Maserati Granturismo S – TESTED!

Like any hot blooded male, we find ourselves easily combustible when our eyes catch sight of an attractive female. Our eyes widen with an attempt to try and capture as much details as possible. Yes futile as it is, we do try none-the-less. The Maserati Granturismo S definately sets you ablaze. It’s taught, lean and the sight of it alone commands respect, and when this particular “female” speaks, all will listen.

Now much has been said about this car, because its been out since last year. So lets cut to the chase. Andiamo!

Its 4.7-Litre V8 “vocals” fire up with magnificence, letting her 440bhp presence be known, before settling into an unobtrusive idle. Its an aural orgy of low-frequency sound waves that rumble, penetrate, engulf and quite possibly possess you in a manner that you’d hardly want to be exorcised from.

Blip that throttle and the exhaust sends enigmatic sensations that quickens the pulse.

Dawdling by at low speeds she’s calm, comfy and light in your hands. She’ll easily glide with grace and elegance and her acceleration builds consistently. She’s beautiful in motion and even more so when stationary, allowing others to gawk, stare and perhaps drool.

Engage SPORT mode and immediately, she strips off all that is elegant and suddenly becomes something more exotic (with shiny disco balls, dim lights and a tall pole – Anyone got some small change?).

Its consistent feel of acceleration has now changed to something more exponential and she’s now loud and carefree, ready to let loose and experience all that is fun and perhaps some more experimental.

Best of all, she knows who’s boss when you’re behind the wheel.

The GranTurismo S has an outstanding body control. At slow speeds over bumps, she’s quiet and the shocks are rather unobtrusive. You almost expect it to be rather harsh as you pick-up speed on those uneven roads. But as you gun the throttle and let loose the opera-sounding engine onto the tarmac, you will be amazed at how well balanced this ‘exotic’ is even with its rather long wheel base (2.94m).

The front end grips well even with 47% of its weight sitting there. Slam the throttle wide open at low speeds and you’re catapulted right off the mark with unerring ease.

In SPORT mode, the bumps do get a little bit more harsher. That’s because the absorbers have stiffened up, the flap in the exhaust to make it sound smooth has been disengaged, and the revs climb faster. Definitely rougher and somewhat raunchy as well.

The GranTursimo S has 440bhp (7,000rpm) at crank and 490Nm (4,750rpm) of twist that’ll make you want to stay in Sport mode forever, until you realise that you’ve gone through 3/4 of the 86L fuel tank in a day.

All things exotic do come with a price because this girl is a petrol-holic and with figures such as 25.2L / 100km (urban), 11.3L / 100km (extra-urban) and 16.4L / 100km (combined), it makes you shudder.

But consider 0-100km/h in 4.9s, the “stuck in your seat” experience under hard acceleration, good balance in tight corners, almost redding-out under hard braking, a top speed of 295km/h and her addiction to petrol becomes mute.

You may think this beauty on wheels to be on the hefty side, but thankfully, muscles do weigh more than fats, and the GranTursimo S is no pork-chop. She’s all lean and that V8 engine of hers is proof that she’s a real performer on the pole with agility to boot.

Speaking of boot, its got actual baggage space in there. The optional and specially designed matching luggage has been provided by Salvatore Ferragamo. This set comprises of a maxi bag, weekend bag, a beauty case and a clothes bag for your long journeys and / or short week end trip out to the country side. Its made to order with a choice of two different materials and four colour variants. The Exercutive (Firenze) range has hand-grained calf-skin that’s available in Testa di Moro or Blu Masearti. Not to you taste? Then perhaps the Sporty (Modena) range may suit you with natural scratch-proof calfskin in Nero or Melanzana, both available in contrasting stitching.

That’s not all, even your interior is customizable with the use of Poltrono Frau leather upholstery, you have ten colour choices of leather, three colours of Pekary leather, thirteen colours of stitching, three fine woods, AluTex (aluminium glass fibre fabric) and finally five colour choices for your carpets. To add to matters, you can even preconfigure your car’s interior on Maserati’s special website (www.configurator.maserati.com) before you take delivery.

The luxury, refinement and functionality found within this car’s subtle details is by far exquisite. From the embossed Maserati Triton logo on every headrest to the truly evocative engine-note, its every detail has been kept in check. It simply engulfs you and you are left without wanting.

Visit NAZA Italia at Jalan 221, 46100 Petaling Jaya (off the Federal highway) and you’ll see why this car makes me feel like an adolescent staring at bountiful melons once more.