Showing posts with label Maserati. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maserati. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati Quattroporte, 2009





The Maserati Quattroporte, the model which established the category of "Luxury Sports Saloons", can be considered something of a Maserati masterpiece. After five years of success, with more than 15,000 cars delivered and 46 international awards, the Maserati Quattroporte is now being presented with a new look and new technical solutions. The history of art is characterised by audacious artists who challenged pre-existing conventions. Similarly the Pininfarina design team, thanks to their unrivalled and skilful hands, created a fresher, more modern look for the Maserati Quattroporte, yet always mindful of the class, glamour and exclusivity which represent its inner essence.

The personality and glamour of the Maserati flagship are now represented by two products: the Maserati Quattroporte and the Maserati Quattroporte S. The former is fitted with the familiar 4.2 litre 400 hp V8 engine, while the latter adopts the new 4.7 litre 430 hp V8 recently introduced on the Maserati GranTurismo S, with a different specification. Both cars feature the 6-speed automatic transmission developed in association with ZF.

The main styling changes are to the most recognisable features. First of all the front, where the new grille, with its vertical slats, is reminiscent of the GranTurismo. The front and rear light units are also updated, featuring LEDs. On the side, the under-door moulding is more noticeable, with a line that runs into that of the new bumpers, which have a wider protective band and more pronounced rear styling. The door mirrors are also new, with a more dynamic shape and a more streamlined mounting to the door. The interior has a new centre console and the controls are grouped more closely together for even more convenient operation. The car's range of navigation systems is also fully updated, now comprising the New Maserati Multimedia System. Two new shades of leather, Marrone Corniola (brown) and Sabbia (sand), replacing the beige which was previously in the range, debut on the Maserati Quattroporte S and Maserati Quattroporte respectively.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S 2008


The new Quattroporte Sport GT S will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motorshow for its worldwide preview (the Maserati press conference will take place at 11.30 on stand A06, in Hall 6.0). The Quattroporte Sport GT S is the ultimate expression of Maserati’s saloon sportiness.

Exclusively for those looking for an even stronger sporting edge in a luxury saloon, the Quattroporte Sport GT S, equipped with an automatic 6-speed gearbox, stands out for its exceptional dynamic behaviour and uncompromised handling.

This result was obtained with the introduction of new suspension layout, featuring single rate dampers and a “racing” set up. The Quattroporte Sport GT S sits 10mm lower at the front and 25mm at the rear compared to other versions of the Quattroporte, and also features new, stiffer springs and dampers.

The Quattroporte Sport GT S boasts a unique braking system developed in collaboration with Brembo. This innovative technology uses dual-cast brake discs, and this is the first time such a set up has been employed on a road car.

Unlike traditional cast iron discs, dual-cast discs are made of two materials, cast iron and aluminium, to ensure optimised braking, improving performance in the most extreme conditions and providing greater resistance to fade even at the highest temperatures. The Quattroporte Sport GT S’s new braking system also benefits from new mono-block, six-piston callipers at the front and tyres developed especially for this car (front 245/35-R20 and rear 295/30-R20). The increased size of the rear tyres allows optimum use of the Maserati’s V8 power, whilst the new tyre compound helps the brakes and set-up to guarantee a superior level of handling and driving emotion.

The Quattroporte Sport GT S’s exterior is distinguished by a more aggressive look. Along with the black-chrome mesh front grille, a characteristic element of sporty Maseratis, the side window trims and the two double exhaust pipes are also in black, whilst door handles are in the same colour as the body of the car.

The Quattroporte Sport GT S is fitted with eye-catching dark-chrome 20", seven spoke alloy wheels.

The choice of material for the interior of the Quattroporte Sport GT S reflects the car's sporty character. Traditional Poltrona Frau leather has been combined with Alcantara, which covers the central zone of the seats, the interior door panels and the steering wheel. Maserati has previously used Alcantara for the interior of the Trofeo cars and the MC12.

The dashboard is finished in new carbon fibre with aluminium treads, whilst front seats are characterised by a new, more cosseting sporty shape.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept

Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept



The Races have always been the most demanding test-bed for all cars. Traditionally, reliablity and performance are checked on the circuit. It is in races that new technologies and materials are tried out. And it is on the circuit that Maserati has decided to raise the much praised sporty verve of its Maserati GranTurmismo S to even higher levels to create the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept.


The changes the designers of the Maserati Centre have made to the GranTurismo S to create the racing model have improved its performance and above all its aerodynamic efficiency, without disturbing to its elegant, curvaceous line. The radiator grille of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept features two large air intakes - designed to increase the air flow to the engine and brakes - and an aerodynamic bottom trim. The front mudguards, with increased track, are also new, as is the engine hood with a dynamic air inlet and two additional air vents.

The car's profile has also been the subject of in-depth aerodynamic analysis, leading to the introduction of unusual side air vents, linked to the new miniskirts. What's more, the rear of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept has fenders to accommodate the air vents and centrally located tailpipes. Last but not least, the spoiler is larger in size to increase the down force generated by the profile, thus compensating for the aerodynamic effect of the front spoiler.

Development
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept has been developed on the basis of the Maserati GranTurismo S, launched at the Geneva Motor Show on 6th of March 2008. The Maserati Racing Department engineers have made major improvements to reduce the car's weight while also engancing its performance. The mapping of the engine installed on the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept has been revised to further increase performance without impairing reliability: the unit is now generating 330.9 kW (450 hp), with torque of 510 Nm at 4,750 rpm. The intake and exhaust systems have also been revised through the installation of a high-performance conical air filter combined with an exhaust system fitted with racing-type catalytic converters and silencers.

The suspension setting of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept, together with improved weight distribution and new single-string racing dumpers, plus new 12"x18" fron and 13"x18" rear wheels and slick tires, guarantee a striking increase in the car's dynamic performance compared to the Maserati GrantTurismo S.

The brake system has received an upgrade to withstand the stress typical of use on a track, whit adoption of larger discs and monobloc racing calipers.

The chassis has been significantly lightened and stiffened thanks to application of an integral welded roll cage, as required by the FIA regulations.

Partially modified to meet new technical requirements, is in composite materials. The specific electrical system, the dedicated instrumentation including an integral data acquisition system, and the indispensable safety devices, complete the equipment of the Maserati Gran Turismo MC Concept.

Technical specifications
* Engine: V8
* Displacement: 4,691 cc
* Max. Power: 450 hp (330.9 kW)
* Max. Torque: 510 Nm @ 4,750 rpm
* Weight / power ratio: <3.1kg/hp>

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Maserati GranTurismo S

Maserati GranTurismo S



A year after the unveiling of the GranTurismo, Maserati will be back at the Geneva International Motorshow with yet another world premiere, the Maserati GranTurismo S. The ultimate expression of the Trident coupé's sportiness shifts the emphasis onto performance and driving enjoyment.

The Two main novelties are at the heart of the new Maserati: the 440 hp V8 4.7 engine and the electro-actuated gearbox with fast MC-Shift arranged in the transaxle layout typical of high-performance sports cars that represents the technological DNA of all Maseratis.


The Maserati GranTurismo S makes use of the high-performance brake system developed in collaboration with Brembo and introduced for the first time in the automotive field on the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S. The system features front brake discs made with dual-cast technology - a dual casting of cast iron and aluminium, paired with aluminium mono-bloc 6-piston brake callipers, ensuring optimised braking performance.

On the exterior the Maserati GranTurismo S is characterised by a number of aesthetic modifications that, although discrete, are highly effective and make the car body appear sportier without abandoning the sleekness of the lines masterfully designed by Pininfarina.


The interior upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather and Alcantara reflects the sporty flair of the Maserati GranTurismo S; the figure-hugging front and rear seats are distinguished by their new dynamic design with horizontal piping on the seats and seatbacks.