Maserati GranTurismo
Auto Express|February 15, 2023
FIRST DRIVE Stunning Italian coupé updates the traditional grand-tourer recipe
David Vivian
Maserati GranTurismo

THE all-electric Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore has already given us a taste of the Italian brand's all-new, all-wheel-drive Gran Turismo. Now the petrol-powered models, which share their basic engine architecture with the MC20 supercar, are here to complete the story.

There are two versions to choose from, and the marginally tamer of the pair (named after Maserati's hometown) is the Modena, boasting 483bhp, a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 187mph. But we've come to Italy to drive this faster, 542bhp Trofeo edition, which drops the 0-62mph time to a supercar-central 3.5 seconds and maxes out at nearly 200mph. Impressive numbers indeed.

Maserati reckons it made the very first grand tourer some 75 years ago (the 1947 A61500) and the blueprint has hardly changed since then, though of course the methods and materials have.

In terms of its architecture, the new Gran Turismo's advanced, lightweight hybrid aluminium-and-steel construction leaves even the superseded, previous-generation Gran Turismo that went off sale in 2019 looking distinctly old and overweight.

This story is from the February 15, 2023 edition of Auto Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 15, 2023 edition of Auto Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUTO EXPRESSView All
PERFORMANCE review
Auto Express

PERFORMANCE review

Updates have transformed the Audi RS 4 before it bows out for good, but can it beat the BMW M3 Touring?

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Pick of the Porsches
Auto Express

Pick of the Porsches

In its 75 years, Porsche has built some of the most iconic cars ever. We look at the best

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
The rebirth of cool
Auto Express

The rebirth of cool

Octavia has been the standard-bearer of Skoda's renaissance for 25 years. We mark that milestone by looking at four generations of the popular car

time-read
9 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Evolution in action
Auto Express

Evolution in action

As the Peugeot 205 turns 40, we look at how this most iconic of French superminis has influenced the brand's latest small car

time-read
6 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Volkswagen T-Cross
Auto Express

Volkswagen T-Cross

FIRST DRIVE Updates focus on boosting compact SUV's quality

time-read
3 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Vauxhall Astra ST Electric
Auto Express

Vauxhall Astra ST Electric

FIRST DRIVE Estate version of electric family car comes with space to spare

time-read
3 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
Smart #3
Auto Express

Smart #3

FIRST DRIVE Has Smart righted the 1’s wrongs with the latest addition to its range?

time-read
4 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
BEAVER TOWN
Auto Express

BEAVER TOWN

When Citroen said it was supporting a scheme to rewild beavers in West London wetlands, we were eager to gnaw how it would work

time-read
3 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
HOUSE OF BUGATTI
Auto Express

HOUSE OF BUGATTI

| Upon his retirement, the man who's shaped all modern Bugattis SI reflects upon his stellar career with the ultimate supercar brand

time-read
5 mins  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)
AMG weaves its magic as Merc reveals faster CLE 53 coupé
Auto Express

AMG weaves its magic as Merc reveals faster CLE 53 coupé

THE new Mercedes CLE coupé is tasked with replacing two-door versions of both the C-Class and E-Class, and the line-up has been bolstered with the arrival of a hot AMG 53 variant.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06 - 13, 2023 (Double Issue)