Paolo Artemi provides an insight into the GranTurismo S Automatic’s principal features, starting with the automatic transmission. It is “sporty but able to smother any jolts when changing gear, making journeys very comfortable”. Then it is onto the electronic, self-adapting system that gives the driver a set up that matches his style and the road conditions. “The system gauges the position of the accelerator, the intensity of side and forward acceleration and also takes into account the slope of the road. In sections with lots of curves, the electronic control unit assesses changes in how far the gas is pressed to decide how to synchronise the six speed automatic transmission. When manual, paddle-shift changes are selected, with Skyhook in Sport mode, you can feel how agile the chassis is. Stability in mid to tight curves comes from the lack of roll and every single gear change ensures a precise and smooth line”.

The accommodating interior also gets a mention (“seats for four adults with the rear ones easily to climb into”), as does the external retouching. On the outside, the S Automatic is immediately recognisable with its 20” rims boasting a Trident design. New side skirting adds to the racy looks but does not detract from the Pininfarina masterpiece.