With sunny summer weather sure to arrive in Australia soon (fingers crossed), Maserati’s timing in introducing the magnificent soft-top GranCabrio Sport couldn’t be better.
Priced at $338,000, the Maserati GrandCabrio Sport (revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show) even boasts a ‘Kiwi’ connection – cold weather testing for the complex soft-top with three protection groups of layers was undertaken on the New Zealand South Island.
The soft top includes five cross bars for lateral strength, can be lowered in 20 seconds and even includes an external operation mode so it can be opened before climbing inside – just the thing for hot summer days. Maserati says the roof and bracing add just 65kgs to the overall weight.
Based on the Maserati GranTurismo coupe, the GranCabrio four-seat convertible features substantial re-engineering to maintain chassis rigidity and integrity.
Under the bonnet is an upgraded version of Maserati’s 4.7-litre V8 engine with power and torque up to 331kW/510Nm. Fuel consumption is improved by six per cent to 14.5l/100kms.
Drive is via an improved six-speed MC transmission sourced from the Maserati Quattroporte GT-S.
