2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC

With the stunning GranTurismo, Maserati has a coupe and convertible that live up to the brand’s billing as a highly satisfying consolation prize to people who perhaps really wanted a Ferrari. This exotic Italian has smoldering curves, a leather-lined interior with the proper aroma of luxury, and an exquisite sound that comes from a Ferrari-engineered 4.7-liter V-8. For 2012, the 405-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 has been banished from the lineup, so the price of entry has increased by $4100, which is barely worth mentioning when discussing a car this exclusive. The least expensive two-door Maserati is the S Automatic coupe; the base convertible is $14,300 more. The hot new MC coupe and Sport convertible are the biggest news for 2012. Both models boast 11 extra hp, a lightning-quick automated manual transmission, a sport exhaust system, and more. The 187-mph MC coupe is the fastest Maserati you can buy but costs only $3515 more than a similarly equipped S Automatic. The $146,300 Sport convertible has most of the MC’s goodies but doesn’t offer its less forgiving fixed-rate standard suspension. American customers can’t get the roll bar, racing seats, or competition-style transmission that are offered to customers in other countries on the MC Stradale, but that’s just fine because the GranTurismo is really too big and heavy to be a true track star. It excels at being sexy, sounding amazing, and being a comfortable grand tourer for four people while also being quicker and faster than almost anything else on the street.