Friday 21st February 2025

New entry-level 490hp GranCabrio just the ticket

Want a V6-powered, open-top Maserati convertible without the Trofeo bells and whistles? Right this way...

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You’d be forgiven for not recalling that we drove the latest version of the Maserati GranCabrio in December (always a great month for testing open-top cars in the UK), wherein Matt Bird bemoaned the fact that you couldn’t buy the convertible in a more affordable equivalent of the coupe’s Modena trim. Well, we have to assume the powers-that-be were hanging off his every word, because lo and behold the manufacturer has today announced the introduction of a 490hp derivative of the GranCabrio that will sit neatly under the more powerful Trofeo and battery-powered Folgore. Huzzah. 

Maserati says this new model, which premiered at The I.C.E event in St. Moritz (think Goodwood but with snow), completes the GranCabrio lineup, which it considers the most ‘comprehensive’ it has ever offered to customers. And on the basis that you now get a choice of outputs from the Nettuno 3.0-litre V6, and the option of a fully electric 760hp derivative, it’s hard to quibble much with that statement. It’s easy to imagine Maserati buyers embracing the lower cost option, too - not least because the 550hp Trofeo starts at £169,585 in the UK. 

No word yet on how much the new derivative will cost (or what it will actually be called - the press release refers to it as the 490-CV GranCabrio which doesn’t seem nearly as evocative as Modena) but rest assured you’re getting much the same experience. Maserati hasn’t gone into granular detail about the spec, but the latest model’s fundamental components - the V6, standard all-wheel drive, fancy air suspension - all migrate to the entry-level option, and it’ll still hit 186mph and make it through the 62mph tape in 4 seconds flat. So it ought to be plenty swift enough for most GranCabrio owners. 

It’ll look much the same, too - which is to say very nice. Maserati says it has ‘revamped and extended’ the available colour palette to reflect customer demand, hence the previously unseen Verde Giada the show car is presented in. Elsewhere you get black brake callipers, split 20-/21-inch alloys, a full grain leather interior, 3D carbon fibre finishes and adaptive LED headlights - although quite what the trim level will look like in the UK obviously remains to be seen. There’s also said to be the option of a new sports exhaust from next month, for ‘purer and more adrenaline-fuelled sounds’. What more excuse do you need to visit the local Maserati showroom? Delivery-mile GranTurismo Trofeo? Done. 

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• 2025 Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo | UK Review
• 2023 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo | PH Review

[Justin-ow582]

I quite often fiddle around with the HVAC and heated seat controls when I have the roof down in my (non-Maserati) convertible, especially in the spring and autumn. Fortunately mine has the more traditional 3-knob configuration for the heaters and a push button with clear LEDs for the seat.

I wonder how visible that upward facing HVAC touch screen is in the Mazzer, especially with the roof down.

[Mark_Blanchard]

Stellantis aren't selling enough, so they're doing a base model. Hope the price is more reasonable.

[Mercutio]

I really hope there are enough people with seriously big wallets, who like beautiful design, and want to buy their cars from new, that means this thing sells.

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiring.

I'm interested in the number of new money types or seriously rich people for whom a car like this is an emotional choice on a whim.

Are there enough of these people to keep this brand alive?

[btdk5]

Mercutio said:

I really hope there are enough people with seriously big wallets, who like beautiful design, and want to buy their cars from new, that means this thing sells.

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiring.

I'm interested in the number of new money types or seriously rich people for whom a car like this is an emotional choice on a whim.

Are there enough of these people to keep this brand alive?

There would be if they kept that V8…

[SpadeBrigade]

Their whole lineup is so expensive, I’m amazed they are still going!

The car is handsome enough but it just doesn’t seem to reflect the RRP at all.

Of course, obligatory shout out to that terrible centre console/interface. Nasty.

[theplayingmantis]

The 90's called and want their car back. the grecale front end is strong here and its so disappointingly nondescript to ugly, but not ugly in a big f off statement way, just miserably disappointingly so

i find the visuals challenging but then i do on all current massers design cues bar the mc20

[Andy83n]

Mercutio said:

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiresome

Perhaps if they didn't depreciate so poorly then more people would consider buying them?

I couldn't see this as anymore than a £85-95k car brand new or £65-70k under two years old

[The Pistonsdead]

Let's hope for the sake of Maserati that it does sell at a "fair" price...

[fantheman80]

It’s the oldest looking new car

[db10]

Mercutio said:

I really hope there are enough people with seriously big wallets, who like beautiful design, and want to buy their cars from new, that means this thing sells.

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiring.

I'm interested in the number of new money types or seriously rich people for whom a car like this is an emotional choice on a whim.

Are there enough of these people to keep this brand alive?

I had a brand new grancabrio in 2011 - the build quality was appalling - bits of the interior trim fell of with alarming regularity and the battery would go flat within a few days - i vowed never again to buy a maserati after that.

[BigR]

btdk5 said:

Mercutio said:

I really hope there are enough people with seriously big wallets, who like beautiful design, and want to buy their cars from new, that means this thing sells.

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiring.

I'm interested in the number of new money types or seriously rich people for whom a car like this is an emotional choice on a whim.

Are there enough of these people to keep this brand alive?

There would be if they kept that V8…

But now with an engine far superior in every way, bar not rumbling the old V8. Up there with the depreciation comments that come along with Maserati <yawn>

[BigR]

db10 said:

Mercutio said:

I really hope there are enough people with seriously big wallets, who like beautiful design, and want to buy their cars from new, that means this thing sells.

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiring.

I'm interested in the number of new money types or seriously rich people for whom a car like this is an emotional choice on a whim.

Are there enough of these people to keep this brand alive?

I had a brand new grancabrio in 2011 - the build quality was appalling - bits of the interior trim fell of with alarming regularity and the battery would go flat within a few days - i vowed never again to buy a maserati after that.

Had 3, starting with a 2008. And not a single thing of note ever went wrong. The build quality was perfectly decent - not Bentley levels, but really far better than the 'conventional' naysaying clichés associated with every Maserati thread ever.

[M138]

db10 said:

I had a brand new grancabrio in 2011 - the build quality was appalling - bits of the interior trim fell of with alarming regularity and the battery would go flat within a few days - i vowed never again to buy a maserati after that.

My Maserati faults have been a Bosch throttle potentiometer, VDO oil pressure sensor and a Sachs clutch master cylinder, Maserati should’ve sourced the parts from Italy.

[maxstef]

I have an MC20 Cielo and have covered 7000 miles in 12 mths and it's the only supercar I've owned that makes me want to drive it constantly. Build quality about the same as my Ferraris but so so special. Yes depreciation is a big issue but then you are dead a long time so who cares.......enjoy them while we can. Have driven the new Crancabrio and it's a great drivers car with a hefty price tag to boot but it too feels special.

[sticks090460]

Knock ‘em out at 95k with a 7 year service pack and a decent warranty and they’ll sell bundles.

[GTRene]

I think it looks good, also enough power and I guess turbo so also enough torque for most roads.

although I do not knw its weight, but I guess around 1700 kg? if its less then better.

[MyV10BarksAndBites]

This is very nice and a good move... Hope the U.K appreciate it... Would love a used one lol ....... Just realised no V8.... I take it all back....... Also my cabrios need to be RWD for power drifts out of tight junctions with space!!!

Edited by MyV10BarksAndBites on Saturday 22 February 00:34

[cliffords]

That's a great looking Jaguar XK (XK150) from about 2010.

[JJJ.]

It looks fab, the colour and trim are perfect.

[Terminator X]

btdk5 said:

Mercutio said:

I really hope there are enough people with seriously big wallets, who like beautiful design, and want to buy their cars from new, that means this thing sells.

The number of forum theorist types who just keep saying "depreciation" but will never ever buy this, is tiring.

I'm interested in the number of new money types or seriously rich people for whom a car like this is an emotional choice on a whim.

Are there enough of these people to keep this brand alive?

There would be if they kept that V8…

The V6 is a really good engine.

Also it's the EU Regs that are killing V8s not Maser.

TX.