It seems silly to say that a car with a 399bhp 4.2-litre V8 feels a little tame, but that's because of the relaxed way the engine does its work. The Granturismo is fast, for sure; it just needs stronger pull below 3000rpm. The 4.7-litre in the Granturismo S does pull from low revs, however. Power is delivered through a six-speed transmission.

The Granturismo is a big car and on tighter roads you’re aware of its sheer bulk. It handles very well, however, with little body lean and fantastic grip. The steering is reassuringly weighty too, although more feel would be welcome. The suspension is firm and struggles with speed bumps around town, but the ride isn’t edgy enough to undermine the car's role as a grand tourer.

A grand tourer shouldn't batter your ears on the long journeys it's designed for. In that respect the Granturismo generally succeeds, but the big tyres kick up some road noise and you can hear the engine toiling away on the motorway. Around town the V8 emits a pleasant V8 rumble; it sounds good when you work it hard, if not as characterful as you might expect. Hit the Sport button on the S model and a glorious growl is emitted from the exhaust.

At nearly £80,000 the Granturismo is expensive, although prices for similarly exotic brands start at much the same level. Those that can afford to buy it can afford to run it and the bills they’ll pay will be high. Average fuel economy, for instance, falls short of 20mpg. We expect future resale values to be good, if not quite as strong as a Jaguar XKR’s.

Maserati admits its build quality isn't quite at German levels yet, but says it’s getting there. The Granturismo seems to bear this out; some of the minor controls look cheap, but the cabin has a charming, hand-built quality and feels like it’s been put together with care. Reliability hasn't always been the Italians' strong suit either, but Maserati says the Granturismo is simpler than its predecessor, so there's less to go wrong.

There's not much to fault here - the Granturismo has all the electronic stuff that might help you avoid an accident and the latest airbag and belt pretensioner technology to protect you if one becomes unavoidable. A vehicle tracking system with automatic driver recognition and remote inhibitor back up the immobiliser and alarm to ward off thieves.

The Granturismo's driving position is electrically adjustable to suit all shapes and sizes, and the cabin design and decor make you feel special. With so many features, the dash is busy and some of the stereo and sat-nav controls are fiddly. Rear visibility isn’t bad, but the thick front pillars create awkward blind spots - not good in a car that sometimes feels all of its 4.9-metre length. The driver's seat in the S is firmer than in the standard model.

You can carry four adults in comfort in the Granturismo. In that respect it's more of a rival for the Bentley Continental GT than the Jaguar XKR. What's missing is the boot capacity to cope with all the baggage they might want to take along. An optional bespoke designer luggage set at least makes the most of every bit of space.

There's not much you need to add to the Maserati, although there are plenty of (expensive) options if you insist - how about coloured brake calipers, or a wooden-rimmed steering wheel? Leather, climate control, sat-nav and electrically operated everything are standard, but it's surprising that metallic paint is a cost option.