An undeniable aesthetic and commercial success, the Maserati Granturismo had the misfortune of forgetting to consult the weighing scales before entering a GT category that had been in full emulation for several years. It was gentrified and played the role of luxurious all-rounder, as opposed to the extreme sportiness of the Maranello saloon cars, which now own their own destiny. But the Granturismo has its fans: in 2007, the brand’s sales rose by 33% to 7,353 units, and the United States became the firm’s biggest market, far ahead of Italy. It could therefore have continued its career peacefully without any immediate major changes. But that was without taking into account the Italian pride that is part and parcel of Ferrari’s corporate culture. Blamed in Europe for a lack of Latin character, the Granturismo received a multitude of attentions aimed at giving it back some of its warm blood. And, as is customary in Italy, that means increasing the cavalry!