Maserati will formally unveil its first true 4-seat convertible, the 2011 GranCabrio, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Maserati will lift the veil on its first-ever 4-seat convertible during the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, next month, but we’re able to give you a sneak peek at what’s coming with these shots of the 2011 Maserati GranCabrio.

The new model adds, if you will, the third spear on the Maserati trident, an alternative to the two other product lines: the Quattroporte and Gran Turismo. 

The look, which emerges from the Pininfarina studios, is decidedly that of a Maserati, however, starting with the trident badge, on the nose, the signature portholes on the front fenders,  and the sleek curves of the tail, with the GranCabrio’s wraparound taillamps.  What’s unusual is the four-seat design.

Maserati has been building al fresco models since the 1950 A6G Frua Spyder, but until now, the back bench – if there was one – was intended for “supporting actors,” the automaker says, not “co-stars in the journey.” 

The GranCabrio actually has a proper back seat and according to the Italian maker, “the longest wheelbase (of any) convertible on the market.”  While it is withholding specific details for the formal Frankfurt “reveal,” that should mean plenty of room for those in back to stretch out over a long trip.

The 2011 Maserati GranCabrio will share its 4.7-liter V-8 with the Italian maker's GranTurismo S.

Under the hood, the 2011 Maserati GranCabrio will feature a 4.7-liter 433-horsepower V-8, which it will share with the GranTurismo S, mated to a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox. 

If its performance is in line with the rest of the Maserati model mix, we’d expect 0 to 60 times in the mid to high 4 second range, and top speeds in excess of 150 mph.

Look for the 2011 Maserati GranCabrio to begin a worldwide roll-out over the winter, with most U.S. dealers stockpiling the convertible in time for next spring.

Expect to see the 2011 Maserati GranCabio make a worldwide roll-out in time for the coming spring top-down season.