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You don’t have to know anything about cars and SUVs to know that Taylor Swift often writes about both. On the Taylor Swift Red album (original and Taylor’s Version), the song by the same name discusses a Maserati driving a dead-end street. Which Maserati is she talking about? Based on when the album might have been written and subsequently released, it could be the Maserati Quattroporte or the Maserati GranTurismo, and here’s why.

Why is Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ so important?

The Taylor Swift Red album discusses a Maserati supercar like this one
The 2011 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible | Joshua Paul/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Taylor Swift’s album Red is so important because it marked the pop star’s change from country music into the pop genre. The album starts with the song State of Grace but jumps right into Red after that. The lyrics discuss how love is comparable to driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street.

Loving him is like driving a new

Maserati down a dead-end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin,

ending so suddenly.

Taylor swift | red

Even if you don’t listen to Ms. Swift, those lyrics can show you what she’s thinking about. Presumably, a Maserati. Maybe even a Red one. Since this album was released on October 22, 2012, what Maserati might have been on her mind? It has to be swift, faster than the wind, and not have any safety systems that might stop it from an unnecessary collision at the dead-end street.

Who did Taylor Swift write Red about?

The Taylor Swift Red album discusses fast Maserati cars
A Maserati GranTurismo MC and Maserati Quattroporte | Aaron Davidson/FilmMagic

There is always much debate about who Taylor Swift wrote Red about, but the consensus says it could be John Mayer. So now we must picture John Mayer in and around a Maserati driving down a dead-end street. As far as the internet knows, John Mayer drove a Ford GT at one point, but no Maseratis are noted.

Back in 2011-2012, Maserati had fewer cars in the lineup. If it was earlier in 2011, Taylor could have been thinking about the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte. Kelley Blue Book called the Quattroporte “classy but quirky.” Well, well, well.

The Quattroporte came in three trims: Sedan, S Sedan, and Sport GT S Sedan. All the options were a four-door coupe style, priced between $123,050 and $136,500. It even had 405 horsepower and a 4.2L V8, which some might consider faster than the wind.

Could Taylor Swift have been thinking of the Maserati GranTurismo in Red?

The Taylor Swift Red album discusses a Maserati supercar like this one
The Maserati GranTurismo S Limited Edition | Maserati

The 2011 Maserati GranTurismo also had 440 horsepower from its 4.7L V8. The 2011 GranTurismo also came in three trim levels: Coupe, S Coupe, and Convertible. Pricing starts at $121,200 and goes up to $137,800.

Shoppers could choose from the same 4.2L V8 with 405 horsepower that came in the Quattroporte or go with the 440 hp V8. Either one will allow you and Taylor Swift to quickly drive down a dead-end street. The Quattroporte had a top speed of 168 miles per hour back in 2011, while the GranTurismo had a top speed of 183 mph.

If we were Taylor Swift while writing Red and thinking about a very fast Maserati, it would probably be the Maserati GranTurismo with the 4.7L V8 engine and 440 horsepower. It could have also been one of the 2012 models since Taylor probably would have had access to those earlier than the rest of us. Based on the photo above, can you picture it? Fall leaves, a red scarf, and a Maserati Quattroporte.

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