A 4.7 litre engine, a top speed of 295 km/h, 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.9 seconds: this is the data that kicks off the six-page spread in Dove Auto. In its July 2008 edition is an article dedicated to the GranTurismo S, the fastest car in the Maserati stable. The feature terms it an “Astro car” in a reflection of how the GranTurismo S succeeds in blending sparkling personality with top draw performance.

“The GranTurismo name is one that bears heavy responsibility”, begins the article. “It evokes a glorious past and sounds a little like a promise: it holds the key to creating harmony between two profoundly different characters. On the one hand is reliability and comfort and on the other is pure sportiness. We can safely say that Maserati has managed to fulfil this promise”.

A winning combination that “satisfies even the most discerning palates”, states Paolo Artemi. He considers the Maserati GranTurismo S “elegant enough to grace the opening night at the theatre while also being practical enough for every day use. However, push the accelerator and things get serious. The Trident’s prongs are sharpened and it openly challenges even the most hostile competitors”.

This performance comes courtesy of the 4.7 litre V8 that delivers 440 hp. This power is put down “in the most efficient way possible” through a six-speed electro-actuated gearbox. Artemi praised this type of transmission that can be used “ in motorway traffic or in a hold up on the ring road by leaving the gear changes to the engine management system” or not opting for Auto mode and using the steering wheel paddles instead. “Then, if the engine revs are above 5500 and if the accelerator is at 80%, the car’s electronics change gear in just 100 milliseconds rather than the usual 300. The shifts are super smooth and 0-100 km/h is covered in only 4.9 seconds”.

The enviable balance and poise of the GranTurismo S became apparent during the test stint as the car “masked its almost 1.9 tons”. This equilibrium is, according to Dove Auto, “due to the precise steering that allows corners to be taken flat out and a new set up that has stiffened the ride by some 10 per cent”.

The article also praises the build quality of the GranTurismo S that “has all the hallmarks of true craftsmanship. The possibility to select the colour of the car by spot sample puts it on a par with a made to measure suit in terms of comfort and personalisation. This is the essence of the GranTurismo. Out of this world”, concludes Artemi.