Maserati GranCabrioMotor manufacturers are fond of saying that their cars have ‘style’, indeed the time was when Reliant Robins, according to their company personnel, were supposed to have such a quality. Cars that truly do have style are rather harder to find amongst the mass of hatchback clones with which our roads are now – ever more greenly it should be said – covered. There is, however, one marque that universally seems to attract that ‘stylish’ adjective. Young and old, car nut or not, people go a touch gooey when they hear the name ‘Maserati’. Although these Italian cars are fast and agile there are quite a few others out there – mostly from Germany – that will do as much for less than half the price, but what attracts attention to Maserati is the history, and yes, the style.The Maserati range has grown. Added to the Quattroporte (yup, that’s a 4-door) and the GranTurismo (a 2-dr, 4-seater grand tourer) now comes the GranCabrio, which you won’t need me to tell you is a convertible. It’s the first Maserati convertible to feature four full-size seats, and the company reckons it will quickly become their best seller. We’re not talking thousands here, for 2009 Maserati sales in the UK totalled a modest 363, of which 267 were the GranTurismo. Buyers therefore have no need to fear that in a few years time their purchase will look commonplace.Based on the GranTurismo, the new car looks the business. Despite the benefits of a top that will fold in under 30 seconds at the push of a button, coupled with performance that will surely satisfy even the most ardent speedster, it’s all no good if the thing looks a dog’s dinner. The GranCabrio is a study in elegance, and yes, the dynamics are almost as successful. Power is from the company’s 4.7-litre V8, which is also used in the other cars. However, the GranTurismo and Quattroporte also offer smaller engines, whereas the GranCabrio is limited to just the largest and most powerful, with its mighty 440PS. Sound of the engine is just spectacular, and if you want to hear it at its most ardent level you can press the Sport button, which amongst other effects will open valves in the exhaust that emphasise the sound. Thanks to meaty Brembo brakes (360mm discs at the front with 6-piston callipers) the car stops even quicker than it goes.Transmission is a six-speed ZF auto, which is what most owners would have wanted anyway. It has four modes, amongst which is a manual sequential, operated via the gear lever or paddles which sensibly are attached to the steering column rather than the wheel, so you always know where they are. If you’ve ever tried enthusiastic driving in a car with paddles on the wheel, and searched in vain for the damn things when twiddling the low-geared steering, you’ll know what a pain it can be. Having said which, almost all owners will use the paddles only for the first few weeks, thereafter letting the auto take control.It’s a great car to drive, and the handling is all you could expect of a large convertible. There’s little sign of body flexing – always a potential convertible problem – and grip is impressive. Passenger room in the back is pretty good, but tall adults will be happier on short journeys; their luggage had better be light, for at 260 litres (9 cubic feet) the boot is not huge. Interior design is opulent and comfortable, and needless to say standard equipment is lavish. Just as important for most owners will be the ability to customise the interior colours and fabrics just the way they want them.Having said above that there are other, less expensive, cars with the same performance, that has to be qualified somewhat. Cars such as the Audi S4 for instance do indeed boast a 0-60 time of little more than five seconds, but their top speed is generally electronically limited to 250kph, which is near enough 155mph. Our Maserati is not thus reined in, so alongside a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, the spec can confidently boast a top speed of 175mph, which is exactly what you need on Britain’s saturated, camera-ridden roads. Most owners will never take the car into three figures, let alone up to those Formula One velocities, but all of them would be happy to know they had a motor which is capable of doing it.The least you can pay for any Maserati is a few quid short of £80,000, and the GranCabrio is somewhat more expensive, which is the only reason you won’t be seeing Mondeo numbers of them on our roads.Size: 4.88m x 2.06m (inc. mirrors)Engine: Petrol: 4.7 litres – 440PSGearbox: 6-speed auto RWDConsumption: 18.5mpgPrice at Aug ’10: £96,175Full details of the Maserati range available on the manufacturer’s website: www.maserati.co.ukPeter Cracknell - August 2010
Maserati GranCabrio
Motor manufacturers are fond of saying that their
cars have ‘style’, indeed the time was when Reliant
Robins, according to their company personnel, were
supposed to have such a quality. Cars that truly do
have style are rather harder to find amongst the
mass of hatchback clones with which our roads are
now – ever more greenly it should be said – covered.
There is, however, one marque that universally
seems to attract that ‘stylish’ adjective. Young and
old, car nut or not, people go a touch gooey when
they hear the name
‘Maserati’. Although
these Italian cars are
fast and agile there
are quite a few others
out there – mostly
from Germany – that
will do as much for
less than half the
price, but what attracts
attention to Maserati is
the history, and yes,
the style.
The Maserati range
has grown. Added to
the Quattroporte (yup,
that’s a 4-door) and
the GranTurismo (a 2-
dr, 4-seater grand
tourer) now comes the
GranCabrio, which
you won’t need me to
tell you is a
convertible. It’s the first Maserati convertible to
feature four full-size seats, and the company reckons
it will quickly become their best seller. We’re not
talking thousands here, for 2009 Maserati sales in
the UK totalled a modest 363, of which 267 were the
GranTurismo. Buyers therefore have no need to fear
that in a few years time their purchase will look
commonplace.
Based on the GranTurismo, the new car looks the
business. Despite the benefits of a top that will fold in
under 30 seconds at the push of a button, coupled
with performance that will surely satisfy even the
most ardent speedster, it’s all no good if the thing
looks a dog’s dinner. The GranCabrio is a study in
elegance, and yes, the dynamics are almost as
successful. Power is from the company’s 4.7-litre V8,
which is also used in the other cars. However, the
GranTurismo and Quattroporte also offer smaller
engines, whereas the GranCabrio is limited to just
the largest and most powerful, with its mighty 440PS.
Sound of the engine is just spectacular, and if you
want to hear it at its most ardent level you can press
the Sport button, which amongst other effects will
open valves in the exhaust that emphasise the
sound. Thanks to meaty Brembo brakes (360mm
discs at the front with 6-piston callipers) the car stops
even quicker than it goes.
Transmission is a six-speed ZF auto, which is what
most owners would have wanted anyway. It has four
modes, amongst which is a manual sequential,
operated via the gear lever or paddles which sensibly
are attached to the steering column rather than the
wheel, so you always know where they are. If you’ve
ever tried enthusiastic driving in a car with paddles
on the wheel, and searched in vain for the damn
things when twiddling the low-geared steering, you’ll
know what a pain it can be. Having said which,
almost all owners will use the paddles only for the first
few weeks, thereafter letting the auto take control.
It’s a great car to drive, and the handling is all you
could expect of a large convertible. There’s little sign
of body flexing – always a potential convertible
problem – and grip is impressive. Passenger room in
the back is pretty good, but tall adults will be happier
on short journeys; their luggage had better be light, for
at 260 litres (9 cubic feet) the boot is not huge. Interior
design is opulent and comfortable, and needless to
say standard
equipment is lavish.
Just as important for
most owners will be
the ability to
customise the
interior colours and
fabrics just the way
they want them.
Having said above
that there are other,
less expensive, cars
with the same
performance, that
has to be qualified
somewhat. Cars
such as the Audi S4
for instance do
indeed boast a 0-60
time of little more
than five seconds,
but their top speed
is generally
electronically limited to 250kph, which is near enough
155mph. Our Maserati is not thus reined in, so
alongside a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, the spec can
confidently boast a top speed of 175mph, which is
exactly what you need on Britain’s saturated, camera-
ridden roads. Most owners will never take the car into
three figures, let alone up to those Formula One
velocities, but all of them would be happy to know they
had a motor which is capable of doing it.
The least you can pay for any Maserati is a few quid
short of £80,000, and the GranCabrio is somewhat
more expensive, which is the only reason you won’t be
seeing Mondeo numbers of them on our roads.
Size:
4.88m x 2.06m (inc. mirrors)
Engine:
Petrol:
4.7 litres – 440PS
Gearbox:
6-speed auto RWD
Consumption:
18.5mpg
Price at Aug ’10:
£96,175
Full details of the Maserati range available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.maserati.co.uk
Peter Cracknell - August 2010
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