Maserati debuts GranCabrio Sport at Geneva Motor Show

After debuting the GranCabrio at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati is using the 2011 Geneva Motor Show to introduce 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.

This configuration of the naturally aspirated engine produces 450 horsepower a  GranCabrio Sport is 178 mph and completes standar the 0-60 mph test in 5.2 seconds.

The six-speed automatic transmission includes 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.

Like in the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the MC Auto Shift gives the driver even-greater engagement by further improving gearshift response, and introducing a digital in-dash display to indicate the ideal gear-shift timing.

Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is characterized by a more-pronounced look. It begins with 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 colored. The  look is finished with redesigned 20-inch Trident-like Astro-design wheels and two black oval exhaust tips.

The look is carried over inside the open-topped cabin with a new seat design and driver-focused contents such as longer Trofeo-design gear-shift paddles and drilled aluminium pedals.

The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body color for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale, inspired by the red national colors used on 1950s racing Maseratis – in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F.

Inside the cabin, two new leather colours are available for the new M-design seats: Bianco Pregiato, a brilliant ivory shade; and Grigio Chrono, a sporty, dark tone of grey.

The GranCabrio Sport will be on sale in all of Maserati’s 62 markets starting from the Summer 2011.