Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, 2013

 

 

 

•  Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, 2013

The new Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport consolidates its presence on the convertible car market with completely revamped exteriors and a more powerful engine. The new front bumper, with redesigned profile to enhance aesthetics and functionality, new headlights, a new, even more powerful engine and an upgraded suspension system make the new Gran Cabrio Sport a point of reference in the convertible car market.

The Exterior
Already one of the most highly regarded in the world of sports cars, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport's bodywork has undergone a restyling which skilfully harmonises the characteristics of the Gran Turismo Sport.

One of the most evident new features of the Gran Cabrio Sport is the design for the front end with new light clusters. Though they maintain their external form, they now incorporate completely new technological characteristics, including LED Daytime Running Lights technology.

Interior
The steering wheel, with new design, is now more ergonomic and, in combination with the extended Trofeo-design paddles and light aluminium pedals, is better suited to sports driving thanks to a flattened rim and accentuated grip profile.

The new grey Eco Chrome materials for the interiors and the Poltrona Frau leather upholstery complete the existing characteristics, such as the steering wheel transmission paddles and the aluminium pedals.

Engine
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, which comes with a modern V8 engine that has already become a classic, adopts the most recent innovations in the field of engineering to deliver greater power and torque.

Both the hardware and software of the engine have been improved significantly, improving its power by 10 HP and torque by 10 Nm, without adversely affecting consumption or emissions.

At 7,000 rpm, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport delivers 338 kW (460 HP) with a considerable torque of 520 Nm at 4,750 rpm.

Automatic transmission (MC Auto Shift)
The automatic six-speed ZF transmission with MC Auto Shift is perfectly capable of handling the exceptional performance of the powerful V8 and derives from the transmission of the Gran Turismo Sport. The automatic transmission is connected directly to the rear of the engine and transmits the torque to the same limited-slip differential through a two-piece articulated steel crankshaft.

The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport with MC Auto Shift transmission can reach 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds. Top speed is 285 km/h.

Chassis and suspension
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport was designed to combine peerless driving comfort for all occupants with optimum handling at high speeds.

Exceptional performance and road holding, as well as the handling of a great sports car, are qualities of the Gran Cabrio Sport that few other sports convertibles can boast.

The shock absorbers with Sport Skyhook system, the most recent development of the Maserati damping control system. The Sport Skyhook system constantly adjusts the Gran Cabrio Sport's shock absorbers, adapting them to the road conditions. With the aid of a new rear anti-roll bar which is 12% more rigid, the Sport Skyhook system allows the vertical rigidity of the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport to be increased by 10% in Sport mode.

Maserati GranCabrio MC, 2013

 

 

 

 

• Maserati GranCabrio MC, 2013

Inspired and encouraged by the considerable success of the GranTurismo MC Stradale, which was warmly received by customers thanks to a masterly translation and adaptation of racing characteristics for use on the road, the new Maserati GranCabrio MC completes the open-top range with a highly sporty and aggressive look, while maintaining the strengths and characteristics of a true grand tourer, ideal for long journeys.

Exterior
The new, sporty look can be seen in each stylistic element of the Maserati GranCabrio MC's bodywork. Inspired directly by the cars of the Maserati Trofeo MC World Series and the GT4 version, the new design perfectly blends sportiness, dynamism, the search for aerodynamic perfection, elegance and style. These stylistic elements already partly characterised the GranTurismo MC Stradale and the GranTurismo Sport, and seamlessly unite form and function.

The car, 48 millimetres longer than the GranCabrio and GranCabrio Sport, is characterised by a front end which is inspired directly by the MC Stradale, adopting a profile designed to optimise the aerodynamic lift and flow. These differ from those on other versions of the GranCabrio due to the increased car length and other aerodynamic elements at the rear end.

The bonnet incorporates two generous air outlets at the centre to optimise cooling of the powerful V8, and two more air outlets to cool down the brake discs have also been added to the two front wings.

Initially introduced on the GranTurismo Sport the new headlights, which adopt LEDs for the daytime running light (DRL) function, complete the new look of the Maserati GranCabrio MC. Though they maintain the external shape seen on the other three versions in the GranCabrio range, the new headlights adopt the most modern technology, perfectly enhanced with an extremely sporty look thanks to the matt black colour of the structure.

The bi-xenon unit inside the headlight also incorporates Adaptive Light Control, which follows the movement of the steering by up to 15 degrees.

The rear is characterised by the large spoiler, for greater negative lift at high speeds. Inside the spoiler, built into the luggage compartment, is the third brake light. The standard version comes in the same colour as the body and it is also available, within the various car customisation packages, with a carbon finish.

The bumper has been completely redesigned at the bottom to make the new model even sportier and at the same time ensure optimal aerodynamic efficiency. The circular exhausts have been moved to the centre of the bumper and the specific layout of the air ducts, built into the lower part of the bumper, ensure greater streamlining, stabilising the air flow from the underbody.

Finally, the dynamism of the Maserati GranCabrio MC is accentuated by the 20" MC Design rims, available in glossy Titanio or matt Grafite, and made using flow-forming technology. In addition to being lighter, they feature the traditional Trident, skilfully worked into the double-spokes.

The Interior
The interior of the Maserati GranCabrio MC has received a thorough overhaul with particular attention paid to ergonomics.

The new seats, completely redesigned from both an aesthetic and functional point of view and enhanced with high-quality materials, now ensure the optimum balance of comfort and performance, elegance and functionality. The new structure of both the front and rear seats now incorporates the headrest and is enhanced by an upper, central trim, with a design inspired by the car's front grille.

Particularly important, especially with convertible cars, is the attention paid to the rear passengers. For this reason, the frame for the front seats, which is also available in a completely carbon-fibre version, has been completely redesigned to ensure 20 mm more legroom for the rear passengers.

Particular attention has been paid to the ergonomic and comfort-related aspects of driving. The seats, with an increased profile to enhance their wrap-around structure and lateral containment, ensure sporty driving while guaranteeing superior comfort, even on very long journeys.

The steering wheel features a new design, with the rim flattened at the top and bottom for greater manoeuvrability, also for sports and high-speed use, without interfering with the driver's legs.

The rear seats have been redesigned according to the same logic: maximum comfort, maximum passenger restraint in sports driving and ample use of quality materials.

To complete the new, super-sporty look of the new Maserati GranCabrio MC, it incorporates the Trofeo-design steering wheel paddles as standard, with increased dimensions as seen on the GranTurismo Sport, and an aluminium pedal unit.

Engine and performance
As with the most sporty GranTurismo in the range (the GranTurismo Sport), the GranCabrio MC also adopts the new 4.7-litre V8 engine, which delivers 338 kW (460 HP) together with substantial torque of 520 Nm at 4,750 rpm.

The pistons, positioned at an angle of 90°, are made of reinforced, hardened aluminium, as is the engine block. The crankshaft, with five-point balancing, is made of high-strength steel.

The timing system, with a system of two chains per bank, features dual variable valve timing.

The new power unit, in combination with the MC Auto Shift transmission, is now able to propel the Maserati GranCabrio MC, in closed soft top configuration, to a top speed of 289 km/h (179 mph) with acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

Automatic transmission (MC Auto Shift)
Like other sports models in the Maserati range, the Maserati GranCabrio MC also adopts an automatic six-speed ZF transmission able to transfer all the power of the 460 HP V8 engine to the ground. Calibrated specifically for application on the sportiest version in the GranCabrio range, the MC Auto Shift transmission features five operating modes. It can be used in Auto-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Normal, Manual-Sport and Ice modes.

In Manual mode, gear changes are carried out directly by the driver through the steering wheel paddles, as with a truly manual gearbox. In Manual-Normal mode, the driver can change gear until the threshold value is reached, while in Manual-Sport mode the gear is maintained until the driver next changes gear, even if this may result in over-revving and the intervention of the limiter.

On the GranCabrio Sport, Sport mode includes super-fast mode, which derives directly from the GranTurismo Sport and the Quattroporte Sport GT S and permits gear changes that are 50% faster.

This mode includes automatic blipping (short burst of acceleration) when downshifting with the Launch Control system, called MC Start Strategy(which operates only with MSP deactivated).

Using the MC Start Strategy, the driver holds down the brake pedal, presses the accelerator pedal and then releases the brake pedal when the optimum engine speed is reached (2,300-2,500 rpm).

Chassis and suspension
Performance, safety and comfort were the guidelines that Maserati engineers followed when designing the chassis for the new GranCabrio MC. In light of the experience gained with the GranTurismo MC Stradale, it is fitted with single-rate dampers, to give maximum emphasis to the car's sporty character, which guarantee greater rigidity in order to ensure optimum road holding in all driving conditions, without detracting from maximum passenger comfort.

Braking, always powerful and safe, is guaranteed by Maserati's patented Dual Cast system, which includes brake discs with aluminium bell and steel braking surface, 360×32 mm at the front and 330×28 mm at the back.

This system guarantees the best pedal feeling and braking efficiency, which translates to an excellent stopping distance of 100 to 0 km/h over just 35 metres.

In addition to the conventional holes to optimise cooling of the discs, they also feature grooves which allow the film of water, which deposits on the discs when driving on wet surfaces, to be eliminated and ensure that the operation of the pad's friction material is restored in order to ensure maximum power and braking efficiency at all times.

The one-piece aluminium alloy brake callipers, produced by Brembo and available in various colours, are also six-piston at the front and four-piston at the rear. This configuration ensures greater uniformity in braking, a constant clamping force and the sensation of a stable and reliable pedal, reducing brake wear at the same time.

In deference to Maserati tradition, the monocoque chassis is made with different materials to ensure maximum weight reduction and maximum torsional rigidity. The use of high-strength steels for the structural part and the use of aluminium and composite materials for the moving parts, ensure maximum performance in complete conformity with the spirit in which the new Maserati GranCabrio MC was conceived.

Maserati GranTurismo Sport, 2013

 

 

 

•  Maserati GranTurismo Sport, 2013

The powerful 4.7-litre V8 engine can now deliver a maximum power of 460 HP (338 kW) and a peak torque of 520 Nm, without penalising fuel consumption and emissions. These parameters, coupled with the electro actuated gearbox featuring MC Shift technology for faster gear changes (down to 100 ms), enable the Maserati GranTurismo Sport to reach an impressive top speed of 300 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The version with automatic transmission and MC Auto Shift management software (which is also used in the GranCabrio Sport and Quattroporte Sport GT S) also benefits from significantly enhanced performance, achieving a top speed of 298 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.

With regards to the suspension, the new Maserati GranTurismo Sport is fitted with the Sport Skyhook system, an evolution of the continuous damping control system that makes the car even more reactive and fun to drive, whilst at the same time increasing passenger comfort. In SPORT mode the car is pin sharp in responding to the driver's input, while in normal mode it constantly adapts the damping to absorb the roughness of the surface for a smoother ride. All this equates to a superb handling capability that combines sports performance and comfort in all driving conditions.

The Maserati GranTurismo Sport is available with two different types of transmission: a ZF 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed electro actuated gearbox, with dry twin-plate clutch (not available in North America). The first enhances driving comfort without compromising on performance, while the second offers a more involving driving experience.

External restyling
The restyling of the bodywork has further enhanced its already sporty nature.

The front bumper has been redesigned to improve the air flow and the cooling of the front brakes, whilst at the same time to enhance the appearance of the nose of the car, thanks to a new styling element that unites the space between the new headlights and the traditional oval grille. The chromed trident with red accents takes pride of place at the centre of the grille: a detail reserved to the most powerful Maserati cars, in keeping with the tradition of the marque.

The front light cluster maintains its original profile, but it has been completely redesigned and improved thanks to the addition of DRL LED technology. The new LEDs give the headlights a further style boost as well as improving functionality and visibility, benefitting car safety.

Behind the impressive 20" Astro Design alloy wheels lies the equally impressive braking system of the new Maserati GranTurismo Sport, which employs Brembo dual-cast technology coupled with 6-piston brake calipers at the front and 4-piston brake calipers at the rear. The disc, in a slotted and perforated version, is made of two different materials, cast iron and aluminium, reducing weight by between 15% and 20% and delivering enhanced comfort, reduced corrosion and wear and superior component performance.

The caliper, meanwhile, represents a new feature for Maserati and Brembo in terms of colour, introducing a brand new oxidised blue which, thanks to its matt finish, enhances the car's ultra-sporty nature, emphasising once again the meticulous attention Maserati devotes to detail in order to ensure total customer satisfaction. This extends to even the tiniest design detail, fully embracing the "tailor made" principle.

The rear of the car has been made even sleeker than before thanks to restyled, darker light clusters that accentuate its dramatic look.

The new model introduces a brand new colour called "Blu Sofisticato" which shows off the car's lines to best advantage and frames the countless innovative stylistic features that characterise this new Maserati GranTurismo Sport.

Sporty interior
The interior of the Maserati GranTurismo Sport has been treated to a sporty makeover. Passengers can now relax in an interior where luxury, craftsmanship and attention to detail take on new forms.

Of particular importance are the new front and rear seats, which not only improve and update the look, but also provide a more ergonomic design; the seats offer better support as well as optimised comfort for driver and passengers on longer journeys. The distinctive new design of the rear shell of the front seats, in leather, also frees up more space for rear seat passengers (+20 mm).

Particular attention has been devoted to enhance the dynamic yet refined spirit of the Maserati GranTurismo Sport. New details in EcoChrome grey and the Poltrona Frau leather upholstery, feature alongside sporty elements such as the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel, inspired by the design of the Trofeo race car, and the aluminium pedals.

The steering wheel is also new and is now even more ergonomic and better suited to sports driving, thanks to a flatter rim and a grip with accentuated profile.

With these characteristics, the new Maserati GranTurismo Sport follows in the footsteps of one of the most successful cars in the entire history of Maserati. Since its launch at the Geneva Motor Show, back in 2007, around 15,000 Granturismo models have been delivered to customers all over the world.

In 2011 the GranTurismo range accounted for 44% of the total Maserati sales, with over 2700 cars delivered to clients all over the world. The United States was once again the number one market, not only in terms of overall product range sales, but also sales by model, with almost 900 GranTurismos sold in 2011, followed by China and Italy.

Maserati Kubang, 2013

 

Maserati Kubang, 2013

The Maserati Kubang - a new Maserati vehicle in the sport luxury SUV segment will represent a natural direction for the company to enlarge its product range and strengthen its presence in the sport luxury market.

For some reason SUVs today never seem to offer the kind of uplifting driving pleasure and luxury atmosphere that are two givens of today's high-end sports and luxury cars. And this is precisely what Maserati set out to do with its new sport luxury SUV concept that is being unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show today, the forerunner of the future Maserati range, creating at once discontinuity by entering a new segment, and continuity by maintaining the integrity of Maserati's DNA.

The idea of a sport luxury SUV is naturally not totally new to Maserati. Many will remember the Kubang concept that was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in 2003. At a time in which few other brands were going in the direction of a sport luxury SUV, Maserati was already thinking to build one.

The potential synergies with sister brand Jeep - a brand that 70 years ago created a new segment of the market and is today a leader of this very segment - are the important catalyst for Maserati's own interpretation of a sport luxury SUV. And it seems only appropriate to give the model that we are unveiling today the very name of the concept that opened the way: Maserati Kubang.

The essence and all major system components of the Maserati sport luxury SUV will unmistakably be Maserati: style, engine, suspensions, brakes, handling and performance will all be 100% Maserati in picture-perfect continuity with the brand's core values of sportiness, style, elegance, luxury, performance and craftsmanship.

The distinctive Maserati style that makes the Kubang immediately recognisable as a true Maserati has been created by the Maserati Style Center headed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

New-generation high-tech Maserati proprietary engines will be designed in Modena by Paolo Martinelli - Head of the Maserati Powertrain Department and for nearly 30 years at Ferrari, where he also served as engine chief of the Formula One racing team - and will be produced in Maranello by Ferrari.

An AT 8 speed automatic transmission and specific performance settings such as suspensions, brakes, steering will be exclusively developed in Modena for the Maserati sport luxury SUV by the Maserati Product Development Department.

Until today Maserati has been producing sedans, coupes and two- or four-seater convertibles. Whether we named them Quattroporte, GranTurismo or GranCabrio - or, before them, Ghibli, Mistral, Bora or Indy - their common denominator rested in two words: sportiness and luxury. Times have changed: sportiness and luxury today don't have just one definition. They can also take the form of a very dynamic looking and high performing sport luxury SUV.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S MC Sport Line, 2011

 

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S MC Sport Line, 2011

The Maserati has taken the opportunity to show the Quattroporte Sport GT S MC Sport Line at the 2010 Australian International Auto Show, which opened its doors in Sidney on October 15, 2010.

The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S with the added stylistic elements of the MC Sport Line option package is at the peak of sportiness in the Quattroporte range and perfectly embodies the character of Maserati luxury sport sedan.

The MC Sport Line equipment package is developed from the experience of Maserati Corse - Maserati factory-owned racing department - and Maserati winning motorsport programmes, both with the Maserati MC12 - once again this year leading the FIA GT1 World Championship - and the Gran Turismo MC in its Trofeo and GT4 versions. The MC Sport Line, first launched on the Gran Turismo S with electro-actuated gearbox - across the Gran Turismo and Quattroporte ranges.

The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS MC Sport Line replaces all the wood trim in the standard car with carbon fibre, across the dashboard, the front and rear centre consoles, sections of the door panels, the gear knob and around the switchgear. Additionally it is used around the instrument pack and on the gearchange paddles. Each of the door sills is fitted with carbon fibre trim panels embossed with the MC Sport Line

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, 2012

 

 

 

 

 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, 2012

The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful car and on sale in the first quarter of 2011. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will have more power, less weight, razor-sharp handling and a top speed of over 300 km/h.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires and it incorporates the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati's three racing programs. It produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag, it produces more power without using more fuel and it is more agile without sacrificing the GranTurismo S's highly praised ride quality.

With 330kW (450 horsepower), the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale generates more power (7 kW, 10hp) from the 4.7-litre V8 engine than the GranTurismo S, while its 510Nm of torque is a further 20Nm improvement. Its race-bred heritage is highlighted by a 110kg weight reduction from the GranTurismo S, down to 1770kg. It mirrors Maserati's racing advantages by retaining an optimal 48 : 52 weight distribution, ensuring balanced handling and even tyre wear.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale uses advanced electronics to cut gear-shift times from the upgraded MC Race Shift electro-actuated transaxle gearbox to just 60 milliseconds. This all helps to slash the 0-100km/h sprint time, which the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale covers in just 4.6 seconds.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is also the first Maserati in history to have a dedicated Race mode alongside the upgraded Auto and Sport modes in its simplified dashboard layout.

With the removal of the rear seats, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale becomes the first two-seat Maserati since the MC12. The GranTurismo MC Stradale has also benefited from new Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, custom-developed Pirelli tyres, a unique suspension layout and rigid, light-weight, carbon-fibre race seats.

The push for the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale came from existing Maserati customers who wanted a road-legal super sports car that looked and felt like the GT4 and Trofeo race cars. The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale also provides the latest step in the well-trodden path between Maserati's racing programs and its production road cars and, often, back again. In the 1990s, the Ghibli Open Cup race car gave birth to the Ghibli Cup and a decade later the Trofeo GranSport gave birth to the GranSport MC Victory. At the pinnacle of recent Maserati's road-to race story, the FIA GT-winning MC12 was developed directly from the MC12 Stradale.

With a unique body design that is based around the requirements of the track, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale has borrowed heavily from its racing car stablemates, the Maserati GranTurismo MC, both in the Trofeo and GT4 configurations. It has a new front splitter, bumper, bonnet, front guard panels, sills, exhausts and even a new rear bumper. To emphasize the harder-edged nature of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, Maserati even offers the car with an optional roll cage and a four-point racing harness.

It retains all the inherent ride, handling and stability benefits of the GranTurismo S's long wheelbase. It has the speed to be a road-legal racing car, yet it has the progressive handling to be considered an extremely usable super-sports car.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport, 2012

 

 

 

 

 Maserati GranCabrio Sport, 2012

The Maserati has taken the Gran Cabrio convertible to a new level of performance with the new Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport.

With more power, a faster gearshift and a distinctively aggressive look, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport has given Maserati a harder-edged convertible to sit alongside the Gran Turismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S as the performance flagships of their respective ranges.

With a 285km/h top speed and a 0-100km/h sprint of just 5.2 seconds, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport is brimming with performance and luxury refinements both inside the cabin and underneath its award-winning body panels.
Its six-speed transmission includes a super-fast MC Auto Shift mode and has been developed for the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S.

The handling has been enhanced for greater speed, too, with an upgrade and revision of the Skyhook active-suspension system and the adoption of a more-responsive brake package.
Visually, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport is characterized by a more-pronounced dynamic look. This look begins with the Gran Cabrio's distinctive nose and continues with a host of small, perfectly integrated changes throughout the body and the interior.

The Exterior Design
Maserati's design team worked to provide a more-aggressive look that sat in harmony with the Gran Cabrio's critically acclaimed styling.

A series of relatively small upgrades in critical areas have created an integrated, dynamic design that immediately differentiates the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport from the rest of the Gran Cabrio range and identifies it with both the Quattroporte Sport GT S and the Gran Turismo S.

It introduces a new colour, Rosso Trionfale - a classic red that pays tribute to the championship-winning Maserati racing cars of the 1950s. It's a colour that highlights the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport's strong personality, yet maintains its elegant and slim look.
The strong, distinctive Gran Cabrio grille receives even more character with a new black colour, while the grille's Maserati Trident receives the red accents that are reserved for the fastest car in each of Maserati's model ranges. These red accents are also found on the Quattroporte Sport GT S and the Gran Turismo S.

The headlights now have a black look with white reflectors, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The Shadow line, with its dark look around the base of the window glass, stresses the dramatic look of the car, strengthening its personality and pointing out the sinous lines of the body.

Besides adding to the aggressive style, the side skirts and the corner splitters were developed in the wind tunnel and add significantly to the car's aerodynamic efficiency reducing aerodynamic resistance and improving fuel consumption.
The dynamic look is finished with redesigned 20" Astro-design wheels and a pair of menacing, black oval exhaust tips. The wheels each feature three Tridents and create a lighter look to accentuate the higher performance.

The Interior Design
The more-aggressive look is carried over inside the open-topped cabin, with a new seat-face design and drilled aluminium pedals.

The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport introduces changes to the gear-shifting system, with Maserati's Active Shifting paddles now standard. The paddles, drawn from the Trofeo racing car, are longer than the standard steering column-mounted paddles and make shifting easier in enthusiastic driving.

The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport debuts two new interior colours in rich leather: Bianco Pregiato and Grigio Chrono. Bianco Pregiato is a more-pure white colour than the existing pearl colour and can be used everywhere except the top of the dashboard. Grigio Chrono is a darker grey, developed to complement the new Rosso Trionfale body colour.
To differentiate it further from the standard Gran Cabrio, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport badge will be positioned on the dashboard in front of the passenger.

While the front passenger seat matches the driver's seat by receiving adjustable lumbar support as standard, all four seats incorporate the new M-Design seat stitching.

The design reflects classical Maserati grille designs and replicates the design in the central seat panel, all crafted with Poltrona Frau's finest leather.
The Trident-embossed headrests can also be enhanced with customized stitching and customers can choose 13 different colours to contrast the leather of the seat.

The engine
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport uses the latest version of Maserati's sonorous, all-alloy 4.7-litre V8, taken straight from the high-performance Gran Turismo MC Stradale.
This naturally aspirated engine produces 450 horsepower (331kW) at 7000rpm: that is10hp more than the Gran Cabrio. It is also rich with torque, with a peak of 510Nm (20Nm more than the Gran Cabrio) arriving at 4750rpm. Eighty percent of its maximum torque is already available at just 2500rpm.

The performance increases are a result of Maserati's Friction Reduction Program, which has made the Maserati GranCabrio Sport's engine more reactive to the driver's most-nuanced inputs. This program included a revision of the oil sump's fluid dynamics and the application of a Diamond-Like Coating to the tappets and the super-finished camshaft lobes.

Besides added power, torque and responsiveness, the Friction Reduction Program has lowered the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport's fuel consumption by six percent to a combined total of 14.5 litres/100km.

The new exhaust tips also help the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport to give a richer engine sound when the bypass valves are activated. The valves are always open in Manual-Sport mode, while they are open above 2500rpm in Auto-Sport mode.

The exhaust system allows Maserati to hit its target of improving the car's performance and also give its customers access to a new open air musical theatre and a rich sound experience.
However, the valves are closed in Normal mode, giving the driver and passengers a quieter ride.

The Transmission
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport is the first Maserati to match the upgraded, 450hp version of the 4.7-litre engine with the day-to-day luxury of a fully automatic transmission.

The six-speed transmission includes the super-fast MC Auto Shift mode and has been developed for the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S.
The MC Auto Shift mode contains a launch-control mode and is active in both Manual Sport and Automatic Sport modes to provide faster gearshift times and to automatically "blip" the throttle during down-shifts.

To operate the MC Start Strategy (launch-control mode), the driver turns off the MSP in Auto Sport mode, then holds the brake pedal while pressing the accelerator. The driver should reach the optimum revs for a fast start (between 2300-2500rpm), and then simultaneously release the brake pedal and press the accelerator pedal completely. This manouvre is only recommended for use on a race track or in closed conditions of complete safety.

Like the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the MC Auto Shift gives the driver even-greater engagement by holding gears in the Manual Sport mode, even when the engine reaches its rev limiter, and introducing a digital in-dash display to indicate the ideal gear-shift timing.
The transmission gives the driver five distinct operating modes: Auto-Normal, Manual-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Sport and Ice.

Chassis and Handling
The handling has received significant attention, with a new, sportier tune of the Skyhook active-suspension system and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.

The upgraded "Sport Skyhook" uses acceleration sensors to register wheel and chassis movement. It sends this data to a central processor, which also analyzes the road conditions and the driving style and instantly and precisely regulates the dampers to suit any situation.
With the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, the Skyhook system received upgraded management software and dampers to give a sharper focus on handling, grip and balance, while even the springs and anti-roll bars have been upgraded.

Derived from the Gran Turismo's high-strength steel monocoque architecture, the Gran Cabrio and Gran Cabrio Sport feature aluminium structural reinforcements beneath the floor for extra rigidity at the cost of only 100kg compared to the Gran Turismo S.

Attached to the front of the architecture are aluminium wishbones with forged aluminium hub carriers and struts, aluminium gas dampers and springs, while at the rear adds a radius bar for each wheel to control toe-in.
The changes to the brakes, with grooved, ventilated and drilled discs on all four wheels, have targeted a sporty, responsive and consistent feeling for the driver.

The grooves have been designed to keep the brake pads clean by avoiding dust build-up, which can reduce braking performance, while the drilled holes ensure the uniform wear of the disc and the pads for long-term consistency. This all helps the GranCabrio Sport to stop in just 35 metres from 100km/h.

The optional equipment
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport will have the MC Sport Line packages available immediately at its launch, including interior and exterior carbon fibre features. For example it is possible to change the front splitter to carbon-fibre, while the side skirts are also available in black
The Astro-design, 20-inch wheels are also available in Shiny Anthracite Grey to create a darker, more-menacing look.

Specifications

•     Body: High-strength steel monocoque, under-body aluminium cross bracing
•     Layout: Front-mid-engine, rear-drive
•     Engine: 4.7-litre all-alloy V8
•     Power: 450hp (331kW) @ 7000rpm
•     Torque: 510Nm @ 4750rpm
•     Capacity: 4691cc
•     Bore x stroke: 94mm x 84.5mm
•     Compression ratio: 11.25:1
•     Maximum engine speed: 7200 rpm
•     Oil delivery: Wet sump
•     0-100km/h acceleration: 5.2 seconds
•     Top speed: 285km/h
•     Fuel consumption

        Urban: 22.5 litres/100km
        Extra-urban: .8 litres/100km
        Combined: 14.5 litres/100km

•     CO2 emissions: 337 grams/km
•     Transmission: Six-speed automatic (ZF 6HP26) with MC Auto Shift
•     Ratios

        First: 4.171:1
        Second: 2.340:1
        Third: 1.521:1
        Fourth: 1.143:1
        Fifth: 0.867:1
        Sixth: 0.691:1
        Reverse: 3.403:1
        Final Drive: 3.73:1

•     Differential: Asymmetric limited-slip (25% in traction, 45% in release) with bevel drive
•     Steering: Engine-speed sensitive power steering, rack-and-pinion.
•     Turning circle: 12.3 metres
•     Length: 4881mm
•     Width

        with mirrors: 2056mm
        without mirrors: 1915mm

•     Height: 1353mm
•     Wheelbase: 2942mm
•     Front track: 1586mm
•     Rear track: 1590mm
•     Front overhang: 873mm
•     Rear overhang: 1066mm
•     Boot/trunk capacity: 173 litres
•     Fuel capacity: 75 litres
•     Dry weight (EU): 1887kg
•     Kerb weight (EU): 1980kg
•     Weight distribution

        roof closed: 49% front/51% rear
        roof open: 48%/52%

•     Brakes: 360mm front discs, 330mm rear discs
•     Tyres: 245/35 ZR20 (front); 285/35 ZR20 (rear)

Maserati GranCabrio Fendi, 2012

 

 Maserati GranCabrio Fendi, 2012

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi was born from the union of two iconic brands of the made in Italy, which share common values such as craftsmanship and tradition.

As a masterpiece of technology and craftsmanship, the Maserati GranCabrio Fendi introduced at the 2011 Frankfurt MotorShow.

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi is crafted at the historical Maserati headquarters in Modena, with exclusive materials bespokely created in various colours for this project.

The three-layered body colour named Grigio Fiamma Fendi is a special dark grey with an iridescent golden finish on the surface. The wood trim Pergamena Fendi runs across the width of the dashboard, on the doors and on the top of the gear lever, all in the iconic FENDI yellow, like the brake callipers and the embroidered yellow trident on the headrests.

Adding a stronger yet elegant character to the GranCabrio is FENDI's unmistakable double F-logo, stitched on the seat, also appearing in the centre of the 19-inch Trident design alloy wheels, and the FENDI logo along the rocker panel.

Cuoio Romano, Fendi's most precious leather of its Selleria line, has been used for such details as the instrument cluster cover, for the gear lever and for the profiles of the floor mats. It also features in the Limited Edition Travel Set of luggage and accessories.

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi represents a perfect marriage between the art of a handmade product with the ultimate technology and research of its 4.7-litre V8 engine coupled with automatic transmission, which brings out to life a unique roar, music to the ears of car connoisseurs.

Silvia Venturini Fendi's specially crafted logo seals this collaboration. A silver oval plaque with the engraving of the Maserati trident, Fendi logo and the 5-digit series number (five being an iconic number for Fendi) is located on the dashboard, in front of the passenger seat, and on both sides of the black cloth folding roof.

A special black car cover with a ton-sur-ton double F logo dresses the GranCabrio, hiding this marvellous secret from indiscreet eyes until the very last moment.