If looks could kill
An excellent package that's hard to beat
Sensational looks, first-class build quality and top-notch refinement 
Could use more power, limited engine choice Like a pop diva, the Maserati GranTurismo is drop-dead gorgeous and has lots of presence. But does it have the talent to go with the pretty face?
By Hadi Soedarsono
A GRAND TOURER is a comfortable, stylish sports coupé, designed to cross continents with pace and grace. When Maserati designed the GranTurismo to replace its Coupe, it adopted a different philosophy from the old car.
Instead of designing a sports car and making it luxurious, the GranTurismo is built as a luxurious car with sporty intent. It’s positioned as a high-end grand tourer rather than a lap-time record breaker, with emphasis on driving comfort, lush interior and emotional styling.
Penned by Pininfarina, the GranTurismo gets our vote as the sexiest looking car launched in 2007. It’s based on a shortened Quattroporte platform and when compared to the Coupe that it replaces, the GranTurismo is about 400mm longer, 41mm wider and 60mm taller.
The increase in dimensions has allowed the designers to be more creative, accentuating the car with smooth bold curves and a menacing face that comprises of a large oval grille with vertical concave slats, and a pair of big trapezoidal headlights.
The back-end is adorned with sizable triangular taillights, while at the bottom part of the bumper resides a wide aerodynamic diffuser that’s supposed to provide an exceptional high-speed stability.
There’s only one engine and gearbox option for the GranTurismo at the moment. A 405bhp 4.2-litre V8 lurks under the long bonnet and it’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
