Maserati: new GranTurismo will be much more powerful

The Maserati GranTurismo hasn't much longer for this world. We're told production will cease before the end of 2017.

Don't shed a tear, though. That will mean it’s been on sale for a solid decade, which is impressive when most cars don’t live beyond six or seven years without replacement.

“It has been more successful than we ever imagined,” Maserati product line manager Davide Danesin told Top Gear. Over 40,000 have been sold since the GranTurismo’s arrival in 2007.

It’s lived longer than even Maserati expected, then, and its popularity means the replacement – which we can expect a short time after the current model bows out, perhaps spring 2018 – will not vary wildly from the recipe.

So V8 engines look set to remain up front, driving the rear wheels, with Danesin telling us of a “significant power increase”. Perhaps that will come from Maserati’s V8s switching to turbocharging, much like stablemate Ferrari's have.

Currently, the GranTurismo uses 400 and 454bhp naturally aspirated V8s. For reference, the entry-level V8 turbo Ferrari is the 552bhp California T. The new GranTurismo's output will definitely begin with a five, then.

What about the V6 turbos used in the Maserati Ghibli? “They are needed for efficiency,” says Danesin, “but we need to keep the GranTurismo’s spirit.” A final decision is yet to be made, but there will be at least some V8s among the engine range it appears. Good.

The GranTurismo (and open-top GranCabrio) will retain 2+2 seating, with the smaller, Jaguar F-Type-esque Maserati Alfieri two-seater coming to market afterwards. That will be notably sportier, but will take a skinnier percentage of Maser’s sales than the gen2 GranTurismo.

What do you think? Pleased Maserati is still chasing the sports car market now it makes a diesel SUV?