The renaissance of Maserati in the past ten years has been wondrous to behold, as these luxury Italian cars have once again become beautiful objects of desire, rather than broken-down objects of ridicule. The Italian manufacturer has cemented Italy's claim to be the heart and soul of passionate design.
The GranTurismo in particular is one of the most desirable cars you can own for less than £100k, blowing other performance cars like the Mercedes CL, Jaguar XK and Porsche 911 out of the water with its charisma and elegance.
One of the GranTurismo's main selling points is the fact that it will seat four people in relative comfort without compromising the sporting nature of the drive. Most rivals offer rear seats only occasionally usable, suited as they are for small children. You wouldn't use the car for shopping at IKEA, but in this corner of the market two half-decent rear seats are a real boon.
Inside, Maserati has managed to balance the sporting with the luxurious quite well. You know straight away that you are in a high-performance coupe, but the seats are invitingly relaxing and the atmosphere laid back. It is a tastefully upmarket and elegant interior, the feeling added to by a surprisingly supple ride.
That's not to say that the sporting edge of the GranTurismo has been blunted, though - the handling is quick and fun, if occasionally lacking in feel. The Maserati has near-50/50 weight distribution, perfectly suited for chucking about. The car engages with you on whatever terms you choose, providing a spirited drive or settling back for a relaxed high-speed cruise.
The engines come in 4.2-litre or more potent 4.7-litre guises - the 4.7-litre S model is more performance focused, with a harder ride and more speed than the normal car. Neither of these cars makes a case for itself with regard to fuel economy and such matters, but then in this price range money isn't the main priority.
Ultimately the choice of which one you buy is really down to what sort of character you want from your GranTurismo. The standard car provides a better all-round car for you to exploit, but you might find yourself wanting a bit of extra power on occasion.
When it comes down to it, though, such a car as the Maserati GranTurismo is a lifestyle choice, not a mere mode of transportation - you'll buy one because you love it.