Auto 2011: maserati

Women and men in sharp suits, because it shows the guy knows how to dress, and he is more inclined to take them to nice restaurants than sloppy food joints.

The Maserati Gran Turismo is a bit like a suit. The exquisite cut and tailored in a way that makes the wearer feel as secure as the latest Double O Seven makes in his Tom Ford.

The Gran Turismo S is basically the same stuff, just better. It not only makes the wearer look good, but also transforms him into an entirely new man, a sportsman himself.

The key to this increased flexibility is the engine. Displace 4.7 liters (versus 4.2 in the GT), GT S has much more grunt (40bhp and 30nm torque). Couple with the latest DueSelect gearbox, which is similar to Maserati's Ferrari F1 Superfast transmission, shifts are smooth and very, very quick with the changes taking only 100 milliseconds.

The front brake dics has been expanded and made use of a special "dual-cast" technology clamped by powerful six pot callipers. The suspension was also tuned to be a little more sporty than the 4.2 GT's.

Sum of all hardware is an entirely more intent machine comes to life at the touch of a button labeled Sport.

When activated, the transmission goes into quick shift mode and exhaust system releases. The shift mode and exhaust system releases. The smart smoking is now a smug race suit. The combination of beeps barreled motor sound with the anger firing on all gear is bound to have an effect on the driver.

Suddenly the drive home will be a lot more exciting. One is Daniel Craig running away from a pursuing Alfa Romeo in the tunnel, except unlike Aston Martin in the opening scene of the latest Bond film, Quantum Of Solace, the Maserati has its doors intact.

Also intact is the GT S's ambitions as a grand tourer. Measuring nearly 4.9m (longer than a BMW 5 series) with a corresponding long wheelbase, its ride quiet and serene.

Although twisty roads is not a problem, but prefer long sweeping corners, where power and size afford it plenty of pace and poise.

When Sport is deactivated, the engine calms down considerably (the deep V8 Rumble are still satisfyingly audible) and shifting morph from being a fast and angry that something that is much smoother, if not entirely smooth as in a conventional automatic transmission.