Maserati nails luxury Gran slam

Maserati's GranCabrio is a four-seat convertible that aims for the performance of its coupe sibling. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Maserati launched its GranCabrio in Rome after the heaviest snowstorm for 30 years. Twenty-four hours later the roads were mostly clear, and we were urged to drop the top for the duration of our drive. For Maserati was keen to show it could build a four-seat convertible with the luxurious exclusivity of this car's GranTurismo sibling, without compromising the muscular performance.

What's new?
The engine is the same 4.7-litre V8 as the GranTurismo, so there's 323kW put to the rear wheels at 7000rpm, and 490Nm at 4650rpm. There's the same ZF auto transmission too, albeit with modified software. But the basic platform has been reworked for the drop-top car, with attention paid to airflow beneath and, of course, to stiffening. Beefier sills, a torsion wall behind the rear seats, braces across the engine bay and an enclosed roof compartment add weight, but offset the structural compromise of lifting the roof.

The company line
GranCabrio will compete with BMW 6 Series cabrio, the Jaguar XKR cabrio, and Aston DB9 Volante, though price also suggests the Merc SL and the four seats pitch it against the Bentley GTC.

This segment withered with the recession, but Maserati didn't suffer as much as some. Still, it's not expecting record sales this year, with a target of seven GranCabrio at $338,000 each.

What we say
This car has been tested in New Zealand. Young Federico Landini - vehicle integration manager tech and testing - racked up a few speeding tickets when testing at Cardrona's snow farm last year. He also hit so many rabbits he was tempted to add fighter plane-style kill scores to his car's flanks.

Clearly it was worth it. The GranCabrio feels assured, from its gorgeously appointed cabin to its build quality; from its now-proven powertrain to the stiffness of its body.

That body looks fantastic, roof up or down. Maserati chose three-layer fabric, yet soundproofing is acceptable even at speed.

Landini says that at the car's Frankfurt reveal, his Bentley GTC equivalent came over and said "your roof is better than ours; did you get a pay rise?"

On the road
The cabrio feels impressively stiff, even over the lurid lumps and bumps of a Portuguese back road, yet the ride remains reasonable thanks to the continuously adaptive Skyhook suspension.

Our drive suggests the GranCabrio's performance is impressively close to the coupe - which says as much about the latter's broad-brush focus as it does about the skills of Maser's engineers. Both the GranTurismo and GranCabrio are handicapped by their weight - this car tips the scales at 1980kg - but acceleration remains brisk, with a 0-100 time of 5.3 seconds.

Press the sport button for quicker gear changes, stiffer suspenders - and to re-route the exhaust to liberate a magnificent chest-beating roar. It sounds best with the roof down - front passengers at least get undisturbed air.

Why you'll buy one
It's exclusive, it's gorgeous, and it sounds fantastic; press that sport button for aural sex on wheels.

Why you won't
You want to carry four and luggage, yet the 173-litre boot means the rear pews must also carry bags. You want a lighter, more agile car. And you can't approve the claimed 15.4l/100km thirst.