Maserati GranCabrio arrives
29th June, 2010
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The Maserati GranCabrio has arrived in Australia and New
Zealand featuring a combination of Maserati’s styling and luxury, together with the performance expected from
this marque.
“Maserati has a long history of open top sports cars, but the GranCabrio is the first Maserati to
extend this experience to four people,” says Glen Sealey, General Manager of Maserati Australia and New
Zealand. “But, the fact that this car offers four seats does not mean that it is any less a Maserati. Not
only do the four occupants in a GranCabrio travel in the same luxury, comfort and exclusivity for which the
GranTurismo and Quattroporte have become bywords, the GranCabrio offers the performance expected of a
Maserati and, with the roof down, even more opportunities to enjoy orchestral sound track provided by the
Maserati V8 engine.”
The hood of the Maserati GranCabrio is an engineering masterpiece. A frame with five cross bars and no
less than three different protection groups of layers mean that it does not balloon at speed, remaining
stiff and flap free. It folds down in just 20 seconds, a fully automatic process that may be initiated not
just from inside the car but also from the outside, so that on a hot day the roof may be opened without
having to sit or even get into the car. It may also be raised and lowed on the move up to 30 km/h, which
takes 28 seconds. Yet, for all this technology its shape all but mirrors that of the GranTurismo coupe,
which means that roof up or roof down, the GranCabrio is an attractive and graceful car that is balanced
from every angle.
The hood, which weighs 65 kg, has even been developed with local conditions in mind – the cold and wet
weather testing was done on the South Island of New Zealand, so the GranCabrio can cope with even the worst
of Kiwi weather. New Zealand also provided the conditions for the snow and ice calibration of the
GranCabrio’s stability control system.
“The Maserati GranCabrio is much more than a convertible version of an existing model in the
range,” says Mr Sealey. ”Its broad range of attributes as well its ability to excel in all the
traditional requirements of a convertible mean that its sales will not only be predominantly to new
customers for Maserati, it will also further enhance the image and reputation of the Maserati brand as a
whole. For these reasons we expect the GranCabrio to substantially add to Maserati’s sales total in both
Australia and New Zealand.”
Although broadly based on the Maserati GranTurismo coupe, the range of changes made to the car to
transform it into the GranCabrio effectively mean that it is a new model. Given the styling of the
GranTurismo, it is no surprise that, other than the hood and its associated features, the majority of the
changes to the GranCabrio are under the 'skin'. These ensure full maintenance of body rigidity and integrity
– a significant task on a four seat convertible with the longest wheelbase in its class – and enable the
GranCabrio to offer the same fine combination of handling, roadholding and ride comfort that is provided by
the GranTurismo.
In addition to the hood, other features have been carefully and selectively changed or enhanced for the
GranCabrio to provide the optimum roof down experience. These include a ventilation system that adapts to
the different requirements of roof up or roof down motoring and a unique audio system that alters the sound
balance depending on the position of the roof. A new security system maximises personal security at all
times and Maserati has even provided a bespoke fitted luggage system for the boot and rear seat of the
GranCabrio.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the drivetrain of the GranCabrio, an engine and gearbox combination
that has become known in the luxury coupe, saloon and now, with the GranCabrio. The 90 degree V8 fitted to
the GranCabrio has a capacity of 4.7 litres and develops 323 kW at 7,000 rpm. Attached to this is a six
speed automatic gearbox designed and developed specifically for Maserati’s requirements, one of which was
to fully utilise the high revving nature of the engine.
But these figures do not do justice to how this performance is provided. Matching the sports car
performance of despatching the dash to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 283 km/h where the law
permits, is an aural soundtrack worthy of an orchestra with its deep growls, throaty rasps and crackling
high notes.
The chassis in which this drivetrain is enveloped is no less entertaining, encouraging to deft driving
or safe and responsive when difficult driving conditions demand. With Skyhook suspension, Maserati’s
continuously variable damping, as standard, fitted to advanced suspensions systems and backed by latest
electronic accident avoidance systems with a dictionary of acronyms – MSP, ASR, ABS and EBD just to name
four – the Maserati GranCabrio ensures maximum control under all conditions.
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Maserati has built its reputation on not just performance and style, but also exclusivity and the
ability to personalise each car to match the character of each owner. Maserati already offers a possible
nine million combinations of trim and colour. To this the GranCabrio adds six different hood colours,
two new leather interiors (Pearl Beige and Blu Profondità) and three new dashboard trims, Dark Chrome,
Moonwood, and Carbalho. These combine to produce a level and depth of luxury that is competitive in its
category.
“The array of abilities provided by the GranCabrio covers the full spectrum,” says Mr Sealey.
“Four people car travel in comfort, across the city or a continent, under conditions that demand the
roof be down, or with security and peace of mind when conditions mean roof down motoring could not be
further from consideration. It can be flung up a mountain pass or cruise down a freeway with equal
aplomb, but wherever and however it is being driven; the Maserati GranCabrio is always a car that is
equally captivating to drive or to see on the road.”
The Maserati GranCabrio goes on sale on 1st July 2010, but such is the anticipation for this new
Maserati that more than 60 per cent of the cars allocated for Australia and New Zealand already have
owners. The manufacturer's list price excluding statutory charges and dealer delivery fees is $338,000
in both Australia and New Zealand.
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