If there was one aspect of the gorgeous Maserati GranTurismo that might've merited criticism, it was that, with "only" 400 hp from its Ferrari-designed 4.2-liter V-8 and an automatic transmission, the car seemed more focused on country-club civility than serious sportiness.
Well, only a year after the GranTurismo's ballyhooed debut at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Maserati has rolled out the decidedly sportier GranTurismo S. The two-plus-two now packs a version of the 4.7-liter V-8 that rumbles beneath the hood of the limited-edition (and long-since sold out) Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, matched to a rear-mounted, electro-actuated six-speed semi-automatic called MC-Shift. The engine produces a smooth 434 horsepower, and although the company isn't sharing performance figures yet, expect the S to better the standard car's 5.2-second 0-to-60-mph time and 177-mph top speed by a considerable margin.
Other S-unique features include new wheels, big dual exhaust outlets in place of smaller qaud tips, and revised sport seats with leather and Alcantara trim. The GranTurismo S also employs the innovative "dual-cast" brake discs from the Quattroporte Sport GT S that debuted at last year's Frankfurt Show. Developed by Brembo, the discs combine a cast iron braking surface (for its durability and resistance to fade and warping) with a hat made of aluminum (for its lower weight).
Photos courtesy of Maserati.
