It appears Maserati’s stunning new GranTurismo isn’t just a pretty face, and is in fact one of the most technologically advanced and safest vehicles out on the road. Twenty prototypes were used during development with extensive testing over hundreds of thousands of kilometers on a variety of roads around the world, including the famed Nürburgring.

The 40ºC heat of Spain and South Africa was used to test the performance of the brakes, while the icy fields of Scandinavia were used to develop the electronics that manage the low-grip safety features. To ensure quality standards are met, Maserati employs up to 10% of its workforce to scrutinize every single component during construction.

The GranTurismo’s extensive safety package includes a set of Brembo brakes with four self-ventilating discs and four-piston brake calipers plus the latest in electronic aids. Anti-lock braking, brakeforce distribution and Maserati’s own MSP anti-skid features result in a 35m stopping distance from 100km/h to a standstill. Another highlight is the electronic park brake that applies itself automatically whenever the engine is switched off and is deactivated automatically when the accelerator pedal is pressed.

Should the worse occur, Maserati has designed the GranTurismo with high-resistance, boxed-sheet steel construction and a rigid safety cell, plus six airbags with four sensors designed to measure the intensity of the impact and then send info to a central computer that determines whether or not the airbags need to be activated to protect the occupants.