Designed by Italian firm Pininfarina with black and white colours, the 2008 GranTurismo is currently slated to arrive in September, with about 300 to 400 cars slated for U.S. dealers in the initial model year. The car will get the Quattroporte’s new-for-2007, six-speed automatic transmission by manufacturer ZF — a potentially huge improvement over the clunky, automated manual featured in the now-defunct Coupe and Spyder models. That same transmission delivers seamless shifts in models like Jaguar’s XK and XKR. Steering-wheel paddle shifters will be an option, as in the Quattroporte.Mechanically, the car is a Quattroporte automatic with 4.8 inches sawed out of the wheelbase and 2.6 inches off the tail. The drivetrain and “Skyhook” adaptive suspension are tailored to the GranTurismo’s sportier mission. Handling is aided by a 49 percent front/51-percent rear weight bias, rear tires wider than the fronts, and availability of automatic adjusting suspension with a firmer Sport setting.
In that mode the torque converter stays locked during shifts that happen 40 percent quicker (in about 0.33 second), lower gears are held longer, upshifts happen at higher revs (up to 7200 rpm at full throttle-a claimed highest in class), and downshifts occur at lighter throttle openings. A separate “Ice” setting blocks first-gear launches and forces upshifts at 3000 rpm.
The Grand Turismo concept back to 1947 when the Trident Company, following its clients’demand, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show its firts Gran Turismo, the A6, designed by the great Pinin Farina. Pricing stsrt at $114,750, making the GrandTurismo a rival to the BMW M6, Aston Martin Vantage, Mercedes CL-Class, and even more expensive model like the Bentley Continental.
Source: http://www.leftlanenews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment