Thursday 29th February 2024

All-new 550hp Maserati GranCabrio announced

The last Maserati GranCabrio launched in 2010 - will the latest version be worth the wait?

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Those lucky enough to be looking at a very fast, very luxurious, very expensive convertible sports car right now are spoiled for choice. For those really pushing the boat out, there’s the excellent Ferrari Roma Spider. The Bentley Continental GT is as good as it's ever been. The latest AMG SL is undoubtedly alluring once eight cylinders are installed, too, and a Porsche 911 Cabriolet will always take some arguing with. Plus there's the just-round-the-corner prospect of the Aston Martin DB12 Volante.  And now there’s one more to consider: the Maserati GranCabrio, launching in 550hp Trofeo spec. 

The old GC was a much-loved car - how could it not be? Seductive good looks, an operatic V8 and 2+2 practicality saw to that. The gripes everyone identified in the coupe were a lot easier to overlook with nothing but blue sky above your head. This GranCabrio hasn’t deviated too far from the old car’s brief, in that it’s very clearly a traditional drop-top cruiser rather than some pared-back two-seat roadster. The rear chairs look like proper items (a rarity in this kind of car) complete with a SonusFaber speaker to share. Tellingly, the wheelbase is long - the car is long, too - and the roof folds away for a nice, smooth rear deck. There are no unsightly deflectors or such to spoil the silhouette, at least not as standard - the GranCabrio is a convertible for four people to look good in. Just as a Maserati should be. 

Four people should be able to travel pretty fast, too, as the GranCabrio is launching in flagship, 550hp Trofeo spec. There won't be a 490hp Modena version of this car, but the all-electric Folgore will get a Grancabrio variant. For this all-wheel drive V6, Maserati is quoting 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 196mph. Expect the EV to even crazier again.  

The soft top can be dropped in 14 seconds at up to 31mph, which means only a small window of opportunity is going to be required. Five colours will be available for the roof, and neck warmers are standard for the front passengers. Maserati is promising ‘remarkable thermal and acoustic comfort’.

There aren’t any more concrete details for the moment, with a focus more on ‘stylistic details’ and ‘fine materials’, though if ever a car had no need for spiel, it’s a soft-top Maserati GranTurismo. Anyone who likes it on spec will love it without needing to know anything else. Those of us curious about how it compares with its many rivals will have to wait a little longer. And keep looking at the pictures in the meantime. 

The press release reads: ‘Created in parallel with the GranTurismo, the new GranCabrio is the result of the encounter between impeccable efficiency and the natural beauty of a car that over time has remained faithful to its identity: a monarch of style with the classic proportions typical of the Modena-based Brand’s cars, while remaining cutting edge as the guardian of best-in-class mechanics and the latest technology.’ It’s that sort of thing, so any queries about weight or acceleration aren’t going to be answered just yet. But it does have 172 litres of boot space, just FYI, so pack light. Price? Nothing for the UK has yet been announced, although with the GranTurismo currently retailing at £163,470 in the UK and the Folgore at £179,950, we’d expect the GranCabrio somewhere between them. And right in among all the competition for that matter. Expect it to be topless at a beach near you this summer. 

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• Maserati GranTurismo Folgore prototype | PH Review
• 2023 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo | PH Review

[Turini]

Yes please - always like the previous version and this looks rather lovely

[Harry H]

I like that but I'll wait for the first owner to lose £100k + before I start browsing the classifieds.

[GPH]

I was a huge fan of the previous cars' looks and V8 sound so was looking forward to this. I've kept looking, as the article suggests, but as the car and the wheels are very dark coloured it's difficult to see much.

I looked on their website but it has the same one car.

Maseratis' PR and Marketing really is poor.

Where is the iconic blue or metallic red?

It was the same with the extended forever roll out of the MC20 with no Press cars for over 6 months after customer cars like they had no confidence in the product.
Bizarre.

Edited by GPH on Thursday 29th February 10:57

[GPH]

Just checked their website again and opening picture is the new Grecale Sport with this one picture!
Can they not afford the electric for some lighting or use someone who doesn't only like black cars to manage the PR Marketing.

[Robinus]

When I first saw that pic I thought I was looking at a Jaguar F-type.

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

Strange no pictures with the top up, which is how it will most often be seen.

These can sometimes look a bit awkward with the roof raised....

[CountyAFC]

Nice but not (when specced) £200k nice.

[Julian Scott]

Thats lovely, c£170k sounds rich, until you realise the SL63 is that money (and my heart and wallet would go Maserati over that), the Bentley has nudged just over £200k and the Roma Spider is a further £10k further up the pole (before the more magnetic option list).

[Hereandthere]

It will be too expensive and is one reson why the hardtop version is just not selling. At £166K and nearer £200K when specing it up is just too expensive and will lose at least £50K during the first 12 months of ownership

[Nish Gnackers]

Hereandthere said:

It will be too expensive and is one reson why the hardtop version is just not selling. At £166K and nearer £200K when specing it up is just too expensive and will lose at least £50K during the first 12 months of ownership

No worse than a 911 convertible or targa then

[EV8]

Robinus said:

When I first saw that pic I thought I was looking at a Jaguar F-type.

Exactly.

[1974foggy]

Robinus said:

When I first saw that pic I thought I was looking at a Jaguar F-type.

Was about to say the same thing

[cerb4.5lee]

Turini said:

Yes please - always like the previous version and this looks rather lovely

Same, and I'd love to be able to afford something like this to cruise around in with my family.

In saying that...I do generally prefer a 2 seater Roadster to a 4 seater Convertible though.

[Hereandthere]

"No worse than a 911 convertible or targa then"

That might be true about the 911 convertible but Targa's hold their value reasonably well. I bought my 18 reg Targa 4 GTS for £117K from an OPC in 2019 and sold it 2.5 years later for £97K

[Caddyshack]

EV8 said:

Robinus said:

When I first saw that pic I thought I was looking at a Jaguar F-type.

Exactly.

Do these share platforms and also maybe the small Aston?

[Justin-ow582]

Robinus said:

When I first saw that pic I thought I was looking at a Jaguar F-type.

As this looks very similar to the previous Gran Cabrio, and that model was released 3 years before the F Type, it's really the other way round.

[Justin-ow582]

Hereandthere said:

"No worse than a 911 convertible or targa then"

That might be true about the 911 convertible but Targa's hold their value reasonably well. I bought my 18 reg Targa 4 GTS for £117K from an OPC in 2019 and sold it 2.5 years later for £97K

That was a weird period for s/h car prices though, as you know, many went up in value during the post-covid chip shortage years.

[Quickmoose]

Same headlight signature as an Emira....?

pretty thing though, decent option given the competition of ACTUAL 4 seater open tops.

[GreatScott2016]

cerb4.5lee said:

Turini said:

Yes please - always like the previous version and this looks rather lovely

Same, and I'd love to be able to afford something like this to cruise around in with my family.

In saying that...I do generally prefer a 2 seater Roadster to a 4 seater Convertible though.

Your final paragraph is spot on. Something about 4 seater convertibles that I struggle with .... certainly wouldn't want to be perched on the back seats in this.

[stuart100]

cerb4.5lee said:

Turini said:

Yes please - always like the previous version and this looks rather lovely

Same, and I'd love to be able to afford something like this to cruise around in with my family.

In saying that...I do generally prefer a 2 seater Roadster to a 4 seater Convertible though.

I can recommend an E93 M3. Update it with Apple Car Play, change the number plate and if you must add a ESS Supercharger for about £10k for 650 BHP. I think about £30k all-in. Huge saving over this to spend on other things too :