Maserati's new GranTurismo coupé

Latest GT from Maserati heads over the Alps for its Geneva motor show unveiling.

Italian automaker Maserati is poised to reveal its new coupé at the Geneva motor show in March. Until then, they’ve released these tantalizing images. The Maserati GranTurismo has been styled by Pininfarina and will replace the Maserati Coupé first launched in 2002.

While the 2002 Coupé made do with 390bhp produced from it’s naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8, the latest incarnation has been tweaked to generate 400bhp at the rear wheels. The GranTurismo will also employ the new ZF automatic gearbox currently offered in the Quattroporte saloon, but will retain the steering wheel mounted paddles of the Cambiocorsa. The new transmission is equipped with an adaptive control system which adjusts shifts depending on driving style and road conditions. A more powerful performance edition fitted with the Quattroporte’s ‘DuoSelect’ transmission will likely join the lineup later in the year.

The familial resemblance between the Quattroporte and the GranTurismo coupé is also no accident. The design is at once elegant but unmistakably sporting, something Pininfarina accomplishes very well. The 3 port holes on the flanks emphasize power and performance, as do the bulged wheel arches, particularly at the rear. The long, sloping bonnet and short rear deck evoke the quintessential sport coupé stance. A nearly dead-even 49 per cent front and 51 per cent rear weight distribution should ensure this car holds true to its sporting flair and reinforce the company’s reputation for renowned roadholding aptitude.

The GranTurismo makes no excuses in the interior, and there’s no reason it should. Longer and wider than the car it replaces (and nearly the same length as the Quattroporte saloon), interior space and comfort is the obvious benefit. There are four proper seats – each swathed in Italian leather – with high levels of luxury and detail enveloping the cabin. Maserati is keen to demonstrate that a sporting coupé need not trade comfort for driving dynamics.

Maserati has quite a bit of history producing grand touring coupés. In 1947 the company produced its first GranTurismo (the A6) following client demand, and subsequently unveiled the car at the Geneva motor show. It was the first Maserati road car, and it was designed by coachbuilder Pininfarina. Since then, the company has produced numerous GTs: from the 5000GT, the Sebring, Ghibli II and the 3200 GT before finally culminating in the 2002 Coupé. A slew of design houses were called upon to design the various models, but it’s nice to see the relationship Pininfarina and Maserati forged all those years ago is once again in full swing.