Grans' fresh facelift

Updates to the oldest cars in the Maserati family, signalled at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, have now arrived in New Zealand.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport MY18 allo stand  Maserati al Goodwood Festival of Speed 2017.jpg

THE venerable GranTurismo coupe and its swoopy GranCabrio drop-top sibling are being sent into their 11th year of production with mild cosmetic changes to the exterior, redesigned interiors and a new infotainment system.

Two versions of each car are now offered, Sport and MC (for Maserati Corse). Both use the same powertrain but suspension, trim and equipment differ.

The front end revision delivering a revised headlight and LED reunning lights design, a new grille and bumper shape was inspired by the Alfieri concept.

The redesigned front bumper reduces the aerodynamic drag coefficient from 0.35Cd to 0.33Cd for the GranCabrio, and from 0.33Cd to 0.32Cd for the GranTurismo.

A replacement for the MC Stradale, the MC gains a vented carbon-fibre bonnet and also differentiates from the Sport by having a wilder body kit, plus titanium-hued brake callipers and 20 inch Trofeo Silver forged wheels and a louder exhaust.

The models at last adopt the high-resolution, 8.4 inch capacitive touchscreen that has already delivered to other Maseratis, and it’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring functions. Both Sport and MC models now feature a Harman Kardon Premium Sound system as standard. A rear parking camera with dynamic guidelines displayed in the infotainment screen is now fitted.

The powertrain remains the Ferrari-designed 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 offering 338kW and 520Nm, still in marriage with a six-speed ZF automatic. Zero to 100kmh takes 4.7 seconds for the MC version and 4.8s in the Sport, Maserati claims.

The GranTurismo Sport starts at $224,990 and the GranCabrio Sport at $254,990. Premiums for the Cabrio MC and Turismo are $25,000 and $35,000 respectively.