Chevrolet Corvette

9 December 2024

Sitges, Spain — The automotive world sure has changed a lot over the past decade. For proof of that fact,...

AstonMartinVanquishVN68AML©PhotoMaxEarey-3930

First Drive: 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish

Team Vicarious

2 December 2024

By Matt Bubbers Seen under the Sardinian sun, Aston Martin’s all-new Vanquish doesn’t look like the lairy monster its spec...

This Month In Autos: Volume 7

Benjamin Yong

News

27 November 2024

2026 Cadillac Vistiq The arrival of Cadillac’s newest zero emissions three-row SUV is finally upon us: welcome the 2026 Cadillac...

Road Test: 2025 BMW 330i

Emily Atkins

22 November 2024

The 2025 BMW 330i is something of a stealth superstar. Absolutely nothing about it screams “Look at me!” or even...

Featured Car: 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

Dan Heyman

20 November 2024

It’s amazing; seems that just yesterday, hybrid vehicles were complete oddities in the car and light truck world. Today, the...

Jaguar Reborn

Dan Heyman

EMOTION

19 November 2024

Gaydon, UK — As the car world moves – albeit more slowly as of late – to full electrification, Jaguar...

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Featured SUV: 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT

15 November 2024

Driving the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is not for anyone looking to pass through the neighbourhood unnoticed. This is...

True confession time: This driver has a soft spot for most vehicles bearing the legendary trident and for the Maserati GranTurismo in particular. While picking style over substance is never a safe bet when it comes to high-performance vehicles, the GranTurismo has been an absolutely stunning grand touring coupe from the very beginning. The very beginning began way back in 2007 with the release of the first-generation model. That model was in production from that point until 2019 and it didn’t change much over that period. The reason, probably? It didn’t need to change much. The original design, penned by Jason Castriota when he was with Pininfarina, is/was both timeless and beautiful, the very definition of a collectible GT. To bring more than a measure of substance into the discussion, the GranTurismo was powered by a 4.2-litre V-8 gasoline engine developed in partnership with Ferrari. Fun Ferrari fact: At the time, the GranTurismo was the least expensive Ferrari-engined production vehicle in the world. (Thus, even more collectible.) Now, we have the arrival of the second-generation Maserati GranTurismo—and changes have been made. The question is: Do these changes make the new GT more, less or equally desirable as the original? To find out, a select group of lucky souls journeyed to the Eternal City to sample the car and its all-electric equivalent, the GranTurismo Folgore. First things first: Although the electrified GranTurismo and the petrol-powered variant were developed in parallel, the car is surprisingly similar in design to the last-generation model. Without question, the average onlooker would recognize the new GT as a Maserati GranTurismo: the lines are strikingly similar, the design far more evolution than revolution. Under the guidance of chief designer Klaus Busse, the team at Maserati opted to retain the classic proportions of the 2+2 grand tourer, here featuring an elongated hood and four rounded fenders. This design, called the “cofango”—an amalgam of the Italian words for “hood” and “fender”—evokes Italian style from the past, on display in cars such as the original Maserati Birdcage from the late-1950s. Yet, despite its clear links to both the recent past and deeper into the archives, the new GranTurismo is significantly different. According to Busse, dimensions have increased only marginally, but the interior has added space for four adult passengers and there’s 100 litres more storage capacity in the trunk. All versions of the Maserati send drive to all four wheels now. While this always adds weight to a car, the new GranTurismo is lighter than the outgoing version. Finally, the new design shares no body panels with the previous model. So—while the latest GT resembles its predecessor, it’s very different under the surface. Here’s another big change to consider: Instead of a Ferrari V-8 under the hood, there’s a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6. If this sounds like a step down… well, it kind of is because it’s not a Ferrari engine and it’s not a V-8. On the other hand, it is the same engine that powers the Maserati MC20, detuned a bit for the GranTurismo application. For the base model, codenamed the GranTurismo Modena, this engine develops 490 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. For the high-performing Trofeo variant, the engine is boosted a bit to the tune of 550 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. (To be fair, all these numbers are higher than for the V-8.) Performance figures for the Trofeo are right about where you want a modern GT to land: 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h. These numbers are backed up by the actual drive experience, which in this case was a leisurely route that began on the cobblestone streets of Rome, extended to the sweeping vistas of Tuscany and then on to the industrial areas just outside and within Modena city limits. For this trip, drivers were encouraged to switch from the GranTurismo Trofeo to the all-electric Folgore and back, a daring move on the part of Maserati. This structure gave everyone the opportunity to choose his or her favourite—old school or new school. There’s no question that the Folgore is faster in a straight line and it’s probably quicker around corners to boot. But the tuning experts at Maserati know full well that the sound of an internal combustion engine at full song is something with enduring value. So, if the Trofeo is slightly more relaxed than its electrified twin as far as the stopwatch is concerned, it still sounds fast and it still feels fast. The chassis is responsive and engaging, aided by an electronic rear slip differential, and the steering is light but accurate. Under power, the 8-speed automatic transmission is resolute and precise, snapping up and down through the gears smartly. The brakes are solid under foot, reliably powerful and easily able to bleed speed. There are certain characteristics you expect to find in a modern GT car that’s priced well north of six figures. The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo meets the mandate with style and panache, offering class-competitive driving dynamics, all the requisite luxury amenities and space for four adult passengers. Here in Canada, the car starts at $222,500—an eye-watering number, to be sure—but there’s so much to admire here.

Featured Car: 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo

9 November 2024

Modena, Italy: It’s true confession time. This driver has a soft spot for most vehicles bearing the legendary trident and...

First Drive: 2025 Audi A3 and S3

5 November 2024

It is always a joy returning to Germany to test drive a new vehicle. There is such a difference between...

First Drive: 2025 Maserati GranCabrio + GranCabrio Folgore

10 October 2024

Stresa, Italy- Last year saw the release of the latest-generation Maserati GranTurismo and its electrified kin, the Folgore. The notion to...

Road Test: 2025 BMW Z4 M40i Handschalter

Emily Atkins

29 September 2024

When you get a shiver of anticipation just hearing a car fire up, you know good things are about to...

Road Test: 2024 Subaru WRX RS

23 August 2024

Subaru doesn’t make the STi anymore and the company has no plans to bring it back. As much as we...

First Drive: 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

8 August 2024

Seville, Spain – Porsche’s refresh of the Taycan was about as comprehensive as you’d expect from the brand. It’s not...

First Drive: 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider

20 June 2024

This review was first published in the Fall 2023 issue of Vicarious magazine. Subscribe here and never miss an issue!!...

Road Test: 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition

Peter Bleakney

7 May 2024

Few cars I’ve driven of late have garnered as much attention as this 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster Style Edition, and...

Featured Car: 2024 BMW M8 Competition Coupé

18 March 2024

The “Ultimate Driving Machine” is a moniker that BMW has owned for the past four decades. Some may doubt that...

Quick Take: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

14 February 2024

Volkswagen’s biggest model has undergone a refresh for the 2024 model year, with the Atlas receiving many upgrades, including a...

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Quick Take: 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee

13 January 2024

For more coverage of the “Last Call” editions from Dodge, pick up the current issue of Vicarious magazine at your...

First Look: 2024 Genesis G70

11 January 2024

Markham, ON – Times are tough for fun-to-drive sport sedans as the once robust segment dwindles on the brink of...

Erie’s North Shore Surprises

Jeff Wilson

Discovered

6 January 2024

Canada’s southernmost region is a vast agricultural landscape crucial for producing a wealth of crops that keep Canadian bellies fed....

Subaru’s Secret Stash

Mercedes Lilienthal

5 January 2024

I Get an Insider’s Look at the Japanese Automaker’s Private Collection There are dozens of pristine Subaru vehicles quietly kept...

First Drive: 2023 Maserati MC20 Cielo

Team Vicarious

22 December 2023

Supercar. No word in the automotive lexicon carries such weight or expectation. Performance is a prerequisite, and petrolheads expect the...

Road Test: Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0

19 December 2023

I am a self-professed sports car nut. I could say enthusiast, but nut is probably closer to the truth. As...

Road Test: 2024 Mazda 3 GT Turbo

18 December 2023

The compact sedan market remains one of the most competitive in Canada, with a bevy of interesting options available to...

Randolph Engineering Military Grade, Polarised Aviator Sunglasses

The Grateful Eight- Our Favourite Holiday Gift Suggestions

Matthew Neundorf

13 December 2023

The holiday season is hectic to say the least. Between swapping over to winter tires, making sure that the motorcycles...

Volume 4: Cute Car Names

Jim Kenzie

News

28 November 2023

In my series (so far, a series of 1…) on recycled car names, I have been thinking about some of...

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Road Test: 2023 Acura TLX Type S

25 October 2023

The TLX from Acura is a sports sedan now in its second generation that is offered in three trims. The...

Road Test: 2024 Acura Integra Type S

23 October 2023

The end is near for the gasoline car as we know it and while nothing is ever certain, vehicles like...

Road Test: 2023 Honda Civic Type R