Raising the Roof

Maserati enhances its wickedly hot GranTurismo Coupe by doing something provocative—letting it go topless.
-By Bill Heald

When you think about fine Italian performance machines, I’ll wager your thoughts tend toward Ferraris and Lamborghinis. As amazing as these automotive wet dreams are, there is another manufacturer from this stylish country that is often more subtle in street presence, but in many ways more desirable because of its exclusivity.

The Maserati legacy started when the Maserati brothers got seriously into building and racing those newfangled “automobiles” in the early 1900s. Over the years the company gained a reputation for engineering innovation, and its exclusive, mostly hand-built jewels have competed with Ferrari and Lamborghini on both the track and the street (in the latter case by attracting more discerning, upscale drivers).

Maserati also gained favor by injecting a bit of day-to-day practicality into its cars, so they could be enjoyed in the real world. There have been numerous ups and downs in the marque’s storied history, and it left the North American market in 1990 only to return in 2002, and has enjoyed renewed success. Now that it’s owned by Fiat, Maserati is on terra firma, and doing delicious things to its GranTurismo Coupe. Since its origination, this hardtop has been a lesson in elegant hotness, and considering its capabilities, the styling is almost understated. The high performance S version pushes the envelope further, with more muscle and even more chassis finesse than the standard edition.

How do you make such a beautiful machine even more desirable? You make it topless, of course. The GranTurismo convertible (or, as it’s called in Europe, the GranCabrio) is billed by Maserati as “the first ever soft-top convertible to be developed and built at the company’s Modena, Italy, headquarters.” This new addition to the GranTurismo line takes the solid, sophisticated chassis from the Pininfarina-styled hardtop and gives it the open-air treatment (the three-layer insulated soft-top drops electrically in 24 seconds). The chassis gets much of its punch from the S model coupe, including the meticulously crafted 4.7-liter V-8 that summons forth 433 horsepower. The six-speed ZF automatic transmission is as versatile as it gets, with four operating modes (including a manual mode that uses paddle shifters on the steering wheel) and the ability to shift at outrageously high engine rpms.

Even more intriguing is the convertible’s suspension, which is an electronically enhanced system called Skyhook. This special shock tuning witchcraft uses acceleration sensors at all four wheels and the body to detect movement, and uses data on everything from road surface interaction to driver input to regulate suspension settings and transmission output; the Maserati Stability Program delivers optimum ride quality and control. The driver can select a sport mode that alters this NASA-level computer complex for more firmness—and hence, more aggressive driving.

The convertible is unique in that, unlike the other drop-tops in this class, there’s room to comfortably seat four adults. The trunk capacity is the same whether the top is up or down, and you can procure custom designed luggage to properly haul your belongings. Such attention to detail is important, for you want to dress properly when behind the wheel, lest the incredible interior appointments make you look like an unlaundered sock puppet. The Poltrona Frau leather seats and trim are available in ten colors with contrasting stitching and carpeting, and even the soft-top itself comes in six different hues. Whether you opt for the coupe or the convertible, the GranTurismo offers almost limitless color variations inside and out. This car could be the ultimate in four wheeled seduction—it’s handcrafted in the heart of Italy by a company that mixes hardware with driving passion like nobody else on the road.