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Only Maserati still offers a proper four-seat luxury GT sports convertible in the form of this car, the GranCabrio. The second generation model offers a chance choice of a supercar-derived V6 or a full-EV powertrain. Either way, it's very desirable indeed.
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Driving experience
Things have changed a lot for Maserati since the launch of the previous generation version of this car. Back then, the ties with Ferrari were still tight - hence that old model's Maranello-developed V8. For this MK2 GranCabrio, the drivetrain options are very different. The old-school choice is the Trofeo, which uses the Nettuno 3.0-litre bi turbo V6 borrowed from Maserati's MC20 supercar, which puts out 550hp and makes 62mph in 3.6s en route to 196mph. Roof down, toupees will need to be firmly attached. Unlike with the GranTurismo coupe, there's no entry-level 490hp Modena model
The new alternative to combustion power in this car is the all-electric Folgore version, which uses three drive motors collectively putting out 761hp. Courtesy of 1,350Nm of torque, 62mph in this EV variant takes 2.8s en route to 180mph. There's 280 miles of EV range. The Folgore needs less chassis stiffening than the Trofeo because its enormous T-shaped 92.5kWh battery adds to the structural stiffness of the car. Inevitably, this EV model is heavier than its petrol counterpart (though not by as much as you might think - around 100kg). Still, you'll feel that through the corners. All GranCabrio's have 4WD and adaptive air suspension.
Both powertrains feature Maserati's latest 'Vehicle Domain Control Module' (VDCM), which adjusts the level of electronic support provided according to the drive mode selected. The main settings are 'GT', 'Sport' and 'Corsa': on the Folgore, the V6 variant's 'Comfort' setting replaced by 'Max Range'. Maserati's spent ages creating a powertrain sound system that works with these settings. Particularly for the electric version, which delivers a unique soundtrack supposed to be a fusion of electric whirrs coupled with a V8 roar.
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Design and build
Maserati's experience with luxury convertibles goes back to the pre-war days and as you'd want, the GranCabrio is a gorgeous-looking thing, roof up or down. The fabric top retracts or erects in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 32mph. The low-set 'cofango' clamshell bonnet is flanked by smoked chrome headlights and there's a traditional grille, whichever powertrain you select, though the Trofeo has more vents for better breathing.
Inside, this second generation GranCabrio has moved into a very different age. There's a 12.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a pair of screens in the centre of the fascia, the top 12.3-inch one for infotainment and the lower 8.8-inch panel for comfort features. Disappointingly, the old analogue clock that used to decorate the middle of the dash is gone, replaced by a digital display with interchangeable faces. But Maserati still continues with physical buttons to control the automatic gearbox.
Those slightly more spacious rear seats allow space for a couple of adults, but you wouldn't want to be stuck in them for more than short-to-medium-length journey. The provision of such seats explains a near-5-metre body length that's a little longer than the class norm. But it doesn't help with boot capacity, which at a meagre 172-litres is compromised by the hood folding mechanism and a letterbox-shaped aperture. This is much the same as before, which is disappointing because the second generation GranTurismo coupe this cabrio is based on has a much larger 310-litre boot than its predecessor. Go for the GranCabrio Folgore EV and boot capacity falls to just 151-litres, due to space given up to the pair of rear axle motors.
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Market and model
You'll need to allow a budget of around £170,000 for the V6 550hp GranCabrio V6 Trofeo. If you want the GranCabrio Folgore all-electric model, then you're going to need to think in terms of a £185,000 budget.
Either way, you get plenty of equipment for that, with features like sumptuous Italian leather upholstery, a digital rear view mirror and a 360-degree surround view camera system. There's also a glorious Sonus faber 3D sound set-up offering 'an all-round sound experience' with two levels of customisation, featuring up to 19 speakers and 3D sound with a thumping output of up to 1,195-watts.
Drive assist tech includes adaptive cruise control with lane centring and autonomous emergency braking, which also works when reversing. Alexa integration is built into the central 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which also includes the brand's voice-activated 'Maserati Intelligent Assistant' and has over-the-air update capability, plus wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. A configurable head-up display is optional.
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Cost of ownership
With a combustion GranCabrio, you're going to have to pay for your pleasures at the pumps of course. For the V6 Trofeo, you're looking at 26.9-27.1mpg on the combined cycle - good luck with that. And you'll be taxed royally at 236-238g/km of CO2. But all of this is par for the course for a V6 GT luxury Coupe in this segment. And you should cheer up a bit when it comes to considering residuals, which should be very solid indeed given this car's extreme rarity.
Of course, if you really cared about efficiency, then you'd opt for the all-electric Folgore version. The 92.5kWh battery (just 83kWh of which is actually usable) can be charged at speeds of up to 270kW, making the GranCabrio in this form one of the fastest-charging EVs on sale. At an appropriately powerful ultra-fast public charger, up to 62 miles of range can be added in just five minutes thanks to the car's 800-volt electrical architecture.
The GranCabrio Folgore's claimed driving range is up to 280 miles, though for that you'll need to be easy on the throttle and make plenty of use of the car's four brake regeneration settings, accessed via steering wheel paddle-shifters. You'll also need to engage the Folgore's 'Max Range' drive mode, which limits top speed to 80mph, softens throttle response and restricts climate system output. Folgore owners have access to a charging app loaded with a database of over 335,000 charging points around Europe. Sadly, Maserati plans to ditch combustion engines completely by 2030.
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Summary
Many will buy this car simply because it's a Maserati. And because it looks drop-dead gorgeous. The difference though, with this Trident badged-brand in the modern era is that its products also stack up on more sensible grounds. Some will rightly point out that this is a vastly more expensive car than obvious alternatives. But it's also true to say that most actual Maserati buyers wouldn't regard a BMW 8 Series Convertible or even a Mercedes-AMG SL as a 'obvious' rival. These, they would say, are merely cars that you buy if you can't quite afford a GranCabrio.
If you can and want the option of carrying two adult rear seat passengers in something still describable as a 'proper sportscar', then it's hard to think of a better choice, though you'll need to take that tiny boot into account before thinking of too much Grand Touring. In the end, there are, it's true, faster and even more exclusive ways of rewarding yourself for a lifetime's toil than this. But none of the other open-topped luxury sportscars you could choose are as practical for rear passengers and many cost a lot more. So while buying a GranCabrio will always be a Grand gesture, it's also one you could justify to yourself. Not that you should have to. To its owner, this car will be beauty and the best. Which'll be all that matters.
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