All-new 550hp Maserati GranCabrio announced

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

By Matt Bird / Thursday, 29 February 2024 / Loading comments

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.