2011 Maserati GranCabrio
The voice of the Maserati GranCabrio, the musical notes of its V8 are powerful but subdued when travelling at a modest pace, but they can reach the strength of a tenor’s high tones when the driver demands the maximum. The secret of such flexibility lies with the pneumatic control valves that manage the exhaust: normally they remain closed, to ensure that the car travels within the bounds of discretion, but if the Sport mode is selected, they open above 3000 rpm and the sound becomes a powerful roar, especially with the roof down.
The eight-cylinder orchestra is a chorus that sings about the pleasure of driving, harmoniously conducted by the 6-speed automatic gearbox. This transmission is the result of a close working relationship between Maserati and ZF, which has successfully interpreted the exciting combination between the 323 kW (440 HP) of the V8 engine and the fluidity of the automatic gearbox. And if the driver wants to feel even more like an orchestra conductor, all he has to do is select the Manual mode, and modulate the sound of the engine to the rhythm of the manual shifts, better still when using the steering wheel paddles.
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Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition”
The Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition”, the latest jewel in the Maserati range, will make its official debut at the prestigious Geneva Auto Show next week. The car will be unveiled during the press conference, on Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 on the Maserati stand (n.1051) at 13:45.
Six years after its birth, the car that created the luxury sport saloon segment continues to receive accolades from the general public, automobile aficionados and the media. Maserati has decided to celebrate its success with a superlative version, which blends the elegance and sporty stylishness of the brand’s flagship, thanks to the combination of highly refined details, handcrafted finishes and features with a decidedly sporty flair.
During its six years of life, the Maserati Quattroporte has received no less than 56 awards from the most prestigious automotive and lifestyle publications in 14 countries over four continents. A global recognition for a car that has known how to renew itself over the years, still never failing to maintain the appeal of the lines and purity of the forms created by Pininfarina, which immediately made it an instant classic.
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