Maserati claims title in Superstars Series with Quattroporte Evo

We'll forgive you if you haven't heard of the Superstars Series. It's only been around since 2004 (the International category since 2007) and all of the races take place in Europe – in fact over half took place this season in Italy. But similar to other national touring car championships – Germany's DTM, Japan's Super GT and Australia's V8 Supercars come to mind – the Superstars Series packs some serious racing machinery.

Take the Maserati Quattroporte EVO, for example. If that sounds badass to you, just look at the thing, because it is. It's based, of course, on the Trident marque's four-door model, which is already desirable enough on its own, but has been race prepped with an extreme wide-body kit and all the trimmings. It's the car with which Andrea Bertolini – a long-time Ferrari and Maserati factory driver who took the FIA GT1 championship in the MC12 he helped develop – and his Swiss Team just clinched the championship.

It's the first time that a Maserati has won the series title, previous champions having raced cars based on the BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Jaguar S-Type R. The formula calls for V8 engines, no turbos, based on four-seaters with two doors or four, and the rest of the field is made up of everything from the Chevy Lumina (a rebadged Holden) and Cadillac CTS-V to the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Porsche Panamera S. All in all, ten marques are represented, but this year Maserati was crowned champion of them all.

maserati granturismo mc stradale 2011 specs and features

Here we provide maserati granturismo mc stradale 2011 specifications,maserati granturismo mc stradale 2011 features and maserati granturismo mc stradale 2011 overviews.You will have to get a full and detailed structure of maserati granturismo mc stradale 2011.TOP SPEED have been equipped with some rare and High resolution wallpapers of the maserati granturismo mc stradale 2011.maserati

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible

A modern heir to generations of legendary open-air Maseratis, the GranTurismo Convertible breaks ground as the first four-seat convertible from the house of the Trident. The 433 hp, 4.7 liter V8 engine and six-speed adaptive automatic transmission with standard paddle shifters deliver thoroughbred performance, with the unmistakable Maserati exhaust note now unfiltered to the pilot and passengers.

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible: Uniquely Italian coach built tradition defined by its Pininfarina styling

This four-seat convertible demonstrates Maserati's expertise in the production of exclusive hand-built automobiles by providing an unprecedented level of personalization choices as standard equipment including:

* 9 Exterior colors standard with 5 optional hues
* 10 shades of Poltrona Frau leather for the interior
* 6 different soft top colors (Black, Burgundy, Blue, Dark Gray, Beige and Dark Brown)
* 3 wood trim options, Rosewood (standard), Walnut and Wenge (no cost options)
* 20" Birdcage design wheels
* Skyhook active suspension system
* Rear Park Sensors
* Chromeline exterior trim
* Dual-Twin Sport Exhaust system with chrome outlets
* Bose Surround Sound System
* Red Brake Calipers (5 other colors available as options)

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible

Inside, the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible offers best in class rear seat room, allowing comfort and space for two real adults unmatched by other grand touring convertibles. The triple insulated soft top exactly maintains the coupe's iconic roofline, and retracts fully in 24 seconds leaving the rear seat and trunk space unchanged with the roof open or closed; its light weight helping to maintain the vehicle's low center of gravity, optimal weight distribution and precise handling.

Befitting the uniquely Italian coach built tradition defined by its Pininfarina styling, the GranTurismo Convertible further enables the owner to select from a vast array of colors, materials and trim to create a spectacular and unique expression of style including a tailored set of luggage by Ferragamo.

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible: The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, a modern-day heir to the open-top Italian motoring tradition offers unmistakable style, craftsmanship in each detail and race-bred engineering. The 433 hp V8 and six-speed automatic transmission deliver thoroughbred performance, while best in class rear seat room allows a brilliant experience for four without sacrificing comfort or capability. The GranTurismo Convertible demonstrates Maserati's expertise in the production of exclusive hand-built automobiles by providing an extraordinary level of personalization choices as standard equipment. (PRNewsFoto/Maserati North America, Renato Zacchia)

Addionally, Maserati North America announced a base MSRP of $135,800* in the United States for the highly anticipated 2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible. The 56 North American Maserati dealers are accepting preliminary orders now with deliveries anticipated for late spring.

Maserati has entered into a partnership with Ferragamo

Maserati has entered into a prestigious partnership with Ferragamo, the world leader in the production of luxury accessories, to interpret the outstanding class of the stunning GranTurismo with a sleek luggage set made from exclusive high-quality materials. This unique partnership will seduce even the most passionate devotees of Italian luxury. The GranTurismo’s grille provides the inspiration for the exquisite luggage set, and the emotive slogan ‘Salvatore Ferragamo for Maserati’ is embossed on each individual part of the set.

To celebrate the arrival in the UK of the first Maserati GranTurismos and this partnership, Ferragamo’s London flagship store at 24 Old Bond Street is currently displaying the complete luggage set in their window until Monday 24th December 2007.

The luggage set is available in two leather finishes: ‘Firenze’, hand-boarded calfskin which has a clean, smooth appearance, and is available in dark brown or Maserati blue; alternatively ‘Modena’ a sportier finish in a natural, scratch-resistant calfskin leather in black or aubergine with refined contrasting stitching. The five piece set comprises a suitcase, a weekend bag, a beauty case, a garment holder and a dual function shoe case with a removable compartment divider. These five items all fit perfectly into the GranTurismo’s boot.

The luggage set is available to purchase directly at Ferragamo’s London Store at 24 Old Bond Street, or through Maserati’s nationwide dealer network, details of which can be found by visiting www.maserati.com. The ‘Modena’ finished set retails at £3,870, and the ‘Firenze’ finished set retails at £4,180. Alternatively the items are available to purchase individually directly from Ferragamo’s London Store priced: suitcase £1,555, weekend bag £889, beauty case £489, garment holder £909, and shoe case £985.

First Drive: 2008 Maserati GranTurismo

Previews

With the GranTurismo coupe, Maserati invites comparisons to the Mercedes-Benz CL550, BMW 6-series, and Jaguar XKR. But mention that the XKR costs some 26 grand less than the GranTurismo’s base price of $114,650, or that the Jaguar is almost 300 pounds lighter than the GranTurismo’s claimed 4150-pound curb weight, and the Maserati folks shrug it off with lots of hand gestures. The same thing happens if you mention that the similarly priced BMW M6 has 95 more horsepower and 44 more pound-feet of torque than the 405 horses and 339 pound-feet of torque that come from the GranTurismo’s 4.2-liter V-8. “Power is not our race,” they say.

On the other hand, the GranTurismo has something the BMW and the Jaguar don’t—two back seats with space for standard-sized humans. As does the Mercedes CL550, but the GranTurismo’s claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds is 0.2 second quicker than what Mercedes estimates for the Benz.

The Maserati lacks the electronic gadgets available on the Benz, BMW, and Jaguar, but some people consider that a bonus. There are no massaging, adaptive, or cooled seats; no adaptive cruise control; no night vision; and no overly complicated infotainment system.

What the Maserati can brag about is a dizzying number of color combinations for every surface of the car. The rich leather that covers the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and gearshift boot can be had in 10 different hues, plus the carpet, trunk carpet, headliner—even the stitching—can match or clash at your desire. There are 19 options for exterior paint, six colors for the brake calipers, and two wheel finishes.

Beauty, Inside and Out

he GranTurismo is based on a shortened version of the Quattroporte, and it shares all of its mechanicals with the sedan. In the coupe, the engine control has been tweaked for more horsepower, and the six-speed automatic transmission and the electronic throttle are programmed for faster shifts and quicker responses in standard and sport modes. Due to its larger size than the GranSport (still available in Europe), Maserati claims the GranTurismo is not a direct competitor to the Porsche 911 or Aston Martin V-8 Vantage.

So the GranTurismo is larger, more expensive, slower, and feature-challenged compared with any number of coupes that dwell in the $80,000-plus stratosphere, but that’s hardly the point with this Maserati. Thoughts of comparisons float out the window when one sees the way the Pininfarina-designed sheetmetal floats and bends around the car’s body with more visceral realism than a Rodin sculpture. The other cars don’t look like the GranTurismo, and the interior’s sumptuous hand-stitched surfaces make the others’ seem more commonplace. There’s even a tiny strip of leather on the edge of the steering-wheel shift paddles that constantly reminds the driver that this is a special car.

Driving the GranTurismo is equally enchanting. On tight roads, the bite from the front tires and the excellent steering feel disguise the car’s ample size. The transmission shifts so quickly and smoothly that the term “slushbox” does not apply. There’s never enough available torque to overwhelm the rear tires, and the handling is neutral at the limit.

The GranTurismo has to be one of the smoothest cars on the road, in more ways than one. It is not the fastest, smartest, or best value on the market, but the GranTurismo has panache in abundance. In this car, that’s far more important than cold figures.

Specs

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe

BASE PRICE: $114,650

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 259 cu in, 4244cc
Power (SAE net): 405 bhp @ 7100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 339 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 115.8 in Length: 192.2 in Width: 72.7 in Height: 53.3 in
Curb weight: 4150 lb

PERFORMANCE (MFR’S EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.1 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 177 mph

PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (MFR’S EST):
EPA city driving: 11 mpg
EPA highway driving: 16 mpg

caranddriver

2008 Maserati GranTurismo Review

What We Know
The 2008 Maserati GranTurismo, a two-door coupe to complement the Quattroporte sedan, is yet another Italian beauty, this one penned by Pininfarina's Jason Castriota.

Successor to Maserati's Guigiaro-designed coupe and spyder, the upcoming GT is built on a shortened version of the Quattroporte's chassis. The GranTurismo is powered by a 405-horsepower version of the same Ferrari-sourced 4.2-liter V8 found across the Maserati range. In a nod toward the crucially important American market, where Maserati hopes to achieve significant sales gains with the GT, power is sent to the rear wheels through the ZF-built six-speed automatic transmission that just became available in the Quattroporte. With a platform converted from the rear-transaxle configuration necessary for the automated manual gearbox to the front-mounted automatic transmission, the GranTurismo should provide enough rear-seat space to make it something more than a cramped 2+2. Nevertheless, we expect a weight distribution of 49 percent front/51 percent rear, which should ensure excellent maneuverability. Meanwhile the GranTurismo's suspension will be similar in configuration to the Quattroporte's double-wishbone setup, but it'll be supplemented by Maserati's Skyhook active damping system. Throughout the rest of the car, extensive use of carbon composites and aluminum should provide the GT with an exhilarating power-to-weight ratio. Maserati hopes the GT will help alter the misperception that its cars are prohibitively expensive. Prices should begin somewhere around $110,000, putting the GT Coupe in good position to steal business from Porsche's 911 and the Mercedes-Benz SL. A hardtop convertible version of the GT, powered by a larger-bore version of the 4.2 and delivering around 470 hp, should arrive later in the year, and a Competizione model is sure to follow.
What Edmunds.com says
A gorgeous coupe with a Ferrari engine and a reasonable price. What more do you need?

Maserati Release New Images of the GranTurismo

With many previous pictures of the upcoming GranTurismo, Maserati have finally released new pictures.

Maserati GranTurismo is expected to be released at the end of the year.
• Engine 4244 cc 90° V8
• Power 405 PS (399 hp/298 kW) at 7100 rpm
• Torque 460 N·m (339 ft·lbf) at 4750 rpm
• Top speed 285 km/h (177 mph)[2]
• Acceleration 0-62 mph 5.2 seconds
• Acceleration 0-400 m 13.4 seconds
• Acceleration 0-1000 m 23.9 seconds

Source: Maserati

Novitec tune the Maserati Quattroporte

German tuner Novitec definitely had a tough task on its hands when asked to improve the performance and styling of one of the best looking saloons on the market. However, it did have a few major accomplishments under its belt to back it up. These are, after all, the same guys that had the guts to modify a Ferrari Enzo and it appears that they haven’t changed the gorgeous lines of the Quattroporte.

The same can’t be said as to what’s under the hood. Engineers have optimized the car’s ECU, lifting the engine’s cutoff to 7,800rpm and increasing output to 413hp (304kW) at 7,100rpm. A new stainless steel exhaust system with two 83mm tailpipes on either side ensure power is increase right across the rev range, and also sees that torque jump to 468Nm at 4,650rpm.

The rolling stock has also come in for an upgrade, including an adjustable coil over suspension with stainless steel shock absorbers and aluminum spacers for the 20in light-alloy wheels. These are shod with 285mm Pirelli P-Zero rubber at the rear and smaller 245mm tires up front.

source: Novitec via Motor Authority

Maserati North America Posts All-Time Sales Record in April 2007

Following Maserati's Best Ever First Quarter Sales

Maserati North America set a sales record in April, following its best ever first quarter. In an overall luxury segment that was down during the first quarter of 2007, Maserati North America has shown considerable gains, marking a continued rise for the company. The luxurious Maserati Quattroporte is the leader in the $100,000 sport sedan segment. Hand-crafted Pininfarina design, true performance and meticulous attention to quality have found the select audience who value a unique and special automobile. (PRNewsFoto/Maserati North America, Inc.)

In an overall luxury segment that has shown declined sales performance during the first quarter of 2007, Maserati North America has shown considerable gains, marking a continued rise for the company.

According to Jim Selwa, President and CEO of Maserati North America, Inc., the performance of Maserati is strong, mirroring the performance of the elegant brand. "The luxurious Maserati Quattroporte is the leader in the $100,000 sport sedan segment. Hand-crafted Pininfarina design, true performance and meticulous attention to quality have found the select audience who value a unique and special automobile."

April 2007 total sales for Maserati reached 242 units, beating the previous top sales month of 235, set in July of 2005 - a point in time where Maserati jumped over 90% in volume. Year-to-date Maserati sales are up 14% over 2006, which was another record year for Maserati.

As anticipated, the new Maserati Quattroporte Automatic has appealed to those looking for the ultimate sedan amongst its competitors. The DuoSelect Maserati Quattroporte is appreciated by those who desire the most pure sport sedan on the planet. Sales remain strong with the DuoSelect commanding over 50% of Quattroporte sales.

Like the Maserati Quattroporte, Maserati Financial Services has reported a record volume month, providing clients with competitive financing and leasing solutions.

Maserati will continue the positive momentum of the brand with the introduction of the globally acclaimed two-door Maserati GranTurismo in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Maserati North America expanded its reach in 2006 with the opening of two high-profile locations in the Southern California market, where it derives 35% percent of sales. Maserati currently benefits from 49 dealers across North America. In 2007 the expansion of the dealer network will continue with a target of 55 retail points strategically located in key markets. Maserati North America is proud to have the top selling dealer in the world, The Collection in Coral Gables, Florida. The southeast is the second leading region for Maserati in the U.S. followed by the New York Tri-State area.

Maserati North America, Inc., headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the exclusive distributor for Maserati-branded vehicles in the United States, including the Quattroporte high performance luxury sedan.

For more information, please view www.maseratiusa.com

Source: Maserati North America, Inc.