A while back, Maserati took a couple of 3200 GT coupés to Canada, for a long distance journey through Canada, venturing into some of the far parts of the beautiful country.
Motoring journalists from around the world made up the majority of the drivers. And the reports coming back seem impressive.
During their travels, they encountered rain, dust, and snow, and spectacular scenery. Looked like a lot of fun.
You can see the videos here (part 1 and 2)
Hi res:
1. http://www.maserati.com/jsp/showVideo.jsp?imageKey=lgiraldi_video_canada_part1 _hi
These will open in a new window, with a media player in it, but, if you check your temporary internet files, you see them listed.
Commander
11-13-2002, 11:17 PM
Cool. There are about 4 of those scenes in the second video where I can actually pinpoint the very location. You see Calgary, then the highway just west of Banff, and the part where the cars are on a dirt road with a lake directly to the right that is almost as high as the road, that is the Spray Lakes trail in Canmore. I also recognize the strip of highway just before Golden (by Lake Louise), before the turnoff to Jasper. (how can you tell I drive these roads?) :D
11-14-2002, 07:31 PM
If you are wondering what the cars in the video are, exactly, then I'll explain:
As you can see, it has quite a massive amount of torque, and quite impressive power. It's engine is based off the 8V-4AC32 unit seen in the earlier Quattroporte (four-door), but, with numerous improvements and refinements done by Maserati's owner, Ferrari.
It may be a small engine, but, from the ferocious performance, you'd never know it. The massive amount of torque makes overtaking very easy. And like the British journalist said, it makes easy work of travelling long distances.
If anyone wants more detailed technical data, I can get it.
Commander
11-15-2002, 12:46 AM
For an out-of-the-box car, the torque figure is quite impressive. Still though, anything under 400 ft Lbs of torque is medeocre in my books. The Masi is light though, so that T-figure would make for lightening fast acceleration. I kinda like the way the car looks: not too ricey, not too european, and not too brutish (North American). I think it is a nice blend. I do prefer "thunder carts", big jesus vehicles with more power than an ice-breaker vessel, but elegant performance cars are nice when done right, and I must admit the cars in the video are quite exotic without going overboard. I'd buy one, let's put it that way.
11-15-2002, 01:17 AM
They no longer have that engine. Now its a 4.2 litre V8, with no turbos anymore (no turbo-lag). It has these figures:
On first glance, you would maybe be disappointed by the lesser torque output, but, the newer engine in the Coupé (no longer 3200GT, it's bigger, but looks the same, almost) and Spyder is better. The responsiveness, at all engine speeds is way better. It is so immediately responsive, that at first you'll inevitably hit the accelerator too heavily, and screech the rear tyres.
It's hard to describe it, but, best shown on a video from the Maserati site:
Il Campione del mondo e la Spyder a Fiorano:
(The World Champion in the Spyder at Fiorano):
Hi res:
http://www.maserati.com/jsp/showVideo.jsp?imageKey=lgiraldi_video_spyder_fiora no_hi
You'll probably also note the pretty addictive engine sound too. Especially note the way the engine performs, coming out of the hairpin on the Fiorano test circuit. (Ferrari's own track)
Also, if you are wondering just what you get for your money when buying a Maserati, this link will give you an idea of the customisation options (basically design and configure your own Maserati Spyder or Coupé):
http://www.configurator.maserati.com
GT models are 6 speed manual, and Cambiocorsa models are 6 speed electro-hydraulic gearbox (manual gearchanges available in 60ms time, or use the auto-mode).
I actually walk past the Maserati dealer in Sydney a lot, and, I'm constantly drooling at these cars. They are amazing. Very beautiful, and the Coupé (along with the 3200GT) are actually really fast cars, that you could live with, and drive everyday. Very practical, too. It's the best thing you could have in a car, practicality, modest good looks, and fast performance.
I still like the tail-lights on the old 3200GT, however.. They were neat, very individual, and looked cool, especially when the turn indicator was put on:
The side profile:
http://www.km77.com/marcas/maserati/3200gt/gra/perfil2.jpg
One of the cars you saw on the video:
http://www.km77.com/marcas/maserati/3200gt/gra/lateral2.jpg
The shape of this car was the work of Giorgetto Giugiaro (pronounced "joodjaro", the "jood" bit similar as the word good is pronounced but with a J supplemented) of Italdesign, the company he founded. He did excellent work.
The distinctive tail-lights were the idea of Paolo Cantarella, the Fiat boss. Giugiaro's original proposal had 4 oval shaped tail lights, but, Giugiaro proposed these radical shaped ones. His idea was for all cars from any company in the Fiat group to be able to be distinguised at night, by the tail lights.
Giugiaro half-seriously then suggested that when we show you the car, we should not put the lights on it; you are always changing the lights. The Italians, I must admit, they have an eye for detail and elegance, most of the time..
It'd be easy to write a huge book about Maserati and its history, because they have done so many interesting things, but, I can't write all of it here..
Another of the good ones that Maserati did, in my opinion, was the Quattroporte (mentioned above):
http://www.maserati.com/esImages/20020731/grigiasu_1_G.jpg
Hi res version: http://www.maserati.com/esImages/20020731/grigiasu_1.jpg
The Quattroporte admittedly had some flaws, like slight turbo lag, but, something about the style, the sound, the interior, and the performance in general made it very appealing. It was slightly noisy for a Jaguar XJ competitor, but, the noise was in keeping with the raw acceleration and performance (claimed 0-100km/hr in 5.2 seconds, and 280km/hr top speed). It was the sort of car which encouraged you to have a go, and drive it quicker and quicker.. ;)
You can probably guess that I love Maserati. It's a rare type of car. It just gets to you, in a way not many other cars do. Even Ferrari in a way doesn't capture the spirit and imagination in the same way.