2012 Maserati GranCabrio Sport : First Look

Jay Williams - 23/February/2011

Modena, Italy - Maserati will debut the new GranCabrio Sport at the Geneva next month. Offering more driving enjoyment thanks to an improved overall vehicle dynamics, more horse power, a more responsive and efficient engine and optimised gearshift response.

The GranCabrio Sport is designed to give the model range a harder-edged option to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the GranCabrio Sport uses a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati's, all-alloy 4.7-litre V8, matched to the ZF six-speed automatic transmission.

The naturally aspirated V8 produces 331kW of power and has 510Nm of torque. Maserati's Friction Reduction Program has made the GranCabrio Sport's engine more responsive, while reaching a 6% reduction in fuel consumption. The GranCabrio Sport can reach a top speed of 285km/h.

Meanwhile, the six-speed transmission is equipped with the super-fast MC Auto Shift software and has been developed for the GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The MC Auto Shift provides optimised gearshift response resulting in faster gear changes.

Handling performance has also been tweaked, with an upgrade and revision of the Skyhook active-suspension system - now with a sportier tuning - and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.

Visually, the GranCabrio Sport gets a black grille that features a Trident with red accents. The headlights also get some black treatment with white sidemarks, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale inspired by the red Italian national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis - in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F.

The GranCabrio Sport will be on sale in all of Maserati's 62 markets later this year.

Related Links:
- Maserati GranCabrio (2010)
- Maserati Chicane Concept (2008)
- Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S (2007)
- Maserati Quattroporte: Maseratirundum (2007)
- Maserati GS Zagato (2007)
- Maserati GranTurismo (2008)
- Maserati MC12 Stradale (2005)
- Maserati Quattroporte (2004)
- Maserati 3200GT Assetto Corsa (2001)
- Maserati GranTurismo S (2008)