Safety is A Performance Art

Seatbelts, bumpers, supplemental restraint systems also known as airbags, rigid construction, crush zones, engineering excellence, parking sensors, safety glass, high intensity headlights, ventilated disc brakes with antilock braking systems (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), traction control (ASR), yaw control (MSP). These are all designated as safety devices. Every car in Maserati's class has these devices in some form, and Maseratis have among the most advanced. More than safety features, they also enhance performance.

400bhp 4.2l V8; Cambiocorsa or DuoSelect paddle shift sequential transmission; 19" wheels with high-traction low profile tires; Skyhook adaptive suspension. Only Maserati combines these performance items that set the Trident apart from would-be competitors. They could also be considered safety devices.

Through design and engineering, at which Maserati excels, safety and performance are integral to one another. The 4.2l engine that propels a GranSport to 60mph in well under 5 seconds may also mean that a GranSport driver can scoot out of a situation that might be more dangerous to a less powerful car. Cambiocorsa, aside from assuring superb shifts in as little as 80 milliseconds, also means a driver can keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, and may use Auto mode to reduce fatigue when desired. To allow phenomenal handling in rapid direction changes, Skyhook suspension helps maintain optimal contact between tires and the road in most driving conditions, which is the ultimate expression of traction. Without traction, a car will neither go fast, nor stop fast.

Any driving enthusiast will tell you a car is only as great as its brakes. Quick, reliable stopping power increases control. Maserati's Brembo-designed brakes are superb multi-piston calipers with vented rotors, cross-drilled in some models for extra cooling. Combined with ABS to allow steering in what might otherwise be a skid, and EBD to give maximum tractable braking power to all brakes in a hard stop, these safety devices are all about usable performance. The same is true of ASR traction control and the Maserati Stability Program - MSP yaw control - both of which help enhance car control and have equal value as standard safety and performance enhancements.

Maserati's more luxurious appointments promote safety as well. Fatigue is reduced by highly supportive seats, and journeys are made shorter with GPS navigation systems. Ultimately, the greatest performance and safety component in a car is the driver. Maserati cannot engineer that into its owners, but through Maserati Master GT driving schools it can help educate them to better enjoy, appreciate, and be better skilled drivers. Drop by your authorized Maserati dealer today and learn more about the relationship between safety and performance.