2015 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible MC15
Since 1997, the term GranTurismo has been associated with gaming; hundreds of thousands of young men, (mostly), glued to a computer screen and playing a racing simulation game. Various versions of which have sold 90 million units worldwide. GranTurismo is Italian for Grand Tour and refers to a genre of real cars, both racing and pedestrian, that are fast, sporty, and theoretically comfortable over long distances or hundreds of laps.
For consignment, a true Italian Grand Touring car, the 2015 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible MC15 with a title verified 25,586 actual miles, two owners, and a nice selection of interior and exterior package options. And it doesn't hurt that it's a convertible and has a sweet sounding 454 horsepower powerplant under its long hood.
Exterior
Bianco Eldorado is Maserati's white and covers the car in gleaming two stage brightness. What sets the GranTurismo apart is the exterior features and accents that complement the body color. In this case, we have the Trident shield on the black grille over the black chin that curves up to meet air ducts, the trio of black portholes on each front fender and the nearby fender vent. 20-inch matte graphite MC wheels also add dark contrast along with the black canvas top, carbon fiber door handles and rear wing, and the black rear diffuser from which the dual exhaust exude their song. Visually, it's an exciting car that looks fast, sits low, and allows for open air cruising. As far as imperfections, we note a few dings on the passengers door, some typical under chin scrapes, and notable dents in the lip of the driver's front fender.
Interior
With the Alcantara and carbon fiber packages, (Evolution I, II, and IV, Sport Line), these materials show up in various places starting with the door panels which are also dominated by Nero black leather. Stitched leather and Alcantara bucket seats are just this side of true racing seats with high backs, deep side bolstering, carbon fiber inserts, and the Maserati Trident embroidered into the headrest. The 2+2 bucket seats in the back look just as supportive and fun as the fronts and are in excellent condition. We love how the seat backs extend over the rear deck and provide head support. Passengers also have Alcantara armrests, speakers, cup holders, and carbon fiber trim. More carbon fiber on the race inspired steering wheel which contours to the hand perfectly and includes paddle shifters. Four symmetric gauges provide cockpit information and flank a digital screen which provides even more. The dash is composed of beautiful materials and is a fantastic place to sit. Alcantara surrounds the center stack which houses the AM/FM/CD unit screen with navigation, Bluetooth and XM capabilities, and a 30MB hard drive. The stout shifter sits in the center console in front of silver ringed cupholders. Plush low pile black carpet covers the floor with carpeted mats in the front and fitted rubber mats in the back. The trunk is finished in carpeted panels and is on the small size, but suitable for weekend jaunts to Rhinebeck, Napa, or wherever your travels take you.
Drivetrain
A 4.7 liter DOHC V8 lurks under the vented hood and produces 454 horsepower. It's fuel injected and tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission with MC Autoshift. Power is routed to the rear axle with a gear ratio of 3.73. Naturally, power disc brakes occupy the front and rear wheels.
Undercarriage
Like many exotic cars, an aerodynamic belly pan covers most of the underside, which is clean and dry. Dual exhaust make a brief appearance near the engine then duck under the pan, appear where they meet a single muffler and then reappear in the back as the wide pipes snake their way to the exhaust tips. Heat shields abound underneath as well. Independent wishbone suspension equips the car in the front and the back.
Drive-Ability
Well, don't mind if we do! There's nothing quite like the cold start of an Italian sports car and this MC15 does not disappoint. We're sure it sings at wide open-throttle but for now we're satisfied with simply taking this drop top around the test loop to make sure all is well. As expected with 24k miles, we note no diversion from working equipment and as much as we'd love to camp out in this interior, we're on the clock and need to go stare at a computer for a bit. But not before reporting that acceleration is fantastic, handling is superb, and braking is near F1 adequate and stops you on a dime.
Grand Touring cars have some defining characteristics. Seating for two or more, check! Functionality and control afforded to the driver, yep. Chassis and suspension that provides tight handling and comfort, assolutamente! Finally, an engine that can run a marathon, no doubt! Here is a beautifully spec'd Maserati that you can drive every day or save for special drives and weekend jaunts.
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