting for the brake tests, and these climates put the car under immense stress through a combination of heat, the rises and falls in the terrain and the presence of sand. This climate, where it often touches more than 40ºC, is also useful for validating the climate control system.

Greece, with its warm climate and windy roads, is the ideal test bed for verifying the engine’s reliability and wear, while the icy avenues and lakes of Scandinavia are used as a way to develop the electronics that manage the low-grip safety features.

Every Maserati has a sporty soul, and this is why the GranTurismo was test driven on the most famous circuits in Europe, including the Nürburgring. The objective was to fine-tune the handling, one of the strengths of all vehicles produced by Maserati. Each track, depending on its particular characteristics, was selected to fully stress and torture the GranTurismo’s components. Estoril and Vallelunga were chosen for tyre tests, Nardò for outright performance, braking and handling at high speed, while Vallelunga and Fiorano were used for road-holding tests.

Maserati constantly monitors the expectation levels of its customers and continually surveys the satisfaction standards of those who own and drive its vehicles. The testers and engineers paid particular attention to the comfort levels of GranTurismo, and it has set new standards in its category. The extremely challenging production process and severe checks applied to every component in the car mean that the GranTurismo is the peak of Maserati quality.

Active Safety:

Active safety encompasses all of a car’s abilities to avoid impacts in the first place. The Active safety of the Maserati GranTurismo is very advanced. It was developed to combine extremely stable and balanced road holding with extraordinary performance. Completing the package is the highest level of electronic Active safety measures, in place to help limit damage and avoid potentially dangerous situations.

The excellent dynamics of the GranTurismo is the culmination of a long tradition of handling excellence by the Modenese company. Its core chassis poise is further enhanced by the Maserati Stability Programme (MSP); developed by Maserati to help optimise the GranTurismo’s reactions and safety engineering, even for moderately skilled drivers.

The MSP activates to correct even small skids by reducing torque and, at the same time, integrating Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) to prevent the wheels locking or skidding under braking. It does this in part by redistributing the braking forces between the front and rear axles. This means that the drive wheels do not lose grip, improving traction in slippery conditions, and the front wheels always retain the ability to steer the car. The GranTurismo’s brakes are on a par with the quickest supercars on the market. Brembo supply the braking hardware, including four self-ventilating discs and powerful four-piston brake callipers. These provide excellent stopping figures (35 metres from 100km/h to a standstill, with an average deceleration of 1.24 g). The brakes are also highly resistant to fade. The Electric Park Brake (EPB), located on the central tunnel, replaces the traditional handbrake. The EPB is engaged automatically whenever the engine is switched off and is deactivated automatically when the accelerator pedal is pressed. EPB also plays an important role in terms of safety as it is designed to act on all four wheels in an emergency without compromising stability, until the switch is released.

Night-time visibility is enhanced by the potent clarity of bi-xenon headlights. Bi-xenon technology produces a more powerful and natural-looking beam of light than conventional lighting technology. Further, the GranTurismo’s rotating headlights mean that the beam mirrors the turning of the steering wheel, focusing the light towards the inside of the curve.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is another useful technical advance to be included on Maserati’s latest sports car. The system constantly monitors the tire pressure from inside the tyre and the driver is advised when either the pressure dips below optimal levels or a tyre is punctured.

The high-resistance, boxed-sheet steel construction gives the chassis its incredible rigidity. This feature translates into a precise drive and dynamic handling, factors that set any driver’s mind at ease when he sits behind the wheel of the GranTurismo. A sense of security and control over the car are the sensations Maserati has tried to transmit to the driver.

The weight distribution is as close to the rearward bias of Formula One and FIA GT racing as front-engined road cars get, and the GranTurismo carries over the Quattroporte’s philosophy of having a slight bias over the rear axle. This bias (49% front- 51% rear) and the low centre of mass (obtained by positioning the engine as close as possible to the ground) translates into superb braking and road holding under acceleration, especially in low grip conditions. Perceived from the driving seat, the handling is predictable, swift and ‘true’.

Maserati has developed the GranTurismo with express active safety aims of offering the driver complete control of the vehicle and assisting the driver with the most advanced electronics to help the car and its occupants remain safe, even in emergency situations.

Passive Safety:

Passive safety includes all the features a car has to allow its occupants to survive an impact. The GranTurismo’s entire passive safety system has been designed by Maserati around its most important elements: the driver and passengers.

The GranTurismo’s passenger safety cell is strong, rigid and is also protected with six airbags that are designed to work in conjunction with the occupant’s seatbelts. There are driver and passenger two-stage front airbags, two more in the doors for side-impact protection and another two integrated into the sides of the seats.

If the GranTurismo is involved in a collision, four sensors designed to measure the intensity of the impact send their information to a central computer, which determines whether or not the airbags need to be activated to protect the occupants.

If the computer decides that the driver and the passengers need the extra protection from the airbags, it triggers the inflation of those airbags. The degree of inflation is carefully calibrated to help provide the appropriate level of protection for the front-seat occupants.

An extensive series of simulations and internal crash tests confirm that the GranTurismo and its airbags also are designed to meet the strictest U.S safety standards, offering passengers a very high level of protection.

Besides the airbags, the front- and rear-seat belts are equipped with the latest pre-tensioners and load force limiters to help keep all four occupants well restrained. Isofix brackets are fitted to the rear seats to ensure that child car seats are properly secured so that even the smallest passengers are safe.

The core engineering of the chassis has been developed to meet or exceed the toughest US crash test standards, providing a solid and rigid safety cage, and the bodywork has been designed to help absorb and redistribute the force of impact.

The Maserati GranTurismo offers all four of its occupants high levels of performance, and this even extends to the performance of its on-board safety features.

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