Maserati today revealed the 2018 Granturismo coupe, wearing new, more aerodynamic styling and sporting a more modern interior built around what the manufacturer calls a state-of-the-art infotainment system. The unveiling took place in front of the New York Stock Exchange, where the new car was lined up alongside the rest of the brand's lineup, and Maserati boss Reid Bigland rang the bell to close the trading day at 4 p.m.
Maserati says its designers approached the task of creating the GT car's new look "by treating the timeless design with (the) utmost respect." In other words, if you don't have a 2017 Granturismo on hand for a side-by-side comparison, you're unlikely to notice what's different. But indeed, the front bumper is different, the changes conceived to improve airflow and reduce aerodynamic drag, while the new rear bumper lends the car a neater going-away look.
Behind that front bumper resides the same 4.7L V8 that powered last year's Granturismo, making 460 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. Despite the static output, Maserati says the new car is nominally quicker than last year's car with a 4.8-second 0-100 km/h acceleration times and 299 km/h top speed for the Sport model, and while the lighter MC version pulls off the same sprint in 4.7 seconds and reaches 301 km/h, but the manufacturer doesn't say how much of an improvement those figures represent. The Granturismo also sticks with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, Maserati calls out the Granturismo's new, high-res 8.4-inch touchscreen, which controls a premium audio system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a new console with a forged aluminum double rotary knob that we presume operates some infotainment functions, and displaces the powertrain mode selection buttons to a new location near the shift lever.
