Aston Martin is still coolest

Seemingly the arrival of the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet hasn’t harmed the reputation of Aston Martin too much, because the firm has just retained the title of the UK’s coolest brand. That’s according to the 2011/12 CoolBrands survey, which gauges the opinions of an ‘Expert Council’ of various glitterati, as well as over 2,000 members of the public.

Harley-Davidson was declared the coolest motorcycle brand, and it also achieved an impressive third spot in the overall results. The only other automotive brands that made it into the top twenty were Ferrari, which also appeared last year, and new entry Maserati. Mini, however, dropped out.

2011/12 CoolBrands Survey - Top 20 Brands
Position	Brand	Category
1	Aston Martin	Automotive - Cars
2	Apple	Technology - General
3	Harley-Davidson	Automotive - Motorbikes
4	Rolex	Fashion - Accessories, Jewellery, Watches
5	Bang and Olufsen	Technology - General
6	BlackBerry	Technology - Telecommunications
7	Google	Online
8	Ferrari	Automotive - Cars
9	Nike	Sportswear and Equipment
10	YouTube	Online
11	Alexander McQueen	Fashion - Designer
12	Dom Perignon	Drinks - Champagne
13	PlayStation	Leisure and Entertainment - Games and Toys
14	Ray-Ban	Fashion - Accessories, Jewellery, Watches
15	Chanel	Fashion - Designer
16	Nintendo	Leisure and Entertainment - Games and Toys
17	Vivienne Westwood	Fashion - Designer
18	Agent Provocateur	Fashion - Lingerie
19	Tate Modern	Leisure and Entertainment - UK Attractions and The Arts
20	Maserati	Automotive - Cars

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£40k for iQ-based Cygnet

Aston Martin is coolest

GranTurismo S Sport Pack

Buyers of the Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic in the UK can now order their cars with an optional Sport Pack.



Included in the pack are body-coloured side skirts and front winglets, a boot lid spoiler, Grigio Mercury Neptune alloy wheels, oval exhaust pipes, ‘black look’ headlights and a black finish for the front and side grilles.

Technical changes comprise MC Auto Shift software that delivers quicker changes from the ZF automatic transmission, plus a modified exhaust that keeps the bypass valves open in Sport mode for a better sound.



There’s no change in outputs or performance though, with the 433 bhp (323 kW / 440 PS) 4.7 litre engine still delivering a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph (295 km/h).



The cost of the Sport Pack is a very reasonable £3,840, and specifying it takes the price of a GranTurismo S Automatic up to £92,480.



Related post:

GranTurismo MC Stradale

GranTurismo MC Stradale

Up until now, buyers of the Maserati GranTurismo have been able to choose from either the standard model, with its 399 bhp (297 kW / 405 PS) 4.2 litre engine, or the ‘S’ version that gets a larger 4.7 litre V8 and 434 bhp (323 kW / 440 PS).



Neither is exactly slow - even the less powerful option delivers a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h) - and the GranTurismo is arguably one of the most handsome cars on sale today. But, as the name implies, both variants remain more luxury coupe than hardcore performance car.



However, the latest addition to the range is designed to shift the character of the GranTurismo firmly towards the sports end of the spectrum. Named the MC Stradale, and taking inspiration from the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and GT4 race cars, it will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful new Maserati available when deliveries begin early next year.

Like the ‘S’, it features a 4.7 litre engine, but output goes up to 443 bhp (331 kW / 450 PS). Maserati says that will be sufficient for the MC Stradale to top 186 mph (300 km/h), although it has yet to publish any acceleration figures.



Revised bodywork increases aerodynamic down force, while tweaks to the chassis are claimed to offer ‘razor sharp’ handling without affecting the ride quality - a conflict that’s often difficult to resolve. Anyone hoping to take the family along will be disappointed, though. As part of the weight-saving measures, the GranTurismo MC Stradale loses its rear seats.



Pricing has yet to be confirmed but, with the GranTurismo S starting at £90,455 in the UK, the MC Stradale should easily end up being north of £100,000.

Maserati Quattroporte Automatica

Because of reliability problems and rough shifting with the Ferrari based semi-automatic transmission, a full automatic transmission with 6 speeds (by ZF) was presented at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007 with the first cars delivered right after the launch, marketed as the Maserati Quattroporte Automatica.

Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte




Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte





The Automatica was made available with paddle-shifters on the Sport GT model as standard, but on the base model and the Executive trim levels paddles became an optional extra.


With the Automatica, Maserati completely redesigned the under pinning of the car to fit the new conventional automatic transmission and torque converter right behind the engine. They also converted to a wet sump oiling system for cost saving purpose





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2009 Maserati Quattroporte facelift

Maserati did not sell any 2008 models of the Quattroporte in North America. Images of the 2009 facelifted Quattroporte appeared on the Internet on the 30th of January 2008. The car made its official début at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Also making the debut was the Quattroporte S, featuring the same 4.7L V8 as the Maserati GranTurismo S. It has 317 kW (431 PS; 425 hp) of power and 490 N·m (361 lb·ft) of torque. It went on sale at the end of 2008 and is currently available. A Quattroporte Sport GT S is also offered with 323 kW (439 PS; 433 hp) of power


Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte S

2009 Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte S

2009 Ford Focus Sedan |

2009 Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte S

2009 Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte S

2009 Maserati Quattroporte

2009 Maserati Quattroporte


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Maserati GranTurismo Speed Car

The Maserati GranTurismo is a two-door 2+2 coupé produced by Maserati.
The GranTurismo shares the platform of the Maserati Quattroporte V.

Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo


Maserati GranTurismo



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Maserati Quattroporte Duo Select

The Duo Select transmission was available at the launch of the fifth generation Quattroporte, in 2004. Duo Select was an advancement of the CambioCorsa unit first used in the Maserati Coupe. It is a Ferrari based semi-automatic transmission, located at the rear of the car.


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


Maserati Quattroporte


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