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05/07/2010
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Maserati has just announced that the first shipment of its 2010 GranCabrio has reached Australia. And advises potential buyers they shouldn’t wait around because most have already been spoken for. This latest Italian masterpiece is a four-seater, not the two-seater we have reviewed in our previous road tests.
Though the new Maserati GranCabrio is based on the GranTurismo coupe, Maserati says so many changes have been made that it should be regarded as a separate new model. Keeping good body rigidity is a vital feature in four-seat convertibles or handling, so roadholding and ride comfort can suffer. The engineers have worked hard at this, however, as yet we haven’t had the opportunity to road test the GranCabrio. We will report on its body integrity as soon as we can get ourselves into one – we can't wait!
The folding roof of the GranCabrio uses the purest ideal of being a soft-top, not a hardtop. It opens in just 20 seconds and closes in 28 seconds. The roof can be raised and lowered at speeds up to 30 km/h. And how’s this for a way to impress bystanders? The Maserati cabriolet’s roof can be opened from outside the car using controls on the key fob.
Cleverly, lowering or raising the roof automatically alters the settings on the ventilation system and the audio system to keep comfort at a max no matter what your driving mood.
New Maserati GranCabrio uses the same 4.7-litre V8 engine we have admired more than once in our road tests. It develops 435 horsepower, or 323 kW in Australian terms. The best feature of this engine is a sound that’s sure to bring a big smile to the face of any car lover.
Transmission to the rear wheels is via a six-speed automatic specially developed for this high-revving V8.
Maserati has measured the zero to 100 km/h spring in 5.3 seconds and says the cabriolet has a top speed of 283 km/h, where conditions permit.
What Maserati calls its Skyhook suspension system is used in the GranCabrio. This uses continuously variable suspension damping that changes moment by moment according to surface conditions and the G-forces detected at the wheels. It then provides the best possible handling and comfort for the circumstances.
The recommended retail price for the 2010 Maserati GranCabrio, excluding dealer and statutory charges, is $338,000.
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