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And since the sunroof was meant to be part of the program (and the chassis was properly reinforced to cope with the loss of the roof), Maserati is quite proud that the GranCabrio has only gained 100 kilograms (220 pounds) over the GT (its total curb weight is 1,958 pounds [4,316 lb]). And, indeed, this figure is impressive; Earlier this week, McLaren made a big deal out of the fact that its Artura Spyder weighs just 61 kilograms (134 pounds) more than the coupe version.
Speaking of responsive roofs, Maserati has opted for a fabric roof instead of the more common and rigid retractable one, at least in this snack category. The explanation given (and, for once, seems more truth than marketing) is that a comfortable and practical El takes up less of a roof in the trunk when stowed, and Maserati sought to retain as much cargo capacity as possible as it says, and I can prove it: the GranCabrio is a true four-seater. The smartest one itself is available in four colours (black, navy blue, titanium grey and maroon) and opens in just 14 seconds, while it only takes 16 seconds to close.
Although open-air driving is the reason why they prefer the GranCabrio to the GranTurismo, and the immediate charm (love at first sight) is its stunning beauty, the technological spotlight remains Maserati’s celebrated “Nettuno” twin-turbo engine. V6.
The V6 uses what the company calls Maserati Twin Combustion (MTC) technology, necessarily a Formula 1-like pre-chamber that initiates combustion. As the flames spread, the combustion is transferred from the pre-chamber to the classic cylinder head through a series of specially-sized holes. Drilling. The result, according to Maserati, is faster and more complete combustion, thanks to the two spark plugs in the cylinder and two separate fuel injection systems.
It’s a complicated engine, and in its Trofeo version it develops 521 horsepower. We’ve just tested it on the GranTurismo (stay tuned for this test drive) and there’s a lot of excitement about it. Maserati claims that 0 to 100 kilometers consistent with an hour (62 mph) takes just 3. 6 seconds. We have no reason to doubt that.
As for some performance-related details, there’s a 16-speaker, 1060-watt audio formula on offer (an 815-watt, 13-speaker formula is standard) that will put your eardrums to the test; a home-to-vehicle Alexa assistant that allows you to plot the destination of the navigation formula from the comfort of your home; and Maserati Guard (the company will have to have heard about the federal government’s National Summit on Fighting Auto Theft), which can trip over your car in the event of theft, notify you as soon as there’s a theft, and send other security measures. notifications to your Maserati Connect app.
In the end, it’s no surprise that the GranCabrio so temporarily follows in the footsteps of the GranTurismo, if only for the sole explanation of why Maserati managed to knock down the roof and not compromise the car’s surprisingly good looks one iota. The only mystery at issue is whether the convertible edition will have the same finishes as the hardtop (the 483-horsepower “Modena” edition of the Nettuno and the battery-powered Folgore 751-horsepower) or whether it will be limited to that, its Trofeo edition.
The GranCabrio will be available at North American Maserati dealerships in the summer of 2024, but pricing data is not available lately.
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