Maserati GranTurismo 2018 UK first drive

The MC does so very much to whet the appetite. Its wet-sumped 7500rpm V8 still delivers one of the most bewitching start-up routines of any car in production — a throaty crackle, lean but broad and lusciously smooth when blipped — and the bodywork has a predatory elegance that makes you wonder why on Earth Ferrari has severed its ties with Pininfarina.

But it’s not immune to criticism in either respect. Even for a naturally aspirated engine, there’s a conspicuous dearth of torque at middling speeds; such a big car misses turbocharging, and point-to-point the GranTurismo is nothing like as quick as it looks or sounds.

The rear lights also appear to belong to a Mk4 Ford Mondeo and the huge 20in rear wheels somehow look a little lost in their manhole-sized arches. You might blame the latter on the fact that the bodywork essentially rests on a shortened version of the Maserati Quattroporte’s vast platform.

Inside, the car benefits from a reasonably slick new infotainment system that’s low on latency and crisp enough, but the fact that it appears incongruous goes to show how dated the rest of interior has become. There’s also too little adjustment in the steering column and the seats offer too little in the way of support for a 186mph car that’ll hit 62mph in 4.8sec.

Minor qualms aside, if a GT car’s brief is to absorb huge distances then entertain on the technical stretches approaching your final destination, the GranTurismo can still just about cut it. It’s as comfortable at speed as it ever was and, barring a slight wind rustle at the B-pillar, remains quiet enough. Unless, that is, you’re familiar with Mercedes’ church-like S500 coupé. Both cars will obliterate journeys of several hundred miles.

It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no cylinder deactivation, coasting function or any other modern fuel-saving tricks, so the best touring economy you’ll get is around 28mpg. With the 86-litre tank, that’s good enough for a range of more than 500 miles. We averaged 23mpg in mixed driving.

Sweeping A-roads are, on the whole, this car’s friend, but more tortuous stretches ask questions that a near-1900kg chassis and lengthy wheelbase struggle to answer. The MC has a neutral to nose-led balance and develops reasonable grip and traction, but it never feels particularly adjustable and, even with a firm passive damper set-up, body control is lax enough that movements fall a step behind what’s happening at the front axle as you up the ante. 

Buying a new GranTurismo at this concluding stage in its life would be a statement of your priorities, that’s for sure. If you want to go fast, many rivals do that better, and if you want to feel properly engaged in the driving process, the GranTurismo falls short in this regard as well.

There is romance, though. A Ford Focus RS will drop you by the first corner, but you’ll look and sound fabulous in defeat. In fact, it’s difficult to foresee a time when this car won’t look and sound fabulous. It feels a bit timeless, particularly in Rosso Trionfale shade, and that will appeal to those who don’t have to have the latest of everything. More power to them.