car shopping

22 November 2024

The 2025 BMW 330i is something of a stealth superstar. Absolutely nothing about it screams “Look at me!” or even...

Featured Car: 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

Dan Heyman

20 November 2024

It’s amazing; seems that just yesterday, hybrid vehicles were complete oddities in the car and light truck world. Today, the...

Jaguar Reborn

Dan Heyman

EMOTION

19 November 2024

Gaydon, UK — As the car world moves – albeit more slowly as of late – to full electrification, Jaguar...

True confession time: This driver has a soft spot for most vehicles bearing the legendary trident and for the Maserati GranTurismo in particular. While picking style over substance is never a safe bet when it comes to high-performance vehicles, the GranTurismo has been an absolutely stunning grand touring coupe from the very beginning. The very beginning began way back in 2007 with the release of the first-generation model. That model was in production from that point until 2019 and it didn’t change much over that period. The reason, probably? It didn’t need to change much. The original design, penned by Jason Castriota when he was with Pininfarina, is/was both timeless and beautiful, the very definition of a collectible GT. To bring more than a measure of substance into the discussion, the GranTurismo was powered by a 4.2-litre V-8 gasoline engine developed in partnership with Ferrari. Fun Ferrari fact: At the time, the GranTurismo was the least expensive Ferrari-engined production vehicle in the world. (Thus, even more collectible.) Now, we have the arrival of the second-generation Maserati GranTurismo—and changes have been made. The question is: Do these changes make the new GT more, less or equally desirable as the original? To find out, a select group of lucky souls journeyed to the Eternal City to sample the car and its all-electric equivalent, the GranTurismo Folgore. First things first: Although the electrified GranTurismo and the petrol-powered variant were developed in parallel, the car is surprisingly similar in design to the last-generation model. Without question, the average onlooker would recognize the new GT as a Maserati GranTurismo: the lines are strikingly similar, the design far more evolution than revolution. Under the guidance of chief designer Klaus Busse, the team at Maserati opted to retain the classic proportions of the 2+2 grand tourer, here featuring an elongated hood and four rounded fenders. This design, called the “cofango”—an amalgam of the Italian words for “hood” and “fender”—evokes Italian style from the past, on display in cars such as the original Maserati Birdcage from the late-1950s. Yet, despite its clear links to both the recent past and deeper into the archives, the new GranTurismo is significantly different. According to Busse, dimensions have increased only marginally, but the interior has added space for four adult passengers and there’s 100 litres more storage capacity in the trunk. All versions of the Maserati send drive to all four wheels now. While this always adds weight to a car, the new GranTurismo is lighter than the outgoing version. Finally, the new design shares no body panels with the previous model. So—while the latest GT resembles its predecessor, it’s very different under the surface. Here’s another big change to consider: Instead of a Ferrari V-8 under the hood, there’s a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6. If this sounds like a step down… well, it kind of is because it’s not a Ferrari engine and it’s not a V-8. On the other hand, it is the same engine that powers the Maserati MC20, detuned a bit for the GranTurismo application. For the base model, codenamed the GranTurismo Modena, this engine develops 490 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. For the high-performing Trofeo variant, the engine is boosted a bit to the tune of 550 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. (To be fair, all these numbers are higher than for the V-8.) Performance figures for the Trofeo are right about where you want a modern GT to land: 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h. These numbers are backed up by the actual drive experience, which in this case was a leisurely route that began on the cobblestone streets of Rome, extended to the sweeping vistas of Tuscany and then on to the industrial areas just outside and within Modena city limits. For this trip, drivers were encouraged to switch from the GranTurismo Trofeo to the all-electric Folgore and back, a daring move on the part of Maserati. This structure gave everyone the opportunity to choose his or her favourite—old school or new school. There’s no question that the Folgore is faster in a straight line and it’s probably quicker around corners to boot. But the tuning experts at Maserati know full well that the sound of an internal combustion engine at full song is something with enduring value. So, if the Trofeo is slightly more relaxed than its electrified twin as far as the stopwatch is concerned, it still sounds fast and it still feels fast. The chassis is responsive and engaging, aided by an electronic rear slip differential, and the steering is light but accurate. Under power, the 8-speed automatic transmission is resolute and precise, snapping up and down through the gears smartly. The brakes are solid under foot, reliably powerful and easily able to bleed speed. There are certain characteristics you expect to find in a modern GT car that’s priced well north of six figures. The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo meets the mandate with style and panache, offering class-competitive driving dynamics, all the requisite luxury amenities and space for four adult passengers. Here in Canada, the car starts at $222,500—an eye-watering number, to be sure—but there’s so much to admire here.

Featured Car: 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo

Mark Hacking

9 November 2024

Modena, Italy: It’s true confession time. This driver has a soft spot for most vehicles bearing the legendary trident and...

Long Term Test: 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40

Jeff Voth

8 November 2024

This is the first in an ongoing series of long term test drives by your team at Vicarious and EMOTION...

First Drive: 2025 Audi A3 and S3

Jeff Voth

5 November 2024

It is always a joy returning to Germany to test drive a new vehicle. There is such a difference between...

Road Test: 2024 Nissan Ariya

1 November 2024

One of my first experiences driving an electric vehicle was the Nissan Leaf during a press event many years ago....

First Drive: 2025 Maserati GranCabrio + GranCabrio Folgore

Mark Hacking

10 October 2024

Stresa, Italy- Last year saw the release of the latest-generation Maserati GranTurismo and its electrified kin, the Folgore. The notion to...

Road Test: 2024 Porsche Cayenne S E Hybrid

Matthew Neundorf

2 October 2024

How much would you pay for a clean(er) conscience? That’s the question that the 2024 Porsche Cayenne S E Hybrid...

Road Test: 2025 BMW Z4 M40i Handschalter

Emily Atkins

29 September 2024

When you get a shiver of anticipation just hearing a car fire up, you know good things are about to...

First Drive: 2025 Volkswagen Jetta

Emily Atkins

6 September 2024

The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta refresh is a cosmetic job, and one that seems entirely designed to aid the sedan’s marketability....

Road Test: 2024 Subaru WRX RS

23 August 2024

Subaru doesn’t make the STi anymore and the company has no plans to bring it back. As much as we...

Cadillac Opulent Velocity

Benjamin Yong

16 August 2024

Cadillac has yet again redefined what it believes the premium electric motoring space could resemble in the coming years with...

Road Test: 2024 Jeep Gladiator Willys

15 August 2024

The Jeep Gladiator Willys has been given a refresh for the 2024 model year, including a new front fascia and...

First Drive: 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe

Dan Heyman

9 August 2024

Minneapolis, MN — The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is the latest entrant in the somewhat topsy-turvy world of the four-door...

First Drive: 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

8 August 2024

Seville, Spain – Porsche’s refresh of the Taycan was about as comprehensive as you’d expect from the brand. It’s not...

2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD

Road Test: 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

1 August 2024

Alfa Romeo is synonymous with attractive and sporty vehicles and the 2024 Stelvio SUV is no exception. With some new...

Road Test: 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV

9 July 2024

With an Alfa Romeo, there are two things you can always count on: a sporty driving experience and stylish Italian...

First Drive: 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider

Mark Hacking

20 June 2024

This review was first published in the Fall 2023 issue of Vicarious magazine. Subscribe here and never miss an issue!!...

This Month In Trucks: Volume 8

Benjamin Yong

News

16 June 2024

2025 Kia EV3 Following the launches of the sporty EV6 and flagship EV9, Kia is set to tackle the electrified...

First Drive: 2024 Mercedes AMG EQE SUV

14 June 2024

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV is what happens when Mercedes’ in-house performance division gets their hands on an otherwise sensible...

Road Test: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe

Jim Kenzie

6 June 2024

With the Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe variant of the small Jeep, Stellantis continues to have some of the longest product...

Road Test: 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition

Peter Bleakney

7 May 2024

Few cars I’ve driven of late have garnered as much attention as this 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition, and...

Quick Take: 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge

20 March 2024

A few years into its life cycle, the Volvo XC40 Recharge, the brand’s first electric vehicle introduced in 2019, has...

Featured Car: 2024 BMW M8 Competition Coupé

Jeff Voth

18 March 2024

The “Ultimate Driving Machine” is a moniker that BMW has owned for the past four decades. Some may doubt that...

Quick Take: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

14 February 2024

Volkswagen’s biggest model has undergone a refresh for the 2024 model year, with the Atlas receiving many upgrades, including a...

2023-Dodge-Charger-SuperBee-front-three-quarters

Quick Take: 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee

13 January 2024

For more coverage of the “Last Call” editions from Dodge, pick up the current issue of Vicarious magazine at your...

First Look: 2024 Genesis G70