2009 Maserati GranTurismo S

It’s called the “S”, but you won’t find an S badge anywhere on its bodywork. So if you’re looking to identify the latest and greatest version of Maserati’s stunning GranTurismo coupe, just gaze at the wheels. They’re new 20s, featuring the Maserati trident emblem for spokes, with a more open look for better viewing of the red Brembo calipers and pizza-sized rotors. Hoist the hood and you’ll see the real reason for all the fuss: a new, uprated 4.7-liter wet-sump V-8 with very sexy, red-painted cam covers. Power increases by 28 ponies to 433, with a hike in torque from 339 to 361 lb-ft. Add in new software for the six-speed manual/auto gearbox and you’ll see 100-millisecond shifts when in Manual Sport mode. And the real party piece? That would be the Sport button on the dash that opens a bypass valve in the exhaust to give you the full-on, ripping-canvas sound track. The S arrives November ’08 with a $135,000 price tag.