New Maserati GranCabrio convertible GT car unveiled with 542bhp V6
No word on 'silent' electric model yet
Maserati has revealed its new GranCabrio convertible grand tourer, which is expected to go on sale later this year.
Developed in tandem with the GranTurismo coupé, the GranCabrio shares similar design cues and is “dedicated to driving enthusiasts who demand the greatest levels of comfort and style.”
Launches with 542bhp V6
At launch, the GranCabrio will be offered in Trofeo form, which means it gets the same 3-litre V6 petrol engine as the mid-range GranTurismo Trofeo. It’s unclear whether a less powerful Modena version will join the range later, or whether a high-performance pure-electric Folgore variant will make an appearance in future.
For now, the GranCabrio Trofeo’s Nettuno engine, which is also used in the Maserati Grecale Trofeo SUV and the MC20 supercar (albeit in various states of tune), will produce up to 542bhp and is expected to drive all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Although smaller than the V8 petrol engines that powered previous generations of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, the Nettuno motor is the most powerful petrol engine ever to grace the models’ long noses.
Maserati has not confirmed performance figures but they are expected to be broadly similar to those of the GranTurismo Trofeo, which gets from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 199mph.
Fabric roof for compact packaging
But while the engine may spark conversation, the big news is the GranTurismo’s roof, which is made of fabric. Designed to take up as little space as possible when stowed away, the hood can be automatically lowered in 14 seconds when the car is travelling at speeds of up to 31mph.
The roof can be operated electrically using the car’s central display and will be available in a choice of five distinct colours.
And, for when the roof is down, the company has incorporated neck warmers in the front seats as standard, allowing the car to heat the driver and passenger’s necks at three different levels of intensity.
Maserati is also promising space for four people, thanks to rear seats that are carried over from the GranTurismo, and to bring drivers and passengers closer to the engine’s roar. There’s no word yet on boot space, however, which is expected to shrink to accommodate the new roof — especially when it’s folded away.
Maserati has confirmed the options list will include a manually folding wind stopper, covering the rear seats when in position and thereby reducing the car to a two-seater. However, when the roof is down the feature is claimed to reduce turbulence in the cabin.
Maserati has not yet confirmed when the new GranCabrio will go on sale but it’s expected to enter production this year at Maserati’s Mirafiori factory in Turin.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the new Maserati GranCabrio, you may want to read what we had to say about the GranTurismo coupé
- Have a read of our review of the stunning Maserati MC20 Cielo
- You should check out the Pininfarina B95 open-topped electric hypercar, too
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