THE ITALIAN PORSCHE
Born in 1998 under the name of Maserati 3200 GT, and equipped with V8 biturbo house, Maserati GT from now on is equipped since 2002 with atmospheric V8 atmo resulting from the Ferrari range and with an improved design. Exit thus the pretty rear lights boomerang, but some specific completions and presentations are with the program to recall to all that Maserati remains one of the GT headlight of the segment. Specific Maserati GranSport V8 and its equipment are given the responsability to recall to all that Porsche in Italy is called Maserati! …

Written by : Gabriel LESSARD

In 1998, under the aegis of Ferrari, Maserati created the feeling with its news 3200 GT and its rear lights boomerang. With its V8 biturbo derived from Maserati Shamal and its scratched line Ital Design, the half-compartment 2+2 Maserati signed the return of the mark to the Trident to the businesses. Always equipped with a charisma and a ombrageux nature, the posted performances are on the level of the best. After 4 years of success, Maserati 3200 GT are moulted in Maserati GT with an improved design, in particular with the loss of the rear lights boomerang, and receives atmospheric V8 of 4,2 liters 390 CH. Difficult to better do… If Maserati GT reached a bright maturity today, the manufacturer of GT Italian goes there from small special series and particular completions. It should be said that active competition, with the news Porsche 911 type 997 in particular, obliges Maserati to be reactive. Maserati GranSport V8 falls under this strategy, which charms the Italian amateurs of GT which we are.

DESIGN
Compared to the drawing of origin of Giorgetto Giugiaro of 1998, some modifications of details intervened. We will not reconsider the loss of the fires boomerang mentioned above, but more on the modifications made by this execution GranSport V8. Like Maserati GT, GranSport V8 is characterized by a particularly neat aerodynamics. With one Cx of 0,33 Maserati GranSport V8 position among the GT with the most effective aerodynamics. The largest final improvements relate to the spoiler before and back and also bottoms of case. More aggressive drawing, and especially more consequent ventilations. The very beautiful rims in 19 inches in diameter supplement the panoply of perfect the GT sharpened. More especially as their drawing inspired of Maserati Tropheo symbolizes with its branches the Maserati three-pronged fork. Its suspension lowered of 10 mm assoit still better the car on the ground and gives more character to him. Once the opened door, it is all the completion and the Italian refinement which are offered to you. All the interior is tended of leather and the presentation is neat. Admittedly, one still detects that and there some accessories unworthy of a car of this row, but the period of Maserati Biturbo and their completion spaghetti is finished. The equipment is ultra-complete and the demanding amateur will find his happiness at the wheel of Maserati GranSport V8. All the principal orders are gathered on the central console, and to awake V8 a button “Start Engine” is on the instrument panel. On the lid of glove compartment, a small monogram “GranSport” is affixed. Maserati GranSport V8 thus offers a refined and especially cordial cockpit and charmer, contrary to the cold Germanic rigour.

ENGINE
In Italy in the Italian manufacturing planies of the GT, the engines are true institutions. At Maserati, finished the time of V8 capricious biturbo requiring an expensive and scrupulous maintenance. From now on, the bank of Ferrari body will benefit all, including with the struck caps of the Trident. It is thus V8 of 4,2 liters atmospheric resulting from the Ferrari catalogue. If on the GT it develops 390 CH, in this special version GranSport V8, it develops 400 CH to 7.000 rpm. It should be noted that the maximum governed speed of this V8 is of 7.600 rpm. As much from sporting Italian mechanics, it is characterized by a high engine particularly worked: 32 valves pulled by two camshafts at the head by line of cylinders, the whole ordered by chain. Like very good atmospheric engine particularly developed in its part high driving, the couple is consequent, with 452 Nm, but perched rather high with 4.500 rpm. We are far from the standards of the poëles with fuel oil. But what a feelings!! And which sound especially, because this V8 of Modena can sing the serenade. The more it goes up in the turns, the more it you gratifie of a metal stamp which takes to you with the tripe. The amateurs of the kind will include/understand what we want to say. With its lubrication with dry casing, this V8 thus allows the luxury to evolve/move without concern on circuit. To carry out this V8, it is an accelerator “Drive by wire” which takes care of all, i.e. which there is no more mechanical bond between your pedal clutch and the engine. It is the mechanical box Cambiocorsa with 6 reports/ratios which is assembled of office on Maserati GranSport V8. This mechanical robotized order box (electrohydraulic system with electronic management of the reports/ratios) is ordered since the wheel with two pallets located just behind the invaluable hoop. A very automatic mode is also possible. With the use, better is worth to preserve the sequential mode with the pallets, because the automatic mode (except downtown) manages the reports/ratios in a sometimes incongruous way and passes the higher report/ratio in full attack in a large curve! Obstructing… And to pass speeds of the end of the fingers without raising the foot of the accelerator is a pure moment of happiness. Michael Schumacher, here us are!!.

FRAME
Maserati GranSport is characterized by a frame neat and having recourse to solutions tested and effective to guarantee a good balance and an effective handling. Thus, if the engine is located in front of, the box is assembled of transaxle type as on Porsche with front engine. It is thus coupled with the differential with the back. That thus confers a distribution of the masses ideally balanced between before and the back. In addition to the suspension with double triangles, the system controlled Skyhook, usually in option on Maserati GT, is assembled of series on GranSport V8. This suspension thus takes account of the transverse variations and accelerations to maintain a plate constant. To slow down such a thoroughbred, the engineers of Modena mounted ventilated disc brakes to the generous diameter: 330 mm with before and 310 mm with the back. All the modern assistances with control are also of the part to allow you you louper some times (ABS, MSR, ASR, EBD…). The wheels out of alloy and generous diameter of 19 inches are fitted of 235/35 with before and 265/30 with the back. At the wheel, Maserati GranSport surprises by its facility of control. Balanced, healthy of behavior, it posts a behavior of GT clearly accomplished. Its throughput speeds in curve are impressive, although to control such a machine at high speed on circuit asks for some concepts of piloting all the same. For the paces standards and rapids, everyone or almost can handle this splendid GT without back thought, on dry ground of course. The only flat with the Skyhook suspension is failing damping on deformed roadway. If not, it is it without fault…

CONCLUSION
Whereas Ferrari reveals its news F430, Porsche his 911 type 997 and Chevrolet its new C6 Corvette, Maserati GranSport V8 always justifies its presence with the catalogue of the mark to the three-pronged fork. Beautiful to die, full with charm, powerful, finished well and especially effective with its balanced frame and its sound V8, Maserati GranSport V8 must seriously be considered at the time of a purchase of GT. More especially as with it one can go to circuit without ulterior motive, which is not always the case of its direct rivals…

WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT :
“The Maserati half-compartment falls under the continuity of Great Tourism to Italian, the elegant and racées cars propelled by generous mechanics and proposing a royal comfort. Of course, the transalpine heart places under its cap before: V8, conceived at Ferrari, with the irresistible stamp, granted here with the gear box Cambiocorsa. The suspensions benefit from a rigorous development, only disturbed by a variable damping (Skyhook) not very convincing on embossed roads, the causing weight of the car of the not very catholic movements of case. In spite of it through, the Maserati Half-compartment remains able to hold the high dragee with considerable its competitors among which figure his/her cousin, Ferrari 360 Modena.”
ECHAPPEMENT - July of 2004 - Maserati Gransport V8.

“Since the abandonment of V8 biturbo, Maserati Coupé did not lose anything with the exchange. One finds in his entrails new atmospheric V8 with the raised cubic capacity, which appears like one of the most extraordinary engines of the world production. With 400 CH, it ignites the directions: volcanic character, fantastic sonority and, in series, a too violent sequential box for the kind.”
SPORT AUTO - June of 2004 - Maserati Gransport V8

92 000 Euros (01/09/2004)
33 CV
CHARACTERISTICS MASERATI GRAN-SPORT-V8
ENGINE
Type:8 cylinders out of V with 90° , 32 valves,
Position: Longitudinal AV
Alimentation: Bosch Electronic Injection.
Cubic capacity: 4 244 cm3

Power : 400ch à 7 000tr/min.
Puissance au litre en ch: 94,25
Torque: 451Nm at 4 500tr/min
TRANSMISSION
REAR
Gear box : 6 speed sequential Cambiocorsa.
WEIGHT
1 580kg
Ration Weight/power: 3,95kg/ch

WHEELS
brakes : Ventilated discs (330 mm) Front and Rear (310 mm)
Tires : 235/35 ZR 19 AV et 260/30 ZR 19 AR.
PERFORMANCES
Max speed: 290 km/h

Average consumption moyenne : 18,9 Liters/100 Km