Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Maserati GranCabrio drops its top
by Noah Joseph on Sep 15th 2009 at 11:32AM 
Maserati GranCabrio – Click above for high-res image gallery
There are a few things Maserati could do to make the GranTurismo look better than it does, but not many. One option is to surround it with unspeakably beautiful women. Another is to remove the roof. Thankfully, they opted for both here in Frankfurt, where the Trident marque took the wraps off the new GranCabrio.
The girls are a regular fixture for Maserati. But the convertible version of the GranTurismo coupe has been a long time coming. Details and the first batch of photos broke a few weeks ago, and we just got our first up-close-and-personal with what is, believe it or not, the only proper four-seat cabriolet currently on offer from Italy. Check it out in the gallery below and get full skinny in the press release after the jump. You'll thank us in the morning.
PRESS RELEASE:
The new Maserati GranCabrio
The introduction of the GranCabrio – the Trident's third prong – completes Maserati's product line-up that now consists of three different families of models: Quattroporte, GranTurismo, GranCabrio.
The GranCabrio represents the very essence of Maserati in terms of open-top cars. It's a Maserati in the purest sense of the word: from the unmistakable style by Pininfarina to the spacious interior, from the craftsmanship of each detail to the driving pleasure and performance. The Maserati GranCabrio enriches all five senses in a shared open-air experience, without sacrificing comfort and performance. A dream car designed and built for men and women who love to live life in an understated – though sophisticated - manner. Like all the made in Maserati open-top convertibles: special cars aimed at refined connoisseurs.
The GranCabrio is continuing the Maserati tradition in open-top fine automobiles, beginning with the 1950 A6G Frua Spyder, and continuing through a long list of significant and thrilling open air models. However, in adding to this tradition, the GranCabrio opens a new chapter, because never before have four-seater top-down models ever been produced at the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory in Modena. Four proper seats are provided, so that the rear passengers are not merely supporting actors, but co-stars of the journey.
The GranCabrio is powered by a 4.7 liter V8, 323 kW engine and is the convertible with the longest wheelbase on the market (versus its direct competitors). The GranCabrio's roof is strictly canvas-made, emphasizing the link with the Maserati tradition.
The Maserati GranCabrio will be marketed starting next winter, and experienced by customers the world over from the following spring.
Technical specifications
Body
High-strength steel bearing monocoque with box-section panels and structure constructed in sheet galvanized, two-door cabriolet, four seats, longitudinal centre-front engine (between the two axles), rear wheel drive.
Cx 0.35 with car closed and 0.39 with car open.
Monocoque
Multi-material bearing monocoque, passive safety performance conforming to "worldwide" regulations, integration of various design technologies for weight/performance optimization: steel structural part, aluminum bonnet and bumper front reinforcement cross member, boot lid in thermosetting composite material.
Frame
Derived from the Quattroporte structure, with reduced wheelbase and rear overhang, designed to satisfy the most stringent American crash standards (FMVSS208, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard), front structure compliant with ACEA1 "pedestrian impact" standards.
Constructed in high-strength steel boxed sections; it integrates a tubular structure in the rear part to support suspensions and differential; front serves to support the suspensions and engine.
Aluminum sub-floor structural reinforcements.
Suspension
Standard Skyhook system.
Front: quadrilateral with forged aluminum hub carriers and struts, basic aluminum gas dampers with continuous damping variation and acceleration sensors on each wheel (Skyhook), coaxial helical springs.
Rear: with quadrilaterals with forged aluminum hub carriers and struts, additional radius bar for toe-in control; basic aluminum dampers with continuous damping variation and acceleration sensors on each wheel (Skyhook).
Front and rear suspension fitted with hollow bars that reduce roll and mass, and increase driving comfort.
Steering
Hydraulic steering box with tacho-sensitive servo assistance with on road steering ratio 64 mm/rev.
Steering diameter (from pavement to pavement): 10.7 m.
Transmission
Architecture with front transmission in unit with the engine, drive shaft, rear differential. 6-speed hydraulic torque converter gearbox (ZF 6HP26).
Transmission gear ratios: 1st gear 4,171; 2nd gear 2,340; 3rd gear 1,521; 4th gear 1,143; 5th gear 0,867; 6th gear 0,691; R 3,403.
Asymmetric limited slip differential (25% in traction, 45% in release) with bevel drive with final ratio 3.73 (15/56).
Steel drive shaft, 69 mm diameter, articulated in two pieces with three constant-velocity joints, and supported at the centre with a bearing which is integral with a support cross member tightened to the chassis, with an interposed rubber ring.
Traction control and Maserati Stability Program (MSP) incorporating the traction control (ASR), release torque (MSR), anti-lock braking (ABS), and electronic brake distribution (EBD) systems.
Engine
8 cylinders in 90 degree V, total displacement 4,691 cm3. Crankcase and cylinder heads in hardened and tempered aluminum alloy, crankshaft in hardened and tempered steel, balanced individually on 5 main bearings.
The timing system features double chain-driven overhead camshaft per bank; four valves per cylinder driven by hydraulic cups.
Continuous phase variator on intake camshafts.
Increased-diameter Nikasil-coated thin steel cylinder liners.
Wet sump lubrication, oil sump integral with crankcase, single oil bath pump.
Bosch integrated ignition and injection systems, and drive-by-wire accelerator.
Displacement: 4,691 cm3
Bore: 94 mm
Stroke: 84.5 mm
Compression ratio: 11.25:1
Maximum power output: 323 kW (440 CV)
Engine speed at maximum power output: 7,000 rpm
Peak torque: 490 Nm (50 kgm)
Engine speed at peak torque: 4,750 rpm
Maximum engine speed: 7,200 rpm
Dimensions and weight
Length: 4,881 mm
Width (without mirrors): 1,915 mm
Width (with mirrors): 2,056 mm
Height: 1,353 mm
Wheelbase: 2,942 mm
Front track: 1,586 mm
Rear track: 1,590 mm
Front overhang: 873 mm
Rear overhang: 1,066 mm
Trunk capacity: 173 l
Fuel tank capacity: 75 l
Dry weight (UE version): 1,887 kg
Kerb weight (UE version): 1,980 kg
Weight distribution: 49% front; 51% rear with car closed;
48% front; 52% rear with car open
Performance
Top speed: 283 km/h with car closed
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 5,4 s
Pick-up 80 -120 km/h: 4.2 s
Stopping distance from 100 Km/h – 0: 35 m
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Visnick 11:36AM (9/15/2009)
Oh my god, this is the best car of a very good week!
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geo.stewart 2:33PM (9/15/2009)
brunette gets vote for best booth babe so far
Clippy 11:40AM (9/15/2009)
Stunning as always, Maserati knows their game. No german can ever come even close to italians when it comes to design.
*drool*
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zamafir 11:43AM (9/15/2009)
how does your narrow certificate of origin play in the real world where Germans own Italian brands?
Clippy 11:48AM (9/15/2009)
Owning a brand does not necessarily mean that owner is doing the designer work as well. Italians create wonderful looks, germans just make sure it doesn't fall apart. It was already bad enough when VAG stuck their stupid boring interior into Gallardo, but as long as it keeps working, it can be forgiven. Just don't let them have any major word on exterior styling.
Serge 11:52AM (9/15/2009)
@zamafir
That doesn't mean the Germans make better cars... It's really hard to stay afloat when your "entry-level" car is close to $200,000, especially in today's market.
The only reason Audi has anything closely resembling a good sports car is because of Lamborghini... without them, all Audi makes is FWD based overweight slabs of aluminum with 60% weight over the front axle.
But going back to design... nobody makes a car quite like the Italians. Although the British have a few tricks up their sleeves as well :)
zamafir 11:58AM (9/15/2009)
@Clippy - well put.
Colin Smith 12:17PM (9/15/2009)
Germans own Italian brands?
Maserati is part of the Fiat group, which is still Italian, unless I have been asleep for a decade and just woken up.
Clippy 12:26PM (9/15/2009)
Zamafir was referring to Lamborghini vs Audi relationship, not Maserati.
zamafir 11:42AM (9/15/2009)
I don't care how flexy bendy it is in the turns, that car is the hottest four seat cabrio on the market. stunning!
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Franz 11:43AM (9/15/2009)
I've never in my adult life had the desire to own a convertible... until now.
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Berto 11:46AM (9/15/2009)
Now THAT is a beautiful convertible. Nice.
Audi, take note on how to make a gorgeous looking car into a beautiful convertible.
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BoxerFanatic 11:48AM (9/15/2009)
Well, that is one way to fix the coupe's odd roof thickness variation.
Now, about the beak on the front...
It looks pretty good, but this Maser hasn't really tripped my aesthetic trigger. Alfa 8C is much, much better looking, as is Aston Martin DB9/Vantage.
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Serge 11:56AM (9/15/2009)
I don't mean to be an mean... however, it always amuses me when you talk about car design... seriously, have you looked at what's in your driveway? I don't know why it's there, but I hope it's not for it's looks.
Alex 12:36PM (9/15/2009)
@ Serge:
Own a Subaru. You'll forgive all its less than lovable styling elements.
k.w.a 11:54AM (9/15/2009)
i shudder to think that somebody, somewhere, is going to give this to his 16 year old daughter
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Mike 12:09PM (9/15/2009)
GranTurismo - Hardtop please
Car models - Topless please
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Alex 12:38PM (9/15/2009)
That chick next to the car is seriously making my pants fit funny. Generally I don't even notice the models.
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Venom 1:10PM (9/15/2009)
Mmm very nice, very sexy.
The car is gorgeous too:)
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hoov23 2:24PM (9/15/2009)
Meh. I'm just not a fan of Maserati's cars. This car is big and bloated, and they all have cheap interiors with textures that peel off and buttons that stick and break. And they're depreciation nightmares in a world of depreciation nightmares. Best bet IMHO - suck it up and get a DB9, or spend less on a used one.
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