2018 Maserati GranTurismo

At the core of the 2018 Maserati GranTurismo Sport Convertible beats one of the most characterful engines of the modern era — a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter V8, co-developed with Ferrari and hand-built at the Maranello engine facility. This powerplant produces 454 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm, channeling its energy through a rear-mounted 6-speed ZF automatic transmission that delivers lightning-quick shifts in Sport and Manual modes.

Constructed entirely from aluminum, the quad-cam 32-valve V8 uses a dry-sump lubrication system derived from Ferrari’s racing programs, allowing the engine to sit low in the chassis for a lower center of gravity and consistent oil pressure under hard cornering. Dual variable valve timing ensures a broad torque curve, while the redline—just shy of 7,500 rpm—invites the driver to explore the upper registers of one of the finest-sounding engines ever installed in a grand tourer.

Maserati’s Sport exhaust system, with electronically controlled bypass valves, transforms the car’s demeanor with a press of the Sport button. In relaxed cruising it emits a deep, cultured burble; open the valves, and the V8 unleashes a feral, metallic wail that builds to an operatic crescendo — a signature note that no turbocharged successor has replicated.

Performance: 0–60 mph in 4.7 seconds, top speed of 185 mph.
Character: pure, unfiltered Italian soul — smooth, sonorous, and endlessly rewarding.

In essence: The 4.7-liter Ferrari-derived V8 defines the GranTurismo Sport’s identity — a timeless engine that marries sculpture, sound, and sensation, reminding enthusiasts why the naturally aspirated grand tourer remains the pinnacle of driving pleasure.

The 2018 GranTurismo Sport Convertible sits confidently on 20-inch forged “Trofeo” alloy wheels, finished in a striking graphite-gray metallic that accentuates the car’s sculpted fenders and race-bred stance. The wheels feature Maserati’s signature trident-embossed center caps and a five-twin-spoke design inspired by the marque’s competition heritage — elegant in profile yet aggressive in detail.

These lightweight forged alloys reduce unsprung mass and enhance suspension response, contributing to the GranTurismo’s signature blend of comfort and agility. The staggered setup uses 245/35ZR20 front and 285/35ZR20 rear tires, wrapped in Pirelli P Zero high-performance rubber engineered specifically for Maserati’s chassis dynamics.

The P Zero compound offers a perfect compromise between touring refinement and high-grip precision, maintaining traction through the car’s 454-horsepower rear-drive layout while preserving a supple ride over Hill Country backroads. Each wheel assembly is equipped with TPMS sensors, and the braking system — Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers — peers visibly through the open-spoke design, underscoring the car’s athletic purpose.

In short: the GranTurismo Sport’s wheel and tire package completes its Italian grand-touring character — poised, purposeful, and perfectly proportioned, ensuring both curbside presence and confidence at triple-digit speeds.

True to its motorsport heritage, the 2018 Maserati GranTurismo Sport Convertible is equipped with a high-performance Brembo braking system that blends race-bred stopping power with grand-touring refinement. Each corner features lightweight, cross-drilled, and ventilated rotors paired with six-piston monobloc aluminum calipers in the front and four-piston units in the rear, finished in signature Maserati red.

The rotors are crafted from a dual-cast composite of cast iron and aluminum, a design exclusive to Maserati that combines the heat resilience of iron with the reduced weight and improved cooling of aluminum. This innovative setup provides exceptional fade resistance, quicker heat dissipation, and a more linear pedal feel during spirited driving.

Integrated with the car’s Maserati Stability Program (MSP) and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), the system maintains precise balance and composure under all conditions — from hard braking on winding Hill Country roads to smooth deceleration during a vineyard cruise. The pedal response is firm and communicative, with the reassuring feedback enthusiasts expect from a hand-tuned Italian GT.

In essence: the GranTurismo’s Brembo system delivers confidence and character in equal measure — powerful, progressive, and beautifully engineered to match the soul of its Ferrari-built V8.

Power from the Ferrari-built 4.7-liter V8 flows through a 6-speed ZF automatic transmission, one of the finest torque-converter gearboxes ever engineered. Mounted in a rear transaxle configuration, it contributes to the GranTurismo’s ideal 49/51 front-to-rear weight distribution, giving the car its signature composure and balance.

In Automatic mode, the transmission delivers seamless, fluid shifts that suit relaxed grand-touring drives. Engage Sport or Manual mode, and the character transforms—gear changes quicken to as little as 200 milliseconds, accompanied by precisely timed throttle blips on downshifts. The driver takes command through column-mounted aluminum paddles, milled from solid metal and engineered for tactile precision.

ZF’s adaptive control software continuously adjusts shift mapping based on throttle input, cornering load, and braking pressure, ensuring the gearbox feels intuitive and responsive in every scenario. A limited-slip differential ensures smooth power delivery and stable traction under acceleration, while the MC Auto Shift calibration—derived from Maserati Corse—adds a sharper edge to the Sport model’s dynamics.

In essence: this 6-speed ZF unit perfectly complements the GranTurismo’s dual nature—civilized and effortless around town, yet immediate and visceral when driven with intent. It is a transmission that communicates, not isolates, allowing the driver to savor every nuance of Maserati’s naturally aspirated V8.