Bravo to Maserati for reviving the GranSport name, a titled the company first applied on a 2-liter powered coupe model during the 1950s.
For 2005, the GranSport is based on the current Maserati Coupe, but wears a slightly more aerodynamic, muscular body, resulting from extensive wind tunnel testing.
These air stream experiments gave the GranSport a revised front bumper with a very pronounced lower spoiler for reduced lift. A slick-looking side fascia is beautifully sculpted into the body itself. Accentuating the rear deck is an efficient lip spoiler.
When combined, the add-on components reduced drag by six percent.
A wider front mesh grille was created for the GranSport for better engine cooling, and
Maserati’s famous trident logo is situated in the center.
The trident emblem was originally created by one of the Maserati brothers, Mario, in 1925. He drew inspiration from the statue of the god Neptune in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore.
My brief spin in the GranSport was through the winding roads surrounding Elkhart Lake.
These curvy two lane highways gave me the opportunity to aggressively assess the cars handling characteristics, which turned out to be impressive.
Part of the reason I learned, is that the GranSport uses a racecar inspired independent front and rear suspension, which keeps the vehicle firmly on terra cotta, and the recalibrated electronically adjustable dampers assist in reducing the cars pitch and roll.
Tires on the vehicle are Pirelli 235/35 ZR19 front and 265/30 ZR19 on the rear. The rubber is wrapped around 19-inch aluminum Trofeo Design wheels.
Purring beneath the long sloping hood is a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8.
Specially tuned for the GranSport, the engine packs 400 horsepower and 333 pound-foot of torque, capable of delivering the vehicle from 0-62 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds. It can run the quarter mile in 12.8 seconds, and reach a top speed of 180 mph.
This power plant has twin overhead camshafts for each cylinder bank, intake cams with variable phase timing, four valves per cylinder hydraulic tappets, and dry sump lubrication. It also produces a throatier exhaust rumble.
Maserati uses high resistance steel with rear tubular sub on the GranSport chassis, and the Brembo brakes feature large ventilated cross-drilled discs and alloy titanium-colored four-piston calipers.
Enhanced cockpit boasts leather and fabric power adjustable seats that are body hugging and comfortable with high lateral support. Front passengers have plenty of head, hip and elbowroom, but rear seating is meant for small children and pets.
A blend of leather, carbon fiber and mesh-over-mesh BrighTex fabric on the Maserati GranSport’s dashboard replaces the standard wood and plastic on the base Coupe.
Running the width of the center dash is the unusual BrighTex material, edged in piping that matches the color of the car, which was Rosso Mondiale (World Championship Red).
Five other colors are offered: Giallo Granturismo (GT Yellow), metallic Nero Carbonio (Carbon Black), Blu Mediterraneo (Mediterranean Blue), Grigio Touring (Touring Grey), and Bianco Fuji (Fuji White).
I found the new three-spoke steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather meaty to hold, and the race inspired, carbon fiber center tunnel houses the integrated blue-colored Start button.
Handsome details rendered on the GranSport model are revised white graphics on blue background instruments, and large alloy pedals with drilled holes to reduce weight.
Trunk seems large enough for a pair of golf bags.
The $98,172 GranSport is available only with the Cambiocorsa sequential six-speed manual transmission. This highly sophisticated unit includes electro-hydraulic operation, with two finger-flick shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Right paddle is for upshifts and the left for downshift.
This trannie reacts in every way like a six-speed manual, but there is no clutch pedal. When shifting gears, the transmission automatically engages and disengages the clutch for you.
I had my choice of Normal, Sport, Automatic and Low Grip shifting modes, with gear ratios unique to the GranSport.
Most of my driving was in the Sport mode, which Maserati claims offers 35 per cent quicker gear changes than the Coupe. The Sport mode also firms up the suspension.
With an overall length of 178-inches, height of 51-inch, and weighting in at 3,769-pounds, the GranSport dimensions are comparable to the Cadillac XLR and Lexus SC 430.
What is interesting is that Maserati customers are buying the Coupe/Spyder in addition to, not replacing their current car.
The GranSport epitomizes Maserati’s racing heritage brought to the street.
Speaking of racing, the recent release of the new MC12 ultra-high performance car, signals a return for Maserati to international competition. |