Maserati Grancabrio Reviews

Does the Maserati GranTurismo still cut it 12 years on?

Maserati has perfected the art of applying subtle changes to existing models to create new  variants to appeal to new buyers. Basically, it’s like a woman having a series of hairdos designed to subtly alter her appearance and expand her list of suitors.But in the case of the GranCabrio Sport, the tweaking has made an attractive convertible into one with more appealing driving characteristics.VALUEThe GranCabrio Sport is expected in Australia in December and, based on currency predictions, will land here for less than $350,000. That’s a premium of about $20,000 on the existing - and ongoing - GranCabrio. What do you get? Well there’s a more sporty line of body gear - stuff like a front splitter, side sills, black grille and headlights surrounds and 20-inch wheels - but the better value is in the slightly more powerful engine, firmer suspension and an enhancement to the world’s best exhaust note. The modest changes to the body sharpen up its street cred and the engine note is certainly head spinning. But is this all worth the extra dosh? Maybe not.DESIGNSame as the existing GranCabrio but with the additions as mentioned above. This is Maserati honing the model and in its creation of a new, high-priced variant of the convertible, may be seen as gilding the lily. It seats four people - yes, adults in the back for short trips - and the ride comfort is very good for a car that has been worked over in the suspension department. It’s as quiet and comfortable with the electrically-operated fabric roof up or down. The boot is small and in the test car, was practically full just with the addition of the fold-out wind deflector. Cabin treatment is excellent, falling over only by the placement of some switches behind the steering wheel where they are invisible to the driver, and a sat-nav system that isn’t up to Japanese standards.TECHNOLOGYMaserati make song and dance out of the extra 10kW (that’s not a misprint - it’s a weeny 10 kilowatts) and additional 20Nm. More important is the friction-reduction campaign that has reduced fuel consumption and emissions by 6 per cent to 14.5 l/100km and 337g/km CO2. The end result is 331kW/510Nm for a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds. That’s a mere 0.1 second faster than the 323kW/490Nm standard version. The ZF box gets longer steering wheel paddle shifters made of carbon fibre - which is dotted around the car as a trim material - and the box changes gears twice as fast as the existing model and blips on downshifts while manual mode will allow the engine to run to the rev limiter. Suspension springs are 15 per cent stiffer and there’s ben modifications to the dampers. The brake rotors are ventilated, drilled and slotted to minimise fade.SAFETYMaserati cars, like most exotic cars, aren’t flung into concrete barriers to come up with a crash rating. It’s understood they’re pretty safe. Standard kit includes stability and traction control, six airbags and automatic pop-up roll bars.DRIVINGAs expected, it’s a quick car with lots of exhaust hoise available at the touch of the “sport’’ button on the dash. Though suspension tweaks are designed to improve handling, comfort has not been sacrified. It is also an easy car to drive and well suits the role cruising the more expensive suburbs in your city.VERDICTIt’s clearly Italian with its showmanship styling, loud exhaust noise and ability to sprint. It turns heads all the time and despite its exotic tag, was a real pussycat to drive. Four seats also make all the difference.MASERATI GRANCABRIO SPORTPrice: est. $345,000Warranty: 3-years/100,00kmResale: 72% (est.)Service interval: 15,000km/12 monthsSafety: n/aEngine: 4.7-litre, V8 petrol, 331kW/510NmBody: 2-door coupeWeight: 1980kgTransmission: 6-speed sequential auto, rear driveThirst: 14.5L/100km, 98 RON, CO2 337g/km"The heart and soul of luxury motoring that takes its top off''

HOW do luxury brands survive a downturn as severe as the GFC? For some, the global appetite for their models was cut in half and that's the sort of diet that could imperil any manufacturing operation, let alone one with biblically long lead times, the overheads of a small nation and customers it knows by name.So far, though, the casualties have all been bread-and-butter brands. They include Pontiac, which was GM's blue singlet badge, and Saturn, which was its attempt to repel the Japanese small car invasion.All told, the clean-out at GM cut its portfolio from eight badges to four, but the sweepers have been much less vigorous in Europe. The closest thing to a fatality has been GM cast-off Saab, whose heart stopped beating long enough for it to sustain permanent damage. It remains to be seen if tiny, independent Dutch sportscar maker Spyker can supply enough voltage to keep Saab on life support.Most luxury brands enjoy more shelter than that, under the aegis of global car groups with the resources to ride out a storm. Volkswagen has a handful of trumps with Bugatti, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche and Audi. It's unlikely to let any of these perish just because of a recession or two.The Fiat group, meanwhile, has the same number of brands as pre-bankruptcy GM, including three among the premium ranks. For Fiat, relinquishing either Ferrari or Maserati would be like losing an arm, and it's going into overdrive to keep a pulse going at Alfa Romeo.But there's more to it than that. The further up the luxury scale you go, the more the GFC was a case of “let me eat cake''. At the super-rich end of the market, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari sales suffered comparatively slightly -- down 17 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.Even allowing for the long waiting lists at this level, which provide a cushion against economic swings, the difference between Ferrari and brands just one rung below on the price ladder is marked. Aston Martin, Bentley and Maserati all slipped 40 per cent or more last year -- 49 per cent in the case of Maserati.Within the Fiat group, Maserati comes a distinct second to Ferrari in the brand hierarchy although it benefits from the association by, for example, running Prancing Horse engines in its cars. No small part of the appeal of Maseratis is that they dance to an eight-cylinder Ferrari tune.But there's a price to be paid. Since becoming part of Fiat, Maserati has also had to learn not to tread on Ferrari's feet. It must make models that complement what Ferrari is doing, rather than compete. To achieve this, the Trident badge has had to abandon some of its historic sporting aspirations and target buyers who want their luxury wheels to have as much elegance and practicality as pace. If Ferrari is a bullet-train, Maserati has to be the Orient Express.With the launch of the Maserati GranCabrio last week, this two-brand jigsaw puzzle is finished -- for the time being, at least. This convertible completes a three-model line-up for Maserati that includes the Quattroporte sedan and GranTurismo coupe, and nearly a decade of brand realignment. Its next model will be a mid-size sedan due in three years, and Ferrari definitely won't be making one of those.Maserati believes the GranCabrio will attract new customers and it will need to, because it has never made anything like this before. It built smaller and racier two-seat convertibles in the past -- the last was the Gransport Spyder, discontinued four years ago -- but not any more. That's Ferrari territory.Like its siblings, the GranCabrio is a large car -- longer than any rival, apparently -- with the clear goal of providing four open-air seats that can all accommodate adults. Here it succeeds, although it's as well to remember that when a carmaker describes a convertible as a full four-seater, it's using a different system of measurement from the one it applies to sedans.If there's a practical downside to the GranCabrio it's the boot, which is tiny. Maserati says it can swallow a set of golf clubs but, just in case, offers a bespoke set of luggage that fits perfectly . . . on the rear seats.A key part of the appeal of any convertible is the way it presents with the roof down, and the GranCabrio cabin is suitably plush, if a little traditional. Maserati says the leather and trims on offer mean there are nine million possible combinations for the finished result, although I suspect that 8.9 million of these would be indictable crimes against good taste.One small drawback for Australian buyers are zipped panels in the rear seats necessitated by the child seat fittings mandated in this market. The front seats power-slide forward to allow access to the rear, although the glacial rate at which they move would test anybody's patience. The roof folds more quickly.The GranCabrio, like most convertibles, needed engineering changes from the GranTurismo coupe to prevent it driving like a shoebox without a lid. Extra-thick widescreen pillars are one result while, with the roof up, the high rear window offers an excellent view of traffic about half a kilometre behind.Drivers will find the same scattergun logic to button placement as other Maseratis while the control screen, with its foggy logic and even foggier graphics, was clearly inspired by late-70s Nintendos.In terms of its overall shape, the GranCabrio is almost identical to the lovely Coke-bottle-on-steriods design of the GranTurismo coupe and it avoids some of the pitfalls of convertibles, such as an overly tall tail. It's a glamorous beast that draws plenty of stares.The roof is almost as thick as a fold-out mattress and offers good insulation against noise by convertible standards, with engine sound dominating. That's as it should be in a car like this -- and it gets even better with the roof down, when the 4.7-litre Ferrari V8 can show off its full vocal range. It whumps on downchanges and crackles on overrun while pushing it through to the 7200rpm redline is a sonic -- as well as dynamic -- thrill.The six-speed automatic is the right sort of transmission for this sort of car, but it could do with a little more finesse in its programming. It doesn't always make the right moves and reverts too quickly to D when the paddles are being used by the driver. Maserati will replace this unit with an eight-speeder in its next Quattroporte, which means if you can wait long enough it will be offered in this car, too.On the twisting roads of northern NSW last week, I used those paddles a lot. Sometimes just for the fun of it. There's a world of difference between this two-tonne look-at-me-mobile and a Ferrari, but some solid work on the chassis means it's possible to get plenty of enjoyment from the engine.It's certainly no slouch, stopping the clock at 5.3 seconds to 100km/h, and the car feels balanced with unwanted body movements kept well in check. So much so that through corners, some of the mass evaporates and it only betrays its true heft under brakes.The controls lack the precision of a dedicated sportscar but they get better as speed rises, when the lazy feel to the steering disappears. Keeping this much open-top metal on a tight rein requires fairly stiff suspension, which means chassis nuances are a bit remote, but not absent. Worse, the ride can feel too detailed and brittle on rough country roads, with shudders travelling right through the cabin to the rear-view mirror.That's a flaw that will be familiar to most convertible owners and Maserati's claims that the GranCabrio is as rigid as the best sound plausible, at least. The convertible owners who currently drive a BMW 6 Series, Mercedes-Benz SL or Porsche 911 are precisely the ones Maserati believes it can lure to the brand.It's hard to argue with the endless delights of a Ferrari engine at Maserati prices while it's impossible to argue with the brand's assertions of exclusivity. Last year, with 4489 buyers, it was about 2000 units more exclusive than Ferrari itself -- and 49 per cent more exclusive than it was the year before. Fiat is unlikely to let a brand with those sort of credentials expire.MASERATI GRANCABRIO - $338,000 plus on-road costsVehicle Four-seat convertibleEngine: 4.7-litre V8Outputs: 323kW at 7000rpm and 490Nm at 4750rpmTransmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Maserati's GranCabrio is the first roof-down four-seater from the Italian maker. And, as to be expected, a fine piece of automotive art.It has a long, head-turning profile, best appreciated with the cloth top down. It is packed with leather and luxury, down to a stereo system that self-adjusts tones depending on roof position. It has 323kW of sporting V8 up front, mated to a clever six-speed transmission. All in all, it’s a most impressive, albeit expensive, package of poise and performance.Maserati has a fair heritage of open top sports cars, back to the beautiful Frua Spyder of 1950. But this is their first four-seater convertible. And the GranCabrio more than lives up to the heritage. It is a practical, elegant convertible with comfort and performance. It is capable of being caught in peak hour traffic without a grumble, capable of offering a spirited run through the mountains and happy to loaf down long motorway stretches in quiet comfort.Perhaps the boot is a bit small (but will take a set of golf clubs) and perhaps the back seat is no place for the tall with the roof up (though these seats reportedly accommodate 62.5 per cent of people).Here the GranCabrio, at $338,000, joins the GranTurismo and the Quattroporte to give Maserati a trio of prestige machines covering some high-flying territory. (The four-door Quattroporte is the best-selling Maserati of all times and the marque's brand awareness has risen 10 per cent in the past decade plus there's a new 'medium' sedan is somewhere around the corner to keep the flag flying.)The time was right for a little more Italian fashion, a little more look-at-me in the style of an open-top tourer. And 27 Australians and Kiwis have already signed up for this year's allocation of 45 of these machines.The payback is spirited performance, chassis balance and ride comfort (though there is sometimes a little chattering feedback from the front wheels). Plus the exclusive charm of a four-seat Italian convertible; said to be longest, roomiest in this class of exotic convertible.The 65kg roof can drop, when the weather's clear, in 28 seconds at up to 30 km/h.  Without the roof, top speed drops from 293km/h to 274km/h and the weight distribution changes from 49 per cent front and 51 per cent rear to 48 per cent front, 52 per cent rear.Top up or down the Maserati is a well-balanced car. There is nice weight to the steering and, for a fairly big car weighing in at 1980kg, the GranCabrio is easy to place on a tight mountain road. Handy here is the rear grip and the eagerness of the 4.7 litre V8 to work up to its 323kW and 490Nm of torque at 4750rpm through the six-speed auto transmission.There are steering-wheel column mounted paddles for shifting through sports ratios, handy for down changing, whether out for a harder run or just impressing city pedestrians. The Italian's aurals are as sweet as anything out there and a Sport buton rempas gearbox, engine and suspension details for even harder growl and go.The cabin is, naturally, packed with convenience, comfort, luxury and safety... right down to integrated pop-up roll bars (with sharp pin to break the rear glass) in the event of a major accident.There is all the best in navigation systems, information and entertainment systems. There are choices galore in leather trim colours and highlights, there is an airconditioning system which quietly adjusts a pre-set temperatures to a closed or open cabin.For maximum effect the Maserati's top will be down, listening to that V8... and watching the watchers.Check out Keith Didham's review of the Maserati GranCabrio.

Move over Mercedes-Benz, backpeddle BMW, and just get out of the way Jaguar. The new Masser is about to hit town and it wants its day in the sun.  The tops are off and let the boulevard battle begin.This is the new and very stunning — Maserati GranCabrio, the open-top version of the potent GranTurismo coupe, which goes on sale in Australia in April for $338,000. That's $19,500 premium over the hardtop but that hasn't deterred 20 buyers who have already put their hand up for one. And numbers will be limited. Australia's allocation for the year is just 43 cars.Maserati has had cabriolets before, but the Spyders have all been two seaters. This is the brand's first four-seater and it's aimed directly at the American market Maserati gambling its prestigious brand combined with the extra seating capacity will prove a marketing winner.In Australia, true four-seaters, as against two plus two, are thin on the ground but Maserati is up against models from Benz, BMW and Jaguar for the up-market ‘fun in the sun’ dollar.  Maserati is counting on pulling power of the cabrio — the third model in its lineup behind the coupe and Quattroporte sedan — to drive it out of the global financial crisis to add even more sex appeal to the famous Italian brand.It does so in spades. This is adult-rated car porn; a cabrio to lust for. A car that should equally appeal to both sexes but for different reasons.It has performance, and it has style.  But the cabrio nearly didn't make it to market so early in 2010. Maserati's marketing director Massimo Farao hinted to Carsguide that the company, which has been regaining ground after years of financial losses, had considered stalling the launch because of the worldwide economic crisis."Sure we looked at it (delaying the launch) but decided to go ahead and introduce this new model. The global situation had a very serious impact on our markets but, with careful planning, we finished the year in the black. It was the right decision; the GranCabrio adds a third model alongside the Quattroporte and the GT to round out our lineup," he says.While it may seem an easy task to create the GranCabrio by simply chopping the roof off the Turismo, Farao says the task was not that simple. "We had to do a lot of work to strengthen the car because the cabin is so long," he says. "We did a lot of strengthening around the sills and under the car and we kept the weight difference (over the coupe) down to less than 100kg, which if you look at our rivals is a remarkable achievement."Defying modern trends, Maserati opted for a three-layered fabric roof instead of a folding metal lid, although the mechanism itself is very similar to that used by Ferrari in its California. The decision Farao says was made on tradition, style and practicalities. The soft roof allows for proper four seats and luggage space, albeit it's limited. Opening and closing the top can be done on the move up to 30km/h, taking 20 seconds plus another eight seconds to open or close the windows.The GranCabrio shares all of the underpinnings of the coupe, including the 4.7-litre V8 (323kW/490Nm) from the GT-S version and the six-speed ZF transmission from base model GT. It misses out on Maserati's lightening quick electro-actuated semi-automatic gearbox which can make gear changes in just 100 milliseconds. It's a safe bet however the high performance gearbox will feature in an S version of the cabrio which is believed to be under development and due in a year's time.And like the Turismo there is a downside: the V8 engine is thirsty at 23.9l/100km in the city and averaging 15.4l/100km (combined cycle) for a mix of urban and highway running. Nor is it clean and green, producing 358g of CO2 per kilometre. It's an area Maserati says is working on to improve for the next generation of cars, expected after 2012.While the lighter coupe is quicker over the standing 100km/h dash at 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 295km/h, the cabrio shouldn't belittled. It's only marginally slower, at 5.3 seconds to 100km/h, and tops out at 283km/h with the roof closed and 274km/h with it open.At 2942mm, the new Maserati has one of the longest wheelbases on the market and uses the space to provide a luxurious Italian leather-bound. But it's not all good news. While Maserati says you can get two sets of golf clubs in the boot, the luggage space is compromised by the folding rag top. The same top severely reduces visibility to the rear quarter and rear headroom is going to be tight for anyone over 6ft.The cabrio's sensuous styling with its sleek profile is all thanks to Pininfarina, while Maserati also worked with Bose to design the audio system, tailored for open air driving.This cabrio also comes packed with safety features including multiple airbags, traction and stability control, the latest generation of anti-lock brakes with brake assist and a patented rollover protection system the hoops are electronically fired in less than 190 milliseconds. There's also an elaborate alarm system designed to deter thieves from pinching items from the cabin if the roof is down.Who would be mad enough to launch a cabriolet in winter. The Italians, who want their new model ready for summer, that's who.  To set the picture: The first snowstorm in 25 years blankets Rome as it spreads across Europe. Blocked roads, cancelled flights, stranded passengers sleeping at airports, chaos on the cobblestoned streets, Romans building miniature snowmen on the backs of their scooters. It's beak and freezing and we can't drive the car.The Maserati team take it on the chin. "Hey, we have built a beautiful car for summer," one quipped. And they have.  The following day it takes me exactly 11 seconds to make my mind up about that. That's the time it takes to circle the boulevard cruiser. That's twice as long as it takes for the cabrio to hit 100km/h from a standing start.Hey, this is supposed to be a cruiser not a bruiser, but a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds for a car which weighs in just under two tonnes says Maserati means business. This is no show pony and the ride and handling show Maserati's development work in producing a car which soaks up the bumps but also allows flat cornering has worked a treat.Despite its stunning looks, there is no hiding the fact the GranCabrio is a big lump of a car. This is a high flying four seater first class lounge on wheels. But any cabrio is always going to be a compromise. Removing the roof creates enormous engineering problems to maintain rigidity, while storage of the folding room is going to rob luggage space. But Maserati has done a good job here.The rear pews are tight but comfortable and there is some boot space which is a bonus and there's little in the way of buffeting indeed the cabrio is so well protected the optional wind blocker is not needed..  The GranCabrio is two cars in one. Left in its normal settings it is a very capable cruiser. Push the sport button next to the steering wheel and it's a whole new ball game.Sport means the suspension becomes stiffer, the gear changes are quicker and, beyond 3000rpm, the V8 get a much deeper and louder note thanks to a small gate being opened in the exhaust which allows a free flow of gases, partly bypassing the muffler.  The engine note is nothing short of breathtaking.Deep, sonorous, sexy and mind-blowing with the roof down.  Like it. No. I'm in love with it.