Elegant and aggressive, the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is the most popular offering the maker has ever brought to the U.S.
During the winter-that-never-ends it doesn’t take much to lure a sun-deprived Detroiter to Florida – especially if someone is waiting there with the keys to a new Maserati GranTurismo Convertible.
Few brands have so much drawing power – or deliver such visual stopping power. And the new GT cabriolet is a worthy addition to Maserati’s long-running line-up.
The look is precisely what you’d expect out of Modena, sinfully curvaceous, with an oversized trident logo set in the 4-seater’s toothy grille. There’s a trend, these days, towards overstyling, with designers apparently being paid for every line and crease they can find room for. Not so the GranTurismo Convertible. It is the automotive equivalent of a Mozart aria, where the loss of a single note – or line – would be deeply missed.
Appearances can be misleading, however. An initial glance is likely to under-estimate the bulk of this beauty. The GT is actually the largest vehicle in its class, even bigger than such competitors as the BMW 6-Series and the Bentley Continental GT.
The advantage is obvious compared to the cramped confines of older Maserati convertibles. The new GT actually does seat four passengers in reasonable, wind-blown comfort. The power seats readily slide forward to provide access to the back seats with only a modicum of gymnastics.
The multi-layer top was designed to maintain the good looks of the GranTurismo coupe. There’s none of that “hungry horse” look that many convertibles suffer from, their canvas sagging between roof supports. The power top, meanwhile, takes just one press of the button – and about 20 seconds – to operate.
At 440 hp, not the most powerful car in its class, but the GT cabrio's sensuous exhaust note more than makes up for it.
Top down, visibility is, as you’d expect, magnificent. If we have a complaint it’s the way the massive A-pillars obstruct your view, especially with the top up, when it’s more difficult to instinctively look around.
Our test car came in pearlescent white with a contrasting lipstick red interior that featured contrast stitching and “drilled” leather seats. It was as elegant a piece of Italian design as you might hope to find on any fashion runway.
Maserati has traditionally gone its own route – which hasn’t always worked to its advantage – and nowhere is that more obvious than in the cabin. The elegant IP and center console are covered with buttons, knobs and gauges. The Italian maker, a Fiat subsidiary, decided to avoid the central, one-knob-does-it-all approach of its competitors – BMW’s iDrive immediately coming to mind. There’s a bit of clutter, but not as much as you might expect, and once you become familiar with the layout basic operations are a one-touch, rather than three- or four-step process.
If the GranTurismo Convertible’s looks can best be described as sinfully sensual, that readily applies to its road manners, as well.
No, at “just” 440 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque, the GT is not by any means the most powerful car in its class, nor the quickest. But unless you’re a numbers freak, determined to measure every burn-out, it will hardly matter. It’s quick – and there’s a beauty you’ll find few other places in the raw and lusciously menacing exhaust note that rewards you when you press the pedal to the floor, especially when the engine hits about 5,000 RPMs and a special exhaust bypass opens. From the moment power comes on, all the way to redline, acceleration is smooth and linear.
The top folds away in just 20 seconds.
And handling matches. Despite its size and the lack of a roof, this is perhaps the most solid and shake-free cabrio we have experienced in this segment. Yet the extra bracing required for the drop-top doesn’t noticeably add to the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible’s perceived heft.
For those who want to maximize the performance feel, simply tap the Sport button on the dash and the GT gets down to business. The suspension stiffens, throttle mapping becomes more aggressive, and the exhaust bypass pops open at just 3,000 revs.
The new GT will soon by joined by an even more aggressive Sport model which should help address the concerns of those who just have to have more power. But for the rest of us – well, for the rest of those with the large bank account seldom belonging to mere auto scribes – the Maserati GrandTurismo Convertible is more than enough.
The “base” car will set you back $136,800, though when you add in taxes, the gas guzzler fee, destination charges and so on, expect to nudge $140,000. Our test car’s sticker was $146,825 with a handful of options added in.
Nonetheless, Maserati sales have soared to record levels since the GranTurismo Convertible’s launch, good news for a brand that has struggled for most of its history.
The GT is as much fun as you’d anticipate and, with its roomy back seat and surprisingly spacious trunk, it’s a much more flexible, functional vehicle than the typical luxury convertible. No wonder buyers are lining up to place their orders.