Chris Okula - Contributor
Among a smattering of Levante SUVs and Ghibli sedans sat a lone GranTurismo. This sports coupe debuted in 2007 and remains relatively unchanged a decade later. The funny part is the entire Shifting Lanes team still went up to it to pay homage. Like visiting an old friend in a sea of new faces. Today the GranTurismo means more than it did a decade ago.
When is comes to cars the old way is simply better. New tech might make cars faster and easier to drive but it robs the car’s soul. With the GranTourismo, you’re transported back to 2007. Ten years is a long time for any car to survive, just ask Nissan. But somehow the GranTurismo is better than ever. Maybe it’s the car’s simple Ferrari-derived, naturally aspirated V8. Or the interior void of many modern features we’ve come to expect. However, in this SUV-crazed world, I think we’re all just happy to see an Italian coupe.
The GranTurismo ticks all the right boxes for an Italian sports car. It’s gorgeous, sounds incredible, and depreciates at an alarming rate. It’s still powered by the same 4.7-liter V8 engine that screams to a 7,000 rpm redline producing 454 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. This familiar engine is mated to a 6-speed ZF gearbox skipping the extra two gears for that authentic 2007 feel.
I’m not really sure how Maserati is still in business, but I’m glad they were able to scrape by. Today they sell an SUV people will actually buy which means the revenue could spawn a new GranTurismo. But let’s be honest, a new GranTurismo won’t be able to capture the essence of this current model. Simple doesn’t sell anymore and a new GranTurismo, when they do make one, will be a technological Tour De Force focused on attracting young affluent buyers to FCA’s other Italian brand. So let’s enjoy this 10-year-old sports car at what will probably be its last NYIAS appearance.
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