Not Just a Game: 2010 Maserati Gran Turismo

The 2010 Maserati Gran Turismo is a gentleman's high performance touring car to say the least. Pininfarina the designer of the Maserati Gran Turismo said that he was trying to build a subtle grand touring sports coupe. That is indeed what the Gran Turismo is, a four seater 4100 pound sports coupe. Body styling is very subtle on this Maserati with an acute ovular grill that accents the Maserati trident badge, subtle wide spread HID headlights, and four exhaust tips coming out the back that rumble with the casual sound of a high revving V8. The Maserati Gran Turismo's engine is a Ferrari design, a dual over head camshaft 4.7 liter V8 with variable cam timing; the Maserati Gran Turismo produces 434 horsepower at an astronomical 7000 rpm and 360ftlbs of torque at a much lower 4750. No doubt this is a big bore and short stroke engine.

The transmission that comes standard on the Maserati Gran Turismo is a ZF six speed semi-automatic that features four unique modes that transfer power to the limited slip rear end. The Maserati Gran Turismo ZF transmission modes are: Normal, Sport, Ice, and Manual modes. The normal mode is selected when the driver is looking for the comfort and smoothness of a low rpm casually shifting soft transmission. When sport mode on the Maserati Gran Turismo is activated gear changes become 40% quicker than in normal mode; also there is an on board G-meter that automatically downshifts the transmission when it senses cornering taking place and activates the Gran Turismo's stability control system by stiffening up the patented Skyhook suspension. At the same time this is taking place the Maserati Gran Turismo's exhaust valves will open up if the engine is over 3000 rpm. Ice mode is described by itself, a mode for the Gran Turismo for snowy and icy roads, which could also be used for wet roads. In the ice mode the Gran Turismo engine's computer automatically lowers the amount of torque supplied to the rear wheels and prevents first gear take offs. An added benefit of ice mode is that it doesn't allow the Gran Turismo's engine rpm to go over 3000. In manual mode the driver of the Maserati has the choice of up shifting or down shifting whenever he chooses as long as the rpm's don't exceed redline in which the transmission will automatically up shift. Braking is done by 15 inch front and 12.8 inch rear rotors with six and four piston Maserati calipers. Rolling is done via 18x11 inch aluminum six spoke Maserati trident wheels all the way around wrapped in 305/45zr18 all season rubber. The Maserati Gran Turismo can rocket from zero to 60 mph in just under five seconds which isn't bad for an overweight 4000 pound coupe and has a governed top speed of 180 mph. The base starting price of the Maserati Gran Turismo is $124,000.

source:
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/0905_2010_maserati_gran_turismo_s_automatic/index.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/maserati-granturismo.html