The V8 is happy to amble around at low revs, but its forte is pulling hard from the mid-range, where it lugs with fantastic purpose and a menacing growl. We recorded 4.9sec from 0-60mph, charging on to 100mph in 11.7sec and still pulling with fervour at 140mph. The GranSport is quick, but not ridiculously so, a reflection of the 1672kg kerbweight and the lack of traction off the line.
After being spoilt by the semi-automatic gearboxes of the Ferrari F430 and the BMW M5, the Maserati’s paddles come as a reality check. Gearchanges in normal mode suffer from a slightly uncomfortable pause. It’s a trait you’ll learn to live with, as the actual change is pleasantly smooth, but it can be an irritant.
In sport mode the shift is urgent, but brutal. The best technique is to lift between shifts, but try the same in normal mode and the ’box gets confused. If you value precision and sportiness you’ll prefer the speed and added control of the gearchange in sport mode. It’s just a shame that it's linked with a significantly harder ride.
In normal mode, however, the ride is quite absorbent. For all the road-racer connotations, this Maser is comfortable enough for everyday use. However, drive in the manner in which you’re encouraged to and you’ll soon reach its limitations down a challenging road. At 2.1 turns lock to lock the steering makes the car feel more nervous than it actually is, but doesn’t communicate a great deal to the driver. At speed over poor surfaces the body control disapppears, allowing the Maserati to hit the bump stops over compressions.
But hit the sport button and the Maser gets a firm grip of its underpinnings. Now you’ve got a chassis that actively wants to be driven. Keen application of the throttle pedal gives you something to think about over a bumpy or wet road, but the resultant slide is controllable and fun. The GranSport perhaps lacks the supreme cross- country pace of some of its peers, but it's tremendously rewarding.
