The Maserati GranTurismo Zéda Marks The End Of A Glorious Era And The Beginning Of A New One

The Maserati GranTurismo Zéda may at first look just like any other GranTurismo that has been built at the Viale Ciro Menotti Modena Plant over the past 12 years but it symbolizes one of the most important moments in the marque’s long history.

That is because the Zéda (meaning Z in the Modena dialect) has been created to celebrate the last day of production of this modern icon, as well as to mark the beginning of a new electrified era for Maserati.

The Zéda will embark on a world tour while the manufacturing plant in Modena is being renovated in anticipation of the next generation GranCabrio and GranTurismo models, which are expected to debut in 2021.

This unique model might look as if it has just crashed into a Smurf village but a closer inspection reveals a highly technical paint job that not only looks stunning but also tells a story. Designed by Centro Stile Maserati, GranTurismo Zéda is meant to symbolise “the bridge that connects the past, the present and the future of the brand”, the rear section sees the surfaces change and become richer, shifting from a light satin finish to a burnished “metallurgic” effect.

The mid-section slowly changes, darkening and deepening all the way to the Maserati blue front end. This transition symbolizes the changes taking place within the company using the vehicle that once defined the core of the marque’s products as a canvas.

While its lines may still look very contemporary, the Maserati GranTurismo was released in a very different motoring landscape back in 2007. The car was an instant hit, praised both for its characterful and sonorous Ferrari-derived V8 and classically stylish lines. The GranCabrio arrived in 2010 and added a new dimension to the driving experience, and while a number of updates and sportier models followed, at the center of the appeal was that lovely V8, which in 4.7-liter form made 460hp and revved all the way to 7500rpm.

Over the years rivals introduced ever more powerful downsized, electrified and turbocharged engines, but for those not intent on winning every traffic light Grand Prix, that intoxicating exhaust tone and lusty power delivery made the GranTurismo as desirable as ever. Over 40,000 of all variants have been sold and while the next-gen model will undoubtedly be superior to this old stager in every technical way possible, the real challenge will be for Maserati to imbue it with the passion and driving appeal that is at the core of just about every car in its history.

Images courtesy of Maserati