What is it?
This is the first ever four-seater convertible Maserati has built, and it's a belter. Keeping all the looks of the svelte GranSport with the added attraction of open-top motoring, the GranCabrio is as sleek as it sounds. Maserati has stuck with a fabric roof to help with maintaining space in the cabin and in the boot.
Why's it here?
It's a new Maserati - do you need much more of a reason? Still, as Maser's first four-seater drop-top, the GranCabrio marks a departure for the Italian firm and shows it's going after a wider market, which has been opened up for it by the GranSport's and Quattroporte's successes. It also helps broaden Maserati's appeal in the crucial US market.
Show stopper or floor filler?
A show stopper if ever we saw one. Let's face it, the GranSport is a stunning car to begin with, so an open version is only ever going to be gorgeous. Maserati has integrated the roof beautifully and made the four-seat layout work from all angles. With 433bhp from its 4.7-litre V8 and performance just shy of the Coupé's, the Cabrio is a definite star of the show. It's on sale next spring at around £90,000.
Alisdair Suttie - 15 Sep 2009