‘On The Road With Alex Mascioli' ‘The Convertible As Art Form'; 2011 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible

The first thing you noticeabout the new 2011 MaseratiGranTurismo convertibleis its elegant body styling

. Try pulling your eyes away from thecurvaceous lines of the famed Pininfarinacoachwork if you can. Pininfarinais the company responsible for Ferrari'sbody designs and for the GranTurismo'ssibling, the Quattroporte. This latestMaserati model is by far the sexiest releasedsince the company's re-entry intothe marketplace in 2002. The soft-topconvertible looks beautiful when in theupposition, carrying the roof lines all theway through to the trunk. If you decideto retract it for warm weather motoring,this can be done in a mere 28 secondswith the push of a button, including theretraction of all four windows. When youfirst open the door and slip in behind thecontrols, you realize not only is this carbeautiful and elegant on the outside, butin the cockpit too. Maserati's attentionto detail flows evenly from the exteriorstyling to the interior appointments, sothere is little left to want in this luxuriousItalian work of art.

The GranTurismo's engine provides acomely exhaustnote upon startup. It is a 4.7 literV8, the sameblock used in theFerrari F430. Itproduces 440horsepower at7000 RPMs, anda 361 lb-ft oftorque at 4750RPM. The engineis matedwith a six speedautomatic ZFbuilt transmission, which can be operatedeither by selecting the designated gear likea normal automatic or by utilizing thepaddle shifts located on either side of thesteering wheel. The transmission also hastwo operating modes in which to drive:regular mode or the more aggressive (andless gas conscious) sport mode. Regularmode operates just as it should by creatinga comfortable ride for its occupants. The sport mode takes this car to a wholenew level and unleashes the Italian racingheritage from beneath the hood. Sportmode is activated by the push of a buttonlocated in the center next to the radio. Upon depressing the button, thefirst change you immediately notice is thesound of the car. When sport mode isactivated, the exhaust baffles open up, creatinga sort of by-pass system to allow forfree flow. The result is the most exquisitebaritone sound I have ever heard comefrom a car. The latter mode was the one Ipreferred to drive, heads probably turningon the street at the sound of the hummingmotor miles before I was actually insight. The steering of the GranTurismois very matter of fact. The car points andshoots where you want it to go and, ifanything, maybe a hint of over steer. Onedownfall traversing the curves in the roadwas that the A-pillars partially blockedsome strategic views at an angle but Iwas hard pressed finding any real flawsotherwise. The gears respond quicklyand seamlessly as you shift through them,powering through the RPMs effortlesslyas the speedometer needle quickly windsits way around the gauge.

The Maserati fulfills the need for speed,sensuality and even comfort in one automobile. The rear seats can easily accommodatetwo adults along for the ride- and are not merely there for insurancepurposes. And for the days on the golfcourse the 6.1 cubic feet trunk will easilytransport your bag- but alas not guaranteeyou a good score on the links. From thesound of the engine to the beauty of itsexterior, if you're looking for somethingthat truly stands apart from the MercedesSL or BMW M6, then the Maserati Gran-Turismo Convertible, priced at a startingpoint of around $136,000 is for you.

On The Road With Alex Mascioli' The Convertible As Art Form'; 2011 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible

By: Alex Mascioli

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