Maserati has just unveiled the 2011 Gran Cabrio Sport at the Geneva Motor Show, and it looks better in the flesh than even re-touched press photos could have promised. Maserati is aiming the Gran Cabrio Sport squarely at giving its droptop GT a little more performance cred.
The blacked-out tailpipes and wheels draw attention to the idea that this thing is meant for more than just posing. Inside, Maserati hammer home the car's purpose even harder, with carbon fiber dashboard trim and shifter paddles. All those touches do a good job making this car look fast, but Maserati made sure the car goes as well as it looks.
To that end, they upgraded the standard car's six-speed paddle-shifted transmission for even quicker gear changes. The ZF-sourced gearbox gets spun by a 450-horsepower version of Maserati's top-dog 4.7-liter V8. Maserati has also firmed up the car's Skyhood active suspension and thrown in bigger brakes to keep everything from going awry. Full press release after the jump.
Live photos copyright ©2011 Noah Joseph / AOL
[Source: Maserati]
WORLDWIDE PREVIEW AT THE GENEVA AUTO SHOW FOR THE MASERATI GRANCABRIO SPORT
The new Maserati that will debut at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show will offer more driving enjoyment thanks to an improved overall vehicle dynamics, more horse power, a more responsive and efficient engine and optimised gearshift response.
Modena, February 21, 2011. After stunning the world with the GranCabrio at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati will use the 2011 Geneva Motor Show to take its grand-touring convertible to a new level of performance and handling with the GranCabrio Sport.
Conceived to give the GranCabrio a harder-edged model to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the GranCabrio Sport uses a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati's, all-alloy 4.7-litre V8, coupled with the ZF six-speed automatic transmission.
This naturally aspirated engine produces in this configuration 331 kW (450 horsepower) and has 510 Nm at the peak of its rich, thick torque curve. Maserati's Friction Reduction Program has made the GranCabrio Sport's engine more reactive to the driver's most-nuanced inputs, while reaching a 6% reduction in fuel consumption. The top speed of the GranCabrio Sport is 285 km/h.
This six-speed transmission is equipped with the super-fast MC Auto Shift software and has been developed for the GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The MC Auto Shift provides optimised gearshift response resulting in an even-greater engagement.
The handling has received attention, too, with an upgrade and revision of the Skyhook active-suspension system – now with a sportier tuning – and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.
Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is characterised by a more-pronounced dynamic look. This look begins at the GranCabrio's distinctive nose with a black grille and a Trident with red accents. The headlights now have a black look with white sidemarks, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale inspired by the red Italian national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis – in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F.
The GranCabrio Sport will be on sale in all of Maserati's 62 markets starting from summer 2011.
The new Maserati that will debut at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show will offer more driving enjoyment thanks to an improved overall vehicle dynamics, more horse power, a more responsive and efficient engine and optimised gearshift response.
Modena, February 21, 2011. After stunning the world with the GranCabrio at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati will use the 2011 Geneva Motor Show to take its grand-touring convertible to a new level of performance and handling with the GranCabrio Sport.
Conceived to give the GranCabrio a harder-edged model to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the GranCabrio Sport uses a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati's, all-alloy 4.7-litre V8, coupled with the ZF six-speed automatic transmission.
This naturally aspirated engine produces in this configuration 331 kW (450 horsepower) and has 510 Nm at the peak of its rich, thick torque curve. Maserati's Friction Reduction Program has made the GranCabrio Sport's engine more reactive to the driver's most-nuanced inputs, while reaching a 6% reduction in fuel consumption. The top speed of the GranCabrio Sport is 285 km/h.
This six-speed transmission is equipped with the super-fast MC Auto Shift software and has been developed for the GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The MC Auto Shift provides optimised gearshift response resulting in an even-greater engagement.
The handling has received attention, too, with an upgrade and revision of the Skyhook active-suspension system – now with a sportier tuning – and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.
Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is characterised by a more-pronounced dynamic look. This look begins at the GranCabrio's distinctive nose with a black grille and a Trident with red accents. The headlights now have a black look with white sidemarks, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale inspired by the red Italian national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis – in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F.
The GranCabrio Sport will be on sale in all of Maserati's 62 markets starting from summer 2011.
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue