When the Royal Chelsea Hospital in London opens its gates to guests for the Salon Privé, one knows that at long and last spring has arrived, and with it, the opening event of the UK automotive Concours season. This year, guests had to brave typical April weather, with a mixture of sunshine and showers. But despite the need for raised brollies on occasion, spirits could not be dampened, thanks to the wonderful collection of cars on display.
The event marked the first time that automotive enthusiasts were able to see the new Maserati GranTurismo in the UK. Unveiled last autumn and based on an all-new platform to utilise both internal combustion engine and electric powertrain variants, the gorgeous high-performance, luxury GT has been eagerly anticipated in the UK for the past six months.
The first two versions, the Modena and the Trofeo, feature petrol power and make their arrival in the UK ahead of the purely electric Folgore, which offers exceptional emission-free 761 HP performance combined with a range of more than 265 miles.
For those wishing to stick with petrol power for now, the GranTurismo’s V6 Nettuno 3.0L twin-turbo engine represents the pinnacle of internal combustion development. The GranTurismo Modena musters an impressive 490 HP, while the supercharged Trofeo raises the bar even higher with an exhilarating 550 HP, capable of sprinting to 62mph in a mere 3.5 seconds and achieving a 199mph top speed.
The H.R. Owen team was delighted to greet friends old and new at Salon Privé. While admittedly, the guests did not have the opportunity to sample the Maserati GranTurismo’s formidable performance on this occasion, there was still a tremendous amount for them to appreciate, thanks to the new GT’s intoxicating presence. Muscular yet aerodynamic, imposing yet refined and exuding both raging power and sophisticated beauty, the GranTursimo created an indelible impression on all those who viewed it in the metal and proved well worth the wait.