2012 Maserati GranTurismo S MC-Shift: More power, less fuel

The uprated engine was first seen last year in the flagship GranTurismo MC Stradale. The naturally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 produces 331kW of power (at 7000rpm) and 510Nm of torque (at 4750rpm), up 8kW/20Nm from last year’s model. The GranTurismo S MC-Shift does not improve on the old model’s 4.9 second 0-100km/h sprint or 295km/h top speed, but Maserati says a redesign of the engine’s fluid dynamics has improved its mid-range response.

Despite the performance enhancements, the Italian supercar’s official fuel consumption has fallen from 16.6 litres per 100km to 15.5L/100km.

Maserati says the upgraded engine uses a process developed by the Ferarri Formula One Team called ‘Diamond-Like Coating’, which applies to the tappets and camshaft lobes to reduce internal friction.

The introduction of the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo S MC-Shift comes just weeks after the launch of the GranCabrio Sport, which features the same uprated powerplant.

Unlike the high-performance convertible, the GranTurismo S MC-Shift coupe is equipped with a six-speed sequential transmission. Drivers can select between six different transmission settings depending on the conditions: Manual Normal, Manual Sport, Manual Sport in MC-Shift, Auto Normal, Auto Sport, and Ice.

The price of the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo S MC-Shift is unchanged at $345,000 before on-road costs.