[Andrew]

As promised from 4 weeks ago. Here is the write-up of my drive in the MC and Convertible Sport

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When Maserati North America called to say I was invited to drive their newest model, my response was, “just let me know when and where, and I’ll be there!” The new GranTurismo MC and Convertible Sport was the reason for the event and I was pleased to make the acquaintance of the cars. Having driven the previous generation Spyder and Quattroporte at length, I was looking forward to how Maserati had further developed the GranTurismo platform and especially looking forward to driving the MC, as I knew that would better suit my tastes.



We were in the Anza Borrego desert in Southern California for the weekend in high heat with some fantastic roads in the area ready to put the Maseratis to the test. All the better with the extra heat helping to create sticky tires and adding grip.

The MC
The car lived up to my expectations as striking a well-balanced position of sporty road racer meets luxurious GT while outdoing the GranTurismo. The Maserati MC flows smoothly between the tasks of performing as an edgy sports car (without being Ferrari-race-stiff) and a stately Italian luxury coupe. And it makes the seamless transition countless times from moment to moment based on my right foot and my deft inputs with the steering wheel.



For a car that is by no means a lightweight, the MC’s suspension is ideally suited for twisty roads where the dynamics of weight transfer are magically rendered neutral under all but the most aggressive driving. One aspect that really helps this car achieve phenomenal balance is the weight distribution. The MC is a true front mid-engine car giving it a 49 to 51 percent weight distribution front and rear. The MC is equipped with stiffer single-rate dampers, it includes larger-diameter roll bars which minimize lateral load shifts (roll angle: -20%); overall, the car’s rigidity is increased by 16% at the front and 32% at the rear. The new setup is combined with a special MSP (Maserati Stability Program) calibration, which gives the driver greater freedom of action. Maserati’s acclaimed Skyhook adaptive suspension system is available as an option. The GranTurismo Convertible Sport I drove is just as comfortable on twisty roads as an MC but cannot keep up, which should come as no surprise to anyone reading this.

The MC’s engine is divine with 444 bhp and 378 lb-ft of torque, a bump of 11 hp and 17 lb-ft more than the GranTurismo S from its 4.7 liter V-8. While the low-end power (sub-110mph) is phenomenal, I came no where near the 185 mph top speed the car is capable of. With the top speed of 185, the MC is Maserati’s fastest car sold in the US.


Note: Pictured above is the European version so the lights with the orange side markers are different but I loved the color

I toyed with Sport Mode both on and off. Should a night out with a spouse who has little tolerance for the bellow of sport exhaust, then the non-sport mode is ideal. Non-sport mode masks the sharper scalpel’s edge by taming the exhilaration and supplanting it with a more mild version of a luxury sports machine hailing from Modena. Let’s just say I much prefer the rowdy nature with sport mode on and for the most part during the weekend in the desert, kept it that way.

Sport mode on brings to life the true Italianate exhaust manifesto that one dreams of this side of Ferrari. The V-8 blare under throttle is glorious with the bypass valves always open. The combination of deep basso grumble with a hint of shriek embodies what every guy desires – a well-spoken voice released at will by the right foot. Worth noting, with Sport mode off, the exhaust note is kept on a very short leash and is surprisingly quiet, even after 4,000 RPMs it is not the same as when Sport Mode is on, making it a noticeable difference. I found this odd as you would think once the bypass value opens, the noise level would be the same after 4,000 RPMs but it wasn’t and my passenger agreed.

The transmission was the biggest surprise from these cars with its true automatic with a torque converter rather than a clutch. Having driven an F430 Scuderia over the Alps, the difference in timing of the shifts was negligible between the MC and the 430 Scud. The MC felt smoother and largely due to less engine braking power than that of a 430 Scud. Then again, these two are not apples to apples cars and weren’t meant to be. In full automatic, the shifts are still timely when you get on it. What I liked most about this car and its transmission was the fact that it could be a daily driver in traffic and give you no problems but quickly change to an aggressive beast in manual mode when you want it. In Manual mode, it is good to know, the computer will not shift even at redline; you are in full-control. Another interesting feature was while in Automatic mode, it largely allowed downshifts when I demanded rather than over-riding my decisions.

The Convertible Sport
I will just come out and say it, I prefer coupes over convertibles. The rare exception to that statement is the newer Z4 and since the BMW is a small 2-seat roadster and this is a 4-seater GT there is no point in comparing the two. What I can compare it to is the last Maserati Spyder, which I owned, and the Aston Martin DB9 Volante.



During the presentation, I was excited to hear the new convertible has best-in-class in torsional rigidity. Its 1-degree torsional frequency BIW is 27.2 Hz and its vehicle torsional frequency is 17.7 Hz. In English, it’s stiffer. Anyone that has driven the previous Spyder knows it had a fair amount of cowl shudder and that was with two seats. The new Convertible Sport did let me down a bit, as with any convertible this size, it isn’t going to be as stiff as a coupe – nonetheless it did feel stiffer than the previous gen Spyder. Also, with the top up, looking out through the rear view mirror, I didn’t see the same degree of shaking I had become accustomed to in the previous gen either.

The rear seats actually have enough room for an adult, far more than the DB9 Volante can say. Of course it would only be ideal for a trip from the resort to dinner and by no means would an adult want to sit in the back for a long trip. Regardless, being able to drive to a nice dinner with your favorite couple in the back has its benefits and I can see the appeal for the buyers of this car. If you need to haul the family with two kids under 12 in the car, you’ll have no problems.



Interior – Conclusions
Having spent plenty of time both behind the wheel as well as in the passenger seat, the interior is worth noting as well. Carbon fiber trim debuts on the door trim as a standard feature and it adds a sporty touch for the MC. For the Convertible Sport, carbon fiber trim and drilled aluminum pedals are optional upgrades. Otherwise, much of the interior is the same luxurious leather clad layout from the GranTurismo. The satnav placement and climate controls are well positioned. I especially liked the phone pad layout for the numbers, making it quick and easy. The classic Maserati clock on the dash remains on both. Overall, the fit and finish is better than the older models with more surface area bathed in rich quality leather.



There are a few nits to mention. The Satnav system is still a bit clunky in operation with an interface that is not as intuitive as the rest of the world-class MC driving experience. As with all technology, there is a learning curve and daily use would likely resolve much of the weekend jitters I encountered. Despite the clucky interface, hooking up my iPhone was actually one of the easier tasks. Once hooked up, making a call from the car was a breeze.

For the enthusiast who can appreciate and more importantly seeks out the nuances of sport suspension, a throatier exhaust note and faster shifting, then the MC is a must have for the GranTurismo line-up. If you want a 2+2 GT with the option to drop the top, then you will not find a better option than the Convertible Sport. Maserati has rewritten the book on drop top 2+2 GTs, much the same way it did on high-end luxury exotic 4-doors with the QP. The Maserati GT MC and Convertible GT have the famously Italian passion quotient turned up to 11, so beating it will be tough for the Germans and the British.

[Andrew]

I have several more photos I'll upload later. Here is the Flickr stream I have so far:
Maserati Press Drive - a set on Flickr

Video confirming the sound is awesome on these cars. My Top Gear crew had the weekend off so I only had my iPhone.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Drive:


Convertible Sport Drive By:


Convertible Sport Driving:

[tazandjan]

Andrew- Great stuff. That four seat convertible is really attractive and I am not fond of black wheels, so I know which one would be my favorite.

[champagne612]

Andrew well done!

Any idea what clock was placed in the dash - I obsess over timepieces and couldn't help but notice.

[brettgagnon]

Nice Andrew, thank you for posting

[amcasta]

Hi! I believe the clock used to be by Cartier, but I've read that in recent models they used Digitek (?) material...

[tazandjan]

Doug- Had no idea you were fascinated by timepieces. You need a Patek and I am selling two of them.

[redtrman]

Andrew,

has Maserati given you a test date for the new Kubang :

Image Search Results for maserati suv

[voila]

really great ! Thanks for posting.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by redtrman

Andrew,

has Maserati given you a test date for the new Kubang :

Image Search Results for maserati suv

They have not. If they do, I'll be sure to post another review. I'm guessing that is 2+ years out.