Maserati GranTurismo goes ‘topless’ with GranCabrio

Open-topped cars may not be practical in our climate but where the weather is cooler and the sunshine pleasant rather than unwelcome, ‘topless’ cars – also called cabriolets – are very much appreciated. Generally, they are offered in the premium segment as their potential volume is not great.

Complementing the Maserati GranTurismo (launched in Europe last year) is the newly launched GranCabrio spyder which was just launched in Italy this week. The additional variant of the coupe is available in the Trofeo trim level, powered by the Nettuno V6 engine, a 3-litre twin-turbo with 542 bhp/650 Nm.

Compared to the MC20 Nettuno, the GranCabrio’s engine comes with a wet sump rather than a dry one. The engine is equipped with cylinder deactivation where, in certain operating conditions, the right cylinder bank is deactivated to reduce fuel consumption.

In its Trofeo version, the GranCabrio comes with 4 different driving modes: COMFORT, GT, SPORT, CORSA, plus the ESC-OFF option to turn off all electronic control. The modes can be selected via the rotary control on the steering wheel, with the suspension settings button in the middle.

While maintaining the same profile as the coupe, the Gran Cabrio has, of course, a roof that can be opened and closed. The canvas roof, available in 5 colours, has been designed to take up as little space as possible when automatically stored in the boot. It can be folded within 14 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h with just the touch of a button or a gesture to the touchscreen.

In countries where temperatures can drop quite low, driving in a cabriolet can be a cold experience. For those who still want the top down, Maserati’s designers have provided a neck warmer which blows warm air to the necks of the driver and passenger. The idea is not new and was first seen on the Mercedes-Benz SLK 20 years ago.

When the roof is down, there can be a lot of turbulence in the cockpit. Aerodynamic tuning can reduce some of this and for more comfort, customers can order an optional ‘wind stopper’. This accessory, mounted behind the front seats, reduces turbulence but it also means that no one can sit in the back.

Like the coupe, the Gran Cabrio’s interior fully embodies the spirit of Maserati with traditional Italian artisanship. This tradition and the use of noble materials define the elegance of the design and the stitching that can be found throughout the passenger compartment.

Everything is devoted to functionality: the interior design is inspired by the concept of a pure, contemporary, and emotive design, with room for new technology. The absence of a gearlever means the space can be used to the full, with a series of useful compartments for extra storage.

The layout is a sportscar’s, with a highly dynamic design for the door panels and a colour division that highlights the design of the dashboard. This slim, delicate upper section appears to soar over the main part, enhanced by the craftsmanship of the various trim levels.

The sporty yet comfortable seats, with built-in headrests, take up the theme of the dashboard, even in the backrest. They are built on a lightweight frame, for a lower overall weight of the car.

The digital cockpit consists of a 12.3-inch central display and 8.8-inch comfort display, with the head-up display being a rare feature in this segment. Also on the dashboard is the best-loved in-car clock ever – the Maserati Clock.

An icon of the past transported into the future is revisited with modernity and functionality in mind. It is reconfigurable in terms of various features: 3 skins, 4 dynamic animations and contextual pop-ups (smartphone connection via Bluetooth and start of wireless phone charging). Users can also interact with the Digital clock via a voice command.

The GranCabrio is in showrooms in Europe and in the UK, its price starts from £169,465 (RM 1.01 million). Naza Italia will no doubt make it available in due course following the launch of the GranTurismo in Malaysia today.

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