Al Tayer Motors, the official Maserati importer-dealer in the UAE, launched the 2018 GranTurismo and GranCabrio at the Dubai Autodrome marking the regional debut of the Italian luxury sports cars.
“The GranTurismo has evolved over time to become one of the world’s most iconic sports cars and remains a resolutely sporty luxury coupé with a uniquely timeless elegance. Stunning design, superb performance, distinctive sound and unmatched driving delight combine to give automotive connoisseurs a truly enjoyable ownership experience,” said Martino Picotti, Senior Brand Manager – Maserati, Al Tayer Motors and a good friend of mine!
PRICING
The price for the 2018 Maserati GranTurismo starts at AED 485,000 while the GranCabrio is priced from AED 575,000. It is inclusive of 3 years unlimited mileage warranty and 3 years or 60,000km service package. The cars are expected to be available at the Al Tayer Motors Maserati showrooms in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah by mid-November.
POWERTRAIN
Both the GranTurismo and GranCabrio range has been streamlined for 2018 and two distinct versions will be offered – Sport and MC. The 4.2-litre V8 engines for the GranTurismo and GranCabrio have been discontinued, while the Sport and MC share the same powertrain 460 PS 4.7-litre V8 matched to a 6-speed ZF automatic gearbox, and interior personalization packages.
The MC, which stands for Maserati Corse, takes on an important ambassadorial role for the entire Maserati range, representing the company’s long and illustrious racing heritage, replacing the previous MC Stradale. The naturally aspirated V8 engine is hand-assembled by Ferrari in Maranello and weighs only 175 kg. This 4.7-litre unit features a wet sump and – exclusive to Maserati – a cross-plane crankshaft, for better throttle response, free-revving characteristics and that Maserati signature sound.
AESTHETIC EHANCEMENTS
As for aesthetic improvements the MY 18 cars, driven by Maserati Design Centre, have prioritized better aerodynamics and compliance with the latest pedestrian safety regulations for this classic Pininfarina design. It features new front and rear bumper design for the MY18 GranTurismo and GranCabrio. Additionally, the headlights for each model have been slightly restyled and a new rear-view camera is now included. Drag coefficient improved to 0.32 for the GranTurismo and and 0.33 for the GranCabrio. The Sport and MC share the same basic features, although each has unique inserts to accentuate its distinctive character.
CABIN IMPROVEMENTS
On the inside you have an intuitive new driver interface & infotainment system, 4-inch high-resolution, capacitive touchscreen; a redesigned central console with double rotary control; newly added compatibility with Apple Car Play and Android Auto; new double dial Maserati clock and a standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound system.
THE MASERATI SIBLINGS – A BRIEF HISTORY
The GranTurismo, together with its GranCabrio sibling, is assembled at the historic Maserati plant of Ciro Menotti in Modena and more than 37,000 models have been sold globally since 2007. The luxurious four-seater sports coupé was conceived as an ultra-modern interpretation of the brand’s very first production grand tourer, the elegant Maserati A6 1500 of 1947. And over the years, the GranTurismo has evolved into one of the most iconic Maserati cars ever built. And what’s not to like about a naturally aspirated, Maranello-built V8 engine; and hand-crafted comfort cabin that offers four individual, Poltrona Frau® seats. The Maserati GranCabrio – the convertible interpretation of the iconic GranTurismo – made its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Its lines can be traced directly to its ancestor, the 1950 A6G Frua Spyder – a highly exclusive production convertible with a race car engine.
