One of Italy's storied marques, along with Ferrari and Lamborghini, Maserati continues its long line of iconic performance-oriented sports cars with the Maserati GranTurismo, new for 2007. Drawing on the traditions of such cars as the GranSport and the Quattroporte four-door sedan, the GranTurismo two-door coupe features a shapely exterior design by Pininfarina, the Italian automotive and industrial designer. With its distinctive oval-shaped grille, complete with Maserati's signature trident positioned in the middle, as well as its cat-like headlights, hunky wheels, flared fenders, and elegant rear end, the GranTurismo will certainly get noticed on the highway or just tooling around town. Some reviewers detract points for the three portholes along each side of the car behind the front wheels, but overall the design continues in Maserati's grand tradition.

The four-passenger GranTurismo coupe rides on the same basic platform as the Quattroporte, although it's been shortened by about 5 inches. In addition, its design positions the engine behind the front axle, which improves overall balance and provides precise control. As a result, the GranTurismo handles curves nimbly, as expected of an Italian sports car of this caliber, while its throaty 4.2-liter, 405-hp V8 engine accelerates smoothly and provides aggressive power.

The engine links to a new six-speed hydraulic automatic transmission with four shift modes - Auto Normal for a comfortable ride, Auto Sport for a sportier ride, Auto Ice for low-grip road conditions, and a manual shift mode. In manual mode, the driver can shift gears using paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

Inside, the GranTurismo pampers occupants with specially treated Poltrona Frau leather sports seats with trident logos in the headrests. Polished wood trim, hand-finished pockets, and ample storage areas make the GranTurismo both luxurious and functional. Standard features include an 11-speaker Bose Surround Sound audio system with a 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing music on board.

Legroom and headroom can be tight in the rear seat for taller adults, but overall the interior provides ample space for a sports coupe, and compares favorably to the interior space in similar sports coupes from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar. While trunk space is smallish at 9.1 cubic feet, it can carry two regular-size golf bags or an exclusive set of five suitcases, the automaker notes.

Some drivers and reviewers have also noted that the GranTurismo feels heavy, resulting in a sports car that doesn't have quite the visceral power it should. But the GranTurismo shouldn't be considered a racer on the same level as a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Rather, it's a polished and sophisticated grand tourer, capable of moving fortunate passengers around in style and comfort.