First Drive: 2009 Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic
Marcello Mastroianni has been reincarnated as the Maserati Granturismo S Automatic. Suave good looks. Smooth, effortless acting. This big, handsome sport coupe is the cinematic black-and-white Mastroianni, wearing a tipped fedora and dark shades of Fellini's "81/2" or "La Dolce Vita."
As its name suggests, the Granturismo S Automatic tosses out the Granturismo S' six-speed twin-clutch paddle-shifted manual for a six-speed paddle-shifted ZF. It also dismisses the S' passive damping suspension for the base Granturismo's Skyhook suspension, "perfect tradeoff between handling and comfort on board," with its aluminum gas dampers. The suspension offers two settings, with a "sport" button that stiffens things up while opening an exhaust flap that turns up the volume on the lovely, throaty-brappy Italian V-8 soundtrack. Nino Rota would approve.
Weight distribution is 49/51, slightly better than the manual's 47/53. More important, even for us manual gearbox junkies, the Granturismo S seems better suited for the ZF automatic. Essentially, this is the standard Granturismo automatic with the S' 4.7L V-8 upgrade -- and it works.You can tell the three models from the color of the cam covers: Maserati Blue for the Granturismo's 405-hp, 4.2L V-8, Ferrari Red for the 440-hp, 4.7L Granturismo S, and darker red for the 440-hp, 4.7L S Automatic. Maserati claims a 0-100-kph (62-mph) time of five seconds flat, just 0.1 sec slower than the twin-clutch manual. This transmission and the character of the car bearing it lifts Maserati from the shadow of its faster, more expensive sibling, Ferrari -- just as Armani doesn't have to take a back seat to Ermenegildo Zegna.
While ZF has sold this transmission to a number of Maser's competitors, Maserati engineers developed their own paddle-shift system. Right paddle to upshift, left paddle to downshift. It feels lighter, less crisp than most paddle-shift transmissions, whether automatic or twin-clutch manual. And yet, it's quick and precise and gives full control to the driver, neither upshifting nor downshifting on its own. It's the most engaging manumatic to date (though, ahem, a longer-term drive will be necessary to determine whether it becomes a daily habit).
It rained on the hilly, twisty roads near Modena the day of our test drive, which slows one down when driving a big, fast, expensive sport coupe. Even with a safety cushion, though, the Granturismo S Automatic felt sure-footed enough on its standard 20-in. wheels and tires to handle the curves with lan. Electronic nannies on, you can still elicit slight wheelspin coming out of the corners. With this transmission and suspension and an exotic car's engine, the Automatic S is a suave sport coupe that defines Maserati's distinctive personality.
