Five Key Takeaways From the 2024 Maserati Granturismo Trofeo

Monterey Car Week is always a treat – something to look forward to if you can honestly call yourself a car enthusiast. Attending is one thing, but if you're driving – what do you show up in?

For the uninitiated, Monterey Car Week is an extended weekend of car-centric events, activities, shows and parties that caters to everything automotive. From new car reveals and custom builds, to prize-winning, jaw-dropping, mint conditions being showcased under Concours d'Elegance exhibitions – it's automotive Elysium to be it loosely. And everyone arriving wants their cars to be noticed and photographed. So you would think that showing up in a bright green Lamborghini Huracan might be the answer, but in fact that might be just a drop in the ocean compared to what you're sharing the road with or pulling alongside to at Pebble Beach.

For our trip and invitation to Monterey Car Week, Maserati loaned us a 2024 Granturismo Trofeo – the highest trim level and spec for its quintessential "Grand Tourer." Our drive up from Orange County to Big Sur and Monterey would require 6+ hours of smooth roads and views, so we have plenty of time to acquaint ourselves with the tried-and-true Maserati GT car.

Below are our five key takeaways, in order of relevance.

It's Supremely Comfortable

The very first thing we noticed – and had to make sure of – was how comfortable the Granturismo was, as we trekked 360 miles north to Monterey. Thankfully, this was the case.

The seats inside were firm and reminded us more of a sports seat than an executive cruiser, but we were also surprised how sculpted they were to our body. Our thighs were supported laterally thanks to stiff side bolsters, but our butt was on a soft pillow of a cushion that gave us confidence in a "planted" position. Shoulders were also supported well with extended wings, but admittedly this is more of a track-focused insight as you carve corners – something we didn't do much of on our trip. We had a passenger sit in the back for a short stint and she also noticed how supportive the seat was, almost as if they could pose as "semi-sporty" front seats. And while HVAC systems are pretty much a commodity these days but one thing we did notice was how quiet the blowers were, even at full crank; something you wouldn't normally notice but when you're "GT"ing, it's a nice thought.

All in all, six hours and 35 mins passed fairly effortlessly in the Granturismo Trofeo – a statement for the "Grand Tourer" that this car is built and meant to be.

It's Incredibly Fast

The second standout had to be the power and how easily it was accessible. We're not talking about 0-60, which to be honest isn't important – that's not what this car is about. We're talking about the ability for this car to pick up on long stretches of highway, how it handles overtakes, power delivery, etc.

At the heart of the Granturismo Trofeo is a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 that outputs 542 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. While these numbers could be found fairly easily these days, it's how Maserati has tuned the car to react with these figures on the open road. Again, we weren't concerned with first-gear acceleration – what was massively more impressive was the 8th-to-4th-gear downshift on the freeway. What almost felt like a flex of our toes lead to a huge surge of power as the turbos spooled and the revs rose. Before we realized it, triple-digit speeds climbed and that simple overtake was a thing of the past.

Best of all, this power was so smooth and linear that we barely noticed the speed – a hallmark for a grand tourer. Compare this sensation to something like a BMW M2 – small, compact power meant to be exploited on twisty turns and corners – and you'd be feeling the car exert that energy within the cabin, through the steering wheel, etc. The Granturismo Trofeo put down the power like nothing, as if we were simply cruising down the street.

It Looks and Feels Like Luxury

We've always had a soft spot for the Granturismo. There's something about its proportions that do it for us – with its long body chassis, oversized wheels, relatively-short overhangs and curvaceous fenders, it always came off very "gangster" for lack of a better word.

The current generation Granturismo is no different. The looks have definitely been updated, with the front face now more circular and bulbous than the outgoing model, which arguably was more aggressive especially with its lengthy headlights and sharper, more tapered front hood. Nevertheless, the addition of larger corner intake vents, a lower front chin, recessed front hood vents and more make the Granturismo look exotic and expensive, translating to an air of luxury (if the right color is picked, more on this later.) One suggestion we have however is in the suspension department – we would've liked to see how the car looks with a moderate drop, as the wheel gap comes off a bit too tall and unbefitting for such an aggressive silhouette.

Inside, that luxury look and feel continues, with a slathering of leather, contrast cross stitching, a cocoon of Alcantara at the pillars and headliner and, as optioned for our car, carbon fiber trim pieces and dash components. The Italian Sonus faber audio system paired well with the car's design language and sounded like a cliché "Opera House" symphony, even if its equalizer and surround sound adjustments were literally buried in the digital-only infotainment system's sea of menus. However once tuned just right, there wasn't anything we could throw at it that the system couldn't handle - 90s hip-hop sounded deep, K-Pop came in clear and crisp, and even screamo, mathcore and other alternative genres couldn't generate a grill rattle or speaker pop of any kind. Definitely worth the "High Premium Audio System – $4,000 USD" asking price.

It Can Be Surprisingly Low-Key

There's something about GT cars that tend to draw attention. For Maserati, it's less about "sleek" and spaceship-like, more about stature and presence. The Granturismo Trofeo is really, really good at this.

Our attendance at Monterey helped support this, as we got just the right amount of attention without being overly "that guy." And if you've ever been to Monterey Car Week before, you'll know that there are super cars everywhere, 911s on every corner, SF90s and Aventadors like Camrys and Corollas. For once we were the "subtle cool" guy with the grumbly exhaust, and nabbed the attention of the "IYKYK" crowd, but also weren't completely mobbed like the Paganis and Koenigseggs parked near us. Sure, our "Giallo Corse" Yellow was a bit on the loud side, but even that awarded us with a handful of thumbs ups from the enthusiasts, and we were confidently able to say no one else was driving what we had.

Perhaps the yellow Maserati Granturismo Trofeo in a suburban town or city like Manhattan would be ostentatious, but pick a black or metallic silver paint job and you'll enjoy being in a 199 mph sports car that easily flies under the radar.

Its Value Is Relative

Let's address the elephant: The Maserati Granturismo Trofeo starts at $190,000 USD. That's a lot of money, and there are plenty of cars in the Grand Touring category that are similarly priced. The question shouldn't be "why should I buy this car" though; it should be "what do I want out of it."

In our mind, the buyer looking at the Maserati Granturismo knows exactly what the car is – a departure from what's more common on the road, with a bit of Italian soul and the ability to perform, keep up and even best the competition. It's for someone who wants to stand out, but does it so discreetly and with tact, rather than pizazz and showboating (again, our Yellow example aside). And while the power and luxury is a key factor for drivers and automotive lifestyle seekers, its four-full seats and plentiful trunk also make the Granturismo Trofeo very practical and useable.

Because of all of these factors, there's justification in the $190,000 USD asking price. In life, there's always an alternative to the common and mundane, and if you're looking for something that stands out a bit and are willing to pay for that, the Granturismo Trofeo is a serious contender.

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Five Key Takeaways From the 2024 Maserati Granturismo Trofeo

Five Key Takeaways From the 2024 Maserati Granturismo Trofeo

Five Key Takeaways From the 2024 Maserati Granturismo Trofeo

Five Key Takeaways From the 2024 Maserati Granturismo Trofeo

Five Key Takeaways From the 2024 Maserati Granturismo Trofeo