[DJ]

Maserati GranCabrio Sport First Drive
Teamspeed gets behind the wheel of the latest Italian supermodel
By Peter Burgess

What is it?
Feisty reworking of already glorious four-seater drop top

Why should I care?
The driving involvement has stepped up three notches

How fast and how much?
4,691cc V8, 450hp@7,000rpm, 0-62mph 5.2sec, vmax 178mph, MSRP $147,500

Is this Maserati the best looking luxury convertible out there? Aston Martin owners might argue otherwise, but we reckon there is nothing else that comes close. Italian style combines with form and function in a truly delicious way.

But we already knew that. The GranTurismo Convertible was launched in 2010 and, just 18 months later, the Sport version hits the streets. Teamspeed flew to Trieste in Italy to see if just another 10hp can really make a detectable difference.

As it turns out a two per cent increase in power would be hard to analyze even with the regular version alongside as a benchmark. But there’s more to this Sport GranTurismo Convertible than that.

Changes to the gearchange, brakes, and suspension make a much bigger difference. As does what happens when you press the Sport button.

Maserati has quickened the gearshift time on the ZF six-speed auto, so that now the changes happen in 200ms instead of 400ms. There’s a choice of leaving the transmission in Drive or taking control yourself via the new, extra-long carbon shift paddles behind the wheel. The transmission defaults back to automatic mode if you don’t use the paddles for a few seconds.

Or take the third option. In Sport the low gears are held longer, the engine blips on downchanges and there’s a crazy launch control that flings you from rest to infinity and beyond without any particular skill on your behalf. It will certainly impress your passengers.

So too will the sound. Maserati has upped the volume from the exhaust when Sport is engaged so now heads will turn as you approach even at legal speeds. It adds to the sensation of speed even if the reality is little altered.

Not that this GranTurismo is anything but quick. The 450hp V8 polishes off the sprint to 62mph in 5.2 seconds and will head onwards to near 180mph if you dare. We do have a slight issue with the brakes. Upgraded from the regular car with grooves, holes and vents, they need too long a push before they bite, especially from high speed.

Changes to the suspension are a success. The stiffness is up by 15 per cent and the Skyhook system recalibrated to make it pointier in the corners and less prone to understeer.

It works too, and now this Maserati has – subtly – been transformed into something of a terrier on the right roads. No mean feat for a car weighing 4,435lb.

The Sport gets a new design to the seat facings and some aluminum pedals to go with the fancy lightweight paddle shifters. Small changes, admittedly, but then the GranTurismo Convertible didn’t really need any modifications to its already luscious interior.

For those in the front seats it’s a good place to travel. Roof down there’s not much wind bluster; roof up the Maserati is as quiet and refined as a sedan. Legroom is tighter in the back but tolerable if all four adults are prepared for a little compromise. It is, though, going to get really windy here. Put the roof up and rear headroom is decimated.

As for luggage space, you’ll probably find it hard to get your carry-on into the trunk and have to revert to putting cases onto those fine leather back seats.

Yet that may not matter. The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport is totally seductive. It’s Italian. Why would we expect anything else?

Official Video from Maserati

[SirSpeedy7]

Great review, lovely pics! Thanks for these reviews guys and please let me know if you need anyone to carry your bags for the next trip to Italy!

[MrD]

perfection

[McRae]

that wheel design just aint sittin right with me...its so bizzare...

[DJ]

Thanks again Peter and Dan, good stuff!

[MrD]

DJ isnt it called the GranCabrio?

[DJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrD »

DJ isnt it called the GranCabrio?

Yes and thanks, made the quick edit!

[d3a]

fab landscapes from Trieste!

[ECB]

It looks gorgeous and with the new exhaust it probably sounds even better than the other Ferrari derived Maserati engines,but

what turns me off a little is the fact that it is probably similar to the previous versions,meaning that it is to stiff and bumpy to be a super comfortable GT cruiser,but it is set up too soft on the front axle,is too heavy with an understeer inducing weight distribution and has not enough break power to be a real sports car,as it proposes by its looks.

anyway...I could live with it - wild women aren`t perfect either and that`s something I like

[yohanthestud]

very nice review and great pictures.