Maserati GranTurismo news - Grab a Gran'

Mere hours after bringing you sketches of the new Maserati coupe, we can now reveal the first photos and a few concrete details about what is officially being called the GranTurismo.

That's GranTurismo in homage to Maserati's first-ever road car - the 1947 Pininfarina-designed A6 GT. And Pininfarina's hand is in evidence in the design of this latest 2+2. 

Due to be officially unveiled at the Geneva motor show, the GranTurismo doesn't quite move us the way sketches did - but then it was never going to be.

It's still a striking design though; the great bulging bonnet sweeping back from the scowling grill into a high, pinched rear.

Those three gill-like holes just aft of the front arch are a nod to the Quattroporte, but the overall impression is far more aggressive. Can you see any of the MC12 in the nose?

As expected, the GranTurismo is powered by a V8 - a 4.2-litre block putting out 405bhp.

With 49/51 front/rear weight distribution - an extraordinary statistic for a front-engined car - it should be an engaging drive, especially if the promised auto 'box turns out to be the well-sorted new six-speed ZF from the Quattroporte, instead of the cursed Cambiocorsa auto-manual abomination.

Another reason to be a bit more excited about the GranTurismo are rumours that Maserati might slot in the 450bhp 4.7-litre V8 from Alfa's 8C Competitizione. Sounds promising, but then so did the current Coupe...