Italian Maserati is unlikely to need any further performance. It is a car brand that stands alongside Ferrari itself and has done so for many years now. With the Gran Turismo model, the intention was to attract the so-called connoisseurs. People who wanted both luxury and sportiness in everyday life and had no problem paying for it. And they succeeded. The Gran Turismo model has now lived for 75 years and is being celebrated with a special edition that will only be produced in just limited 75 copies.  

My first encounter with a Maserati Gran Turismo was back in 2008, a Maserati Gran Turismo S. It was the fourth car that I test drove and did an article on. You can read the article here. The test drive and photo shoot took place in Stockholm. Of course I was impressed and grateful to Autoropa for lending me the car so I could do my article. 

Since then, my relationship with Maserati has grown stronger every year. For example, I was invited to the 2013 international media test drive for the model Quattroporte which was held on the French Riviera. I then travelled to the factory in Italy in 2019 and borrowed the then brand new Maserati Levante S. So booking a visit and test drive at Maserati during my week in Italy this autumn was obvious.

When I arrive at the factory in Modena, the car I am going to borrow is parked outside the factory. The car is in a really nice matte grey-blue metallic colour called "Matte Lamiera Grey". It has details in red, otherwise the other exterior parts are in black. However, of course, the Maserati trident in the grill is in silver. In addition, you will find some exterior details such as air intakes, the rear diffuser and the spoiler in carbon fibre. So a really stylish but at the same time very sporty attitude in my opinion. The Maserati Gran Turismo 75th Anniversary comes in two colours. So in addition to the Matte Lamiera grey-blue colour the car I got to borrow, the Maserati Gran Turismo 75th Anniversary is also available in black, Black Scarabeo Matte. The red details on the one in Matte Lamiera Grey are the details on the black one in green, Mint Green. To remind you of what you are getting into, the 75th Anniversary logos are embroidered in the headrests of all the seats. The Maserati Gran Turismo 75th Anniversary only comes in two different colour combinations.

My test drive begins, of course, by driving out of Modena. On the way, I pass a brand new factory building whose facade was painted completely purple. I decided that it had to be the place and environment for my pictures. No sooner said than done, I took the pictures you can see here in the article. After my photo session, which went faster than expected, I continued my journey up to the mountains. On the way I passed a village called Serramazzoni. There I found a cosy restaurant that became my lunch spot. After a tasty lunch consisting of gnocchi and crispy mozzarella with tomato sauce, the journey continued. 

At the heart of the Maserati Gran Turismo 75th Anniversary is a 3-litre six-cylinder V-twin engine. It provides the characteristic sound that I remember so well from the first Gran Turismo I drove in 2008. Every downshift is a joy for the soul and something you will obviously miss now that electric cars are taking over. The power output is 542 horsepower and the sprint from standstill to 100 km/h takes 3.3 seconds. The top speed is reached when the needle points to 320 kilometres per hour. Something I will not have the opportunity to explore today as the test drive route did not offer such road sections where the speed could be experienced unhindered. But the winding roads up through the mountains were in no way a disappointment. Above all, the steering is incredibly precise and fine a Maserati, you feel everything without exaggerating. Simply put, you have full control. This is exactly how Maserati knows that sports cars for premium customers should be built. You should be able to feel both luxury and sportiness in a perfect combination. Maserati certainly achieves this!

Even though the Gran Turismo is a two-door coupé, the two passengers who sit in the back still have plenty of room. The seats in the back are also very comfortable. But if you really want to enjoy a Maserati Gran Turismo to the full, you'll have to make do with two. Nowadays, the interior information environment is completely digital in the Gran Turismo. I mentioned before that the gauge needle points to 320 when you reach top speed, a digital gauge needle we are talking about then. In front of the steering wheel you have an 8.8 inch screen. A bit of a shame if you ask me because I think analogue gauges belong in a car like this. In the centre, you have a 12.2-inch touch-sensitive screen. But despite the lack of analogue gauges and instruments, I feel very strongly about the Maserati Gran Turismo 75th Anniversary. This car really makes the heart beat an extra beat both through its history, energy and appearance. Just how a luxury sports car should feel!

Maserati Gran Turismo 75th Anniversary

Engine: 3 litre V6, 542 horsepower, 650 Newton metres
Transmission: 8-speed automatic gearbox, rear-wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 3.3 seconds
Top speed: 320 km/h
Weight: 1795
Dimensions (length/width/height): 4966/1957/1353 mm

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