Rivalling everything from M-powered versions of the BMW 8 Series to the Ferrari Roma in petrol form, and EVs such as the Porsche Taycan in electric form, the GranTurismo will also be joined by a drop-top GranCabrio, likely to arrive in 2023. Spyshots have already given us a glimpse at the new coupe’s look.
The images, released by the brand earlier this year, showed the new car in Maserati-branded camouflage wrapping. We can still see that the GranTurismo sticks to the classic two-door, four-seat proportions of the previous model, with a long bonnet, steeply raked windscreen and wide rear haunches.
The new model also appears to borrow inspiration from the MC20 supercar, particularly at the front-end, with a similar headlamp shape and heavily sculpted bonnet. The grille appears to be larger, however, and the overall profile of the rear-end is reminiscent of the old GranTurismo’s.
Exhaust tailpipes are just visible on the prototypes we’ve seen, and Auto Express understands that the car will launch first with combustion-engined power. Technical details are yet to be confirmed, but a likely engine candidate is Maserati’s new ‘Nettuno’ twin-turbo V6 found in the MC20. In that car it produces 621bhp and 730Nm of torque, although it remains to be seen if it’ll be detuned for the GranTurismo.
There’s also the possibility that Maserati will continue using its 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, which has recently found homes in the company’s Ghibli, Levante and Quattroporte Trofeo models. The unit itself is related to the engine found in Ferrari’s Portofino and Roma, but emissions regulations could make the V6 the favoured option for the GranTurismo.
More radically, and unlike all of the GranTurismo’s traditional rivals to date, it will also be offered with pure electric power. Set to be branded Folgore, the battery-powered coupe will make use of a three-motor powertrain, with one motor mounted on the front axle and two on the rear to make the car all-wheel drive.
That’ll likely also bring torque vectoring tech to the model, while Maserati also touted an 800v electrical architecture which would allow ultra-fast charging. It is also claimed that the electric GranTurismo will have “more than 50 per cent more power” than the previous V8-powered GranTurismo, meaning a power output of around 680bhp.
If that figure is correct, it would likely make the electric GranTurismo the fastest-accelerating version. Maserati has also said that the EV will be relatively lightweight, while the electric motors and battery pack will have a minimal impact on interior space and boot capacity.
A long driving range and quick charge times have also been promised, but we’re yet to see figures to back up those claims. To be considered a ‘GT’ it would need to be capable of around 300 miles on a charge.
The GranTurismo is part of the company’s product plan, announced in 2020, which will see multiple new models launched in the coming years, including the forthcoming Grecale small SUV, convertible and electric versions of the MC20, and a new Quattroporte and Levante. Electric versions of all new models are also planned.
Credit: Autoexpress
