Car reviews

More than 60 years ago, the idea of slotting a racing car engine under the bonnet of a road-going model led Maserati to create its first GranTurismo model. The dream and the name have lived on through the years and the latest rendition - another masterpiece of design from Pininfarina - won instant acclaim when it was launched at the end of 2007. It is hardly surprising that the new GranTurismo has customers queuing around the world: arguably the most attractive car of its kind currently available, it oozes the opulence and feel of a thoroughbred and presents stiff opposition to the evergreen Porsche 911 and the revitalized Jaguar XK. With 405bhp on tap from a 4.2-litre V8, performance is exhilarating.