RideLust

Today, mere weeks ahead of its scheduled unveiling at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Maserati tore the cover off the brand new Maserati GranCabrio. Although it follows a rich line of convertibles, including the Girogetto Giugiaro 2001 Spyder that spearheaded Masterati’s return to North America, the GranCabrio is in fact the first four-seat convertible to ever roll out of the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory.

Power is sourced from the same massive 4.7L V8 as the GranTurismo S, conservatively rated at 433 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque, and will receive either Maserati’s ZF 6-speed automatic transmission, or Graziano’s 6-speed automated manual dry twin-plate clutch. Based atop what Maserati claims it the longest convertible wheelbase on the market, although the GranCabrio shares the same engine and roughly the same measurements as the GranTurismo S, lap times are likely to differ by a considerable margin thanks to the GranCabrio’s canvas top. Eliminating the extra bulk of a retractable hard top, the soft-top GranCabrio shaves valuable pounds off the total curb weight, allowing Maserati to continue their rich tradition of uncompromising performance.

Currently, the Maserati GranCabrio is expected to hit the market locally in Winter 2009, followed by an international debut in Spring 2010. Pricing has yet to be announced, but we expect more details to drop following its formal introduction in Frankfurt.