The souped up Maserati GranTurismo has much more to offer than raw acoustic presence.

This review was first published in MOTOR Magazine’s August 2008 issue.

Turn the key — there’s no fashionable starter button — and the Maser’s V8 instantly jumps to life and, in Sport mode, will make the most glorious sound Italy has composed since Verdi’s Nabucco.

It also looks more aggressive than the normal version, with grey 20-inch alloys, a blacked-out grille and the headlamp surrounds, extended tail spoiler, flared sills, dual chromed tailpipes and fire-red brake calipers. It’s a solid 10 in street cred.

The S version is quantifiably faster than the untreated GranTurismo, reaching 100km/h in 4.9sec and a top speed of 295km/h. That’s the good news. The bad news concerns the price list where the S coupe will command a $25,000-odd premium over the standard GT.

While the run-of-the-mill 2+2-seater is, like the Quattroporte, equipped with a ZF transmission, the S retains the Cambiocorsa ’box which has been renamed MC Shift to neutralise all those negative connotations.

How quick is MC Shift? Maserati claims 100milliseconds for the whole procedure and 40ms for engaging the gear, which is every bit as fast as the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano. The downside of MC Shift is the auto mode, which takes a long, chin-dropping breather when stepping from one ratio to the next.

MORE MOTOR review on the ‘new’ GranTurismo

The standard, non-adjustable chassis is firmer overall but more honest and predictable than the optional Skyhook suspension. The fixed set-up is neatly tied down at all times, with stiffer damping, less body roll and recalibrated springs. With the fatter rubber, the S delivers excellent roadholding and super-smooth slides at the limit.

Wishful thinking? But why shouldn’t Maserati aim for the parking spot the Ferrari F430 will vacate when its successor moves up in early 2010?

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Fast Facts – 2008 Maserati Granturismo S

ENGINE: 4691cc DOHC V8, 32v POWER: 323kW @ 7000rpm TORQUE: 490Nm @ 4750rpm WEIGHT: 1880kg 0-100km/h: 4.93sec (claimed) TOP SPEED: 295km/h (claimed) PRICE: $315,000 (est)

LIKE: Excellent chassis; great handling; superb sound DISLIKE: Harsh ride; slow auto shifts; heavy brakes