The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi was born from the union of two iconic brands of the made in Italy, which share common values such as craftsmanship and tradition.

A masterpiece of technology and craftsmanship, the Maserati GranCabrio Fendi will be introduced at the Frankfurt MotorShow in September 2011.

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi is crafted at the historical Maserati headquarters in Modena, with exclusive materials bespokely created in various colours for this project.

The three-layered body colour named Grigio Fiamma Fendi is a special dark grey with an iridescent golden finish on the surface. The wood trim Pergamena Fendi runs across the width of the dashboard, on the doors and on the top of the gear lever, all in the iconic FENDI yellow, like the brake callipers and the embroidered yellow trident on the headrests.

Adding a stronger yet elegant character to the GranCabrio is FENDI’s unmistakable double F-logo, stitched on the seat, also appearing in the centre of the 20-inch Trident design alloy wheels, and the FENDI logo along the rocker panel.

Cuoio Romano, Fendi’s most precious leather of its Selleria line, has been used for such details as the instrument cluster cover, for the gear lever and for the profiles of the floor mats. It also features in the Limited Edition Travel Set of luggage and accessories.

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi represents a perfect marriage between the art of a handmade product with the ultimate technology and research of its 4.7-litre V8 engine coupled with automatic transmission, which brings out to life a unique roar, music to the ears of car connoisseurs.

Silvia Venturini Fendi’s specially crafted logo seals this collaboration. A silver oval plaque with the engraving of the Maserati trident, Fendi logo and the 5-digit series number (five being an iconic number for Fendi) is located on the dashboard, in front of the passenger seat, and on both sides of the black cloth folding roof.

A special black car cover with a ton-sur-ton double F logo dresses the GranCabrio, hiding this marvellous secret from indiscreet eyes until the very last moment.

International debut for Maserati GranCabrio MC. Designed to complete Maserati’s open-top range, the new Maserati GranCabrio MC blends high performance and sports characteristics derived from racing experience with the style, charm and practicality of Maserati’s four seater convertible.

Inspired and encouraged by the considerable success of the GranTurismo MC Stradale, which was warmly received by customers thanks to a masterly translation and adaptation of racing characteristics for use on the road, the new GranCabrio MC has a highly sporty and aggressive look, while maintaining the strengths and characteristics of a true grand tourer, ideal for long journeys.

The car, 48 millimetres longer than the GranCabrio and GranCabrio Sport, is characterised by a front end which is inspired directly by the MC Stradale, adopting a profile designed to optimise the aerodynamic lift and flow. These differ from those on other versions of the GranCabrio due to the increased car length and other aerodynamic elements at the rear end.

The rear is characterised by the large spoiler, for greater negative lift at high speeds. Inside the spoiler, built into the luggage compartment, is the third brake light. The standard version comes in the same colour as the body and, within the various car customisation packages, it is also available with a carbon finish.

The new GranCabrio Sport consolidates its presence on the convertible car market with completely revamped exteriors and a more powerful engine. The new front bumper, with redesigned profile to enhance aesthetics and functionality, new headlights, a new, even more powerful engine and an upgraded suspension system make the new GranCabrio Sport a point of reference in the convertible car market. It made its debut at the Moscow International Motor Show at the end of August.

Exterior

Already one of the most highly regarded in the world of sports cars, the GranCabrio Sport’s bodywork has undergone a restyling which skilfully harmonises the characteristics of the GranTurismo Sport.
One of the most evident new features of the GranCabrio Sport is the design for the front end with new light clusters. Though they maintain their external form, they now incorporate completely new technological characteristics, including LED Daytime Running Lights technology.

Interior

The steering wheel, with new design, is now more ergonomic and, in combination with the extended Trofeo-design paddles and light aluminium pedals, is better suited to sports driving thanks to a flattened rim and accentuated grip profile.

The new grey EcoChrome materials for the interiors and the Poltrona Frau leather upholstery complete the existing characteristics, such as the steering wheel transmission paddles and the aluminium pedals.

Engine

The GranCabrio Sport, which comes with a modern V8 engine that has already become a classic, adopts the most recent innovations in the field of engineering to deliver greater power and torque.
Both the hardware and software of the engine have been improved significantly, improving its power by 10 HP and torque by 10 Nm, without adversely affecting consumption or emissions.

At 7,000 rpm, the GranCabrio Sport delivers 338 kW (460 HP) with a considerable torque of 520 Nm at 4,750 rpm.

Automatic transmission (MC Auto Shift)

The automatic six-speed ZF transmission with MC Auto Shift is perfectly capable of handling the exceptional performance of the powerful V8 and derives from the transmission of the GranTurismo Sport. The automatic transmission is connected directly to the rear of the engine and transmits the torque to the same limited-slip differential through a two-piece articulated steel crankshaft.

The GranCabrio Sport with MC Auto Shift transmission can reach 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds. Top speed is 285 km/h.

Chassis and suspension

The GranCabrio Sport was designed to combine peerless driving comfort for all occupants with optimum handling at high speeds.

Exceptional performance and road holding, as well as the handling of a great sports car, are qualities of the GranCabrio Sport that few other sports convertibles can boast.

This is thanks to the shock absorbers with Sport Skyhook system, the most recent development of the Maserati damping control system. The Sport Skyhook system constantly adjusts the GranCabrio Sport’s shock absorbers, adapting them to the road conditions. With the aid of a new rear anti-roll bar which is 12% more rigid, the Sport Skyhook system allows the vertical rigidity of the GranCabrio Sport to be increased by 10% in Sport mode.

Inspired and encouraged by the considerable success of the GranTurismo MC Stradale, which was warmly received by customers thanks to a masterly translation and adaptation of racing characteristics for use on the road, the new GranCabrio MC completes the open-top range with a highly sporty and aggressive look, while maintaining the strengths and characteristics of a true grand tourer, ideal for long journeys.

Exterior

The new, sporty look can be seen in each stylistic element of the GranCabrio MC’s bodywork. Inspired directly by the cars of the Maserati Trofeo MC World Series and the GT4 version, the new design perfectly blends sportiness, dynamism, the search for aerodynamic perfection, elegance and style. These stylistic elements already partly characterised the GranTurismo MC Stradale and the GranTurismo Sport, and seamlessly unite form and function.

The car, 48 millimetres longer than the GranCabrio and GranCabrio Sport, is characterised by a front end which is inspired directly by the MC Stradale, adopting a profile designed to optimise the aerodynamic lift and flow. These differ from those on other versions of the GranCabrio due to the increased car length and other aerodynamic elements at the rear end. Thanks to experience gained in racing and above all to specific analysis of fluid dynamics, the new GranCabrio MC has an aerodynamic lift coefficient (measured at 140 km/h) which is 10% lower at the front and 25% lower at the rear compared to the GranCabrio and GranCabrio Sport. The bonnet incorporates two generous air outlets at the centre to optimise cooling of the powerful V8, and two more air outlets to cool down the brake discs have also been added to the two front wings.

Initially introduced on the GranTurismo Sport the new headlights, which adopt LEDs for the daytime running light (DRL) function, complete the new look of the GranCabrio MC. Though they maintain the external shape seen on the other three versions in the GranCabrio range, the new headlights adopt the most modern technology, perfectly enhanced with an extremely sporty look thanks to the matt black colour of the structure.

The bi-xenon unit inside the headlight also incorporates Adaptive Light Control, which follows the movement of the steering by up to 15 degrees. The rear is characterised by the large spoiler, for greater negative lift at high speeds. Inside the spoiler, built into the luggage compartment, is the third brake light. The standard version comes in the same colour as the body and it is also available, within the various car customisation packages, with a carbon finish.

The bumper has been completely redesigned at the bottom to make the new model even sportier and at the same time ensure optimal aerodynamic efficiency. The circular exhausts have been moved to the centre of the bumper and the specific layout of the air ducts, built into the lower part of the bumper, ensure greater streamlining, stabilising the air flow from the underbody.

Finally, the dynamism of the GranCabrio MC is accentuated by the 20" MC Design rims, available in glossy Titanio or matt Grafite, and made using flow-forming technology. In addition to being lighter, they feature the traditional Trident, skilfully worked into the double-spokes.

Interior

The interior of the GranCabrio MC has received a thorough overhaul with particular attention paid to ergonomics.

The new seats, completely redesigned from both an aesthetic and functional point of view and enhanced with high-quality materials, now ensure the optimum balance of comfort and performance, elegance and functionality. The new structure of both the front and rear seats now incorporates the headrest and is enhanced by an upper, central trim, with a design inspired by the car’s front grille. Particularly important, especially with convertible cars, is the attention paid to the rear passengers. For this reason, the frame for the front seats, which is also available in a completely carbon-fibre version, has been completely redesigned to ensure 20 mm more legroom for the rear passengers. Particular attention has been paid to the ergonomic and comfort-related aspects of driving. The seats, with an increased profile to enhance their wrap-around structure and lateral containment, ensure sporty driving while guaranteeing superior comfort, even on very long journeys.

The steering wheel features a new design, with the rim flattened at the top and bottom for greater manoeuvrability, also for sports and high-speed use, without interfering with the driver’s legs. The rear seats have been redesigned according to the same logic: maximum comfort, maximum passenger restraint in sports driving and ample use of quality materials. To complete the new, super-sporty look of the new GranCabrio MC, it incorporates the Trofeo-design steering wheel paddles as standard, with increased dimensions as seen on the GranTurismo Sport, and an aluminium pedal unit.

Engine and performance

As with the most sporty GranTurismo in the range (the GranTurismo Sport), the GranCabrio MC also adopts the new 4.7-litre V8 engine, which delivers 338 kW (460 HP) together with substantial torque of 520 Nm at 4,750 rpm. The pistons, positioned at an angle of 90°, are made of reinforced, hardened aluminium, as is the engine block. The crankshaft, with five-point balancing, is made of high-strength steel. The timing system, with a system of two chains per bank, features dual variable valve timing. The new power unit, in combination with the MC Auto Shift transmission, is now able to propel the GranCabrio MC, in closed soft top configuration, to a top speed of 289 km/h with acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

Automatic transmission (MC Auto Shift)

Like other sports models in the Maserati range, the GranCabrio MC also adopts an automatic six-speed ZF transmission able to transfer all the power of the 460 HP V8 engine to the ground. Calibrated specifically for application on the sportiest version in the GranCabrio range, the MC Auto Shift transmission features five operating modes. It can be used in Auto-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Normal, Manual-Sport and Ice modes.

In Manual mode, gear changes are carried out directly by the driver through the steering wheel paddles, as with a truly manual gearbox. In Manual-Normal mode, the driver can change gear until the threshold value is reached, while in Manual-Sport mode the gear is maintained until the driver next changes gear, even if this may result in over-revving and the intervention of the limiter. On the GranCabrio Sport, Sport mode includes super-fast mode, which derives directly from the GranTurismo Sport and the Quattroporte Sport GT S and permits gear changes that are 50% faster. This mode includes automatic blipping (short burst of acceleration) when downshifting with the Launch Control system, called MC Start Strategy (which operates only with MSP deactivated). Using the MC Start Strategy, the driver holds down the brake pedal, presses the accelerator pedal and then releases the brake pedal when the optimum engine speed is reached (2,300–2,500 rpm).

Chassis and suspension

Performance, safety and comfort were the guidelines that Maserati engineers followed when designing the chassis for the new GranCabrio MC. In light of the experience gained with the GranTurismo MC Stradale, it is fitted with single-rate dampers, to give maximum emphasis to the car’s sporty character, which guarantee greater rigidity in order to ensure optimum road holding in all driving conditions, without detracting from maximum passenger comfort.
Braking, always powerful and safe, is guaranteed by Maserati’s patented Dual Cast system, which includes brake discs with aluminium bell and steel braking surface, 360×32 mm at the front and 330×28 mm at the back.

This system guarantees the best pedal feeling and braking efficiency, which translates to an excellent stopping distance of 100 to 0 km/h over just 35 metres. In addition to the conventional holes to optimise cooling of the discs, they also feature grooves which allow the film of water, which deposits on the discs when driving on wet surfaces, to be eliminated and ensure that the operation of the pad’s friction material is restored in order to ensure maximum power and braking efficiency at all times.

The one-piece aluminium alloy brake calipers, produced by Brembo and available in various colours, are also six-piston at the front and four-piston at the rear. This configuration ensures greater uniformity in braking, a constant clamping force and the sensation of a stable and reliable pedal, reducing brake wear at the same time.

In deference to Maserati tradition, the monocoque chassis is made with different materials to ensure maximum weight reduction and maximum torsional rigidity. The use of high-strength steels for the structural part and the use of aluminium and composite materials for the moving parts, ensure maximum performance in complete conformity with the spirit in which the new GranCabrio MC was conceived.

Forever iconic - and now available as a spyder - Maserati presents GranCabrio, the Brand's latest creation dedicated to driving enthusiasts who demand the greatest levels of comfort and style. GranCabrio is a brand-new and equally elegant open-top version of its coupe twin, the award-winning GranTurismo.

At launch, the Maserati GranCabrio is available in the Trofeo trim level, featuring the 6-cylinder internal combustion Nettuno engine, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo with 542 hp that serves as the unmistakable roaring heart of the highest-performance cars in the Trident range.

On board the GranCabrio, the extraordinary performance of the Nettuno engine - the most powerful ever built for the Maserati GranTurismo - is once again combined with genuine, optimal comfort to travel long distances. It is now enhanced by an open-air driving experience, to make the most of all the beauty of the journey and the unique characteristics of a car that is exceptional from all points of view.

The Trident's new convertible is 100% made in Italy and follows in the footsteps of the GranTurismo, offering a new and captivating version of the grand tourer par excellence, without sacrificing luxury, performance, driving comfort, and sportiness.

The roof is made of fabric, perfect to take up as little space as possible when automatically stored in the trunk space - where it is put away in 14 seconds even when moving at speeds up to 50 km/h. Ample space is also guaranteed for four passengers, as GranCabrio is ideal for traveling with company or alone with the wind in your hair, savouring all the emotions of an outstanding drive and breathing in the most authentic Italian style.

The elegance of the Maserati GranCabrio can be perceived and appreciated even more from the exterior, when the soft top is open and the engine's roar is all-encompassing. The union with the road and landscape is an incomparable experience that can only be offered by the spyder version of a car that has been the protagonist of a success story spanning more than 60 years - the convertible variant of Maserati's first road-going sports car, the 3500 GT, was unveiled at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show.

Maserati's latest addition is a luxury car that in its new convertible guise enhances the stylistic details and fine materials Maserati is known for to further enhance a journey in the name of the most enveloping driving pleasure, in total harmony and fusion with the panorama and the spirit of travel typical of the GranCabrio customer.

The attention to design and the passion for exclusive details do not detract from performance and fun; likewise, technology is a hallmark and a disruptive element, which translates into the best infotainment and driver assistance services, to guarantee safety and entertainment behind the wheel of a car that accepts no compromises. The ideal accomplice for infinite journeys marked by an optimal balance between aesthetic approach and unostentatious functionality.

The "open-air experience" is enhanced by remarkable thermal and acoustic comfort, with the soft top available in five colours that can be operated from the central display via a touch button, for complete control and total autonomy.

For lovers of open-air driving, Maserati has thought of everything; the GranCabrio comes with an innovative neck warmer standard, to heat the driver and passenger's necks at three different levels of intensity.

One of the optional extras is the wind stopper, which can be used with two passengers and folded manually. When the top is open, it reduces the formation of turbulence inside the passenger compartment and makes it possible to enjoy the best of the vehicle's aerodynamics.

Created in parallel with the GranTurismo, the new GranCabrio is the result of the encounter between impeccable efficiency and the natural beauty of a car that over time has remained faithful to its identity: a monarch of style with the classic proportions typical of the Modena-based Brand's cars, while remaining cutting edge as the guardian of best-in-class mechanics and the latest technology. The noble interiors do not betray the distinctive artisanship of the Italian company's products, emphasising the typical "balance of opposites," as well as courageous and constantly contemporary luxury, in the best tradition of the Trident's most iconic cars.

Maserati continues to race towards an electric future, without neglecting its history. Introducing the GranCabrio Folgore, the first full-electric convertible in its segment to hit the market. The Gran Cabrio Folgore, with its top speed of 290 km/h, is also the fastest electric convertible on the road.

Following in the footsteps of the GranTurismo, the open-top variant also offers an electric motor, the Folgore version, which maintains all the brand's typical characteristics by combining luxury with performance, driving comfort with sportiness, refined power with a new electrified elegance and modern technology.

With a fabric roof that does not take up too much space when stored in the boot, GranCabrio was created to share the pleasure of open-air travel with four passengers.

It is an authentic four-seater that makes it possible to travel with family and friends, enjoying the performance and luxury of the car with its fine materials, immersed in a drive that imposes no limits.

GranCabrio lets you share the thrill of a journey in a unique car, a symbol of Italian elegance, combined with the technology that a current Maserati can offer in all its forms.

Even with the top down, GranCabrio guarantees exceptional thermal and acoustic comfort.

An illustrious history of successes

A Maserati convertible immediately puts you in touch with the elegance of the car, not concealed under the roof and behind the windows. An open-top Maserati looks even more elegant and offers full enjoyment of the engine's roar. These cars place the driver in contact with the road and the landscape that surrounds them; they provide the full experience by combining the emotions of driving with those of the world through which we are all travelling.

The first open-top Maseratis date back to the company's origins, when two cars born to race - the 1931 4CS and the 1932 8CM - were adapted for road use. This inaugurated a history of great success, of the Maserati convertibles, long known in the House of the Trident's language as "spyders", with a 'y'. The story began in the 1930s, then continued with the rare A6/G 2000 Spyders bodied by Frua, successors of the first Maserati road car launched by the Maserati brothers before they left the company. Only small numbers were produced at this point, as collector's items.

In the late 1940s, Maserati started visiting international motor shows to unveil its cars, still designed and given form by the great Italian coachbuilders of the time. The story of the Maserati convertible was truly starting to take shape. In 1957, when Juan Manuel Fangio brought the Formula 1 World Championship to the Trident with the legendary 250F, the 3500 GT was presented in Geneva as the first mass-produced road-going sports car. This was also the first Maserati to cross the Atlantic to the US.

Two years later, at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show, the 3500 GT Convertibile was launched, designed by Giovanni Michelotti and built by Vignale around a 3.5-litre engine that could deliver 235 horsepower. A car destined to leave a mark for its style, so much so that the Italian press called it "a work of art in motion". Journalists at the UK's Autocar magazine wrote: "the impeccable deployment of horsepower and brilliant road holding immediately convinced us". It had a steel body, but the doors, bonnet and tailgate were made of light alloy with a slightly angular and geometric grille.

The 1960s marked a historic turning point: Maserati abandoned the acronyms it used for its cars and began to name them after winds. The first of these was the Mistral, for the strong northerly wind that blows over the Mediterranean. Designed by the Frua coachbuilder, the Mistral was unveiled in 1964 in a spyder version, an elegant reinterpretation of the fastback coupé, with an enormous amount of space for luggage. Fitted with a powerful 3.5 or 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine, it offered exhilarating performance with the wind in your hair.

Legend has it that when his people asked him why he insisted on keeping a Maserati Ghibli in his garage, Henry Ford II replied: "It's staying there until you produce just as beautiful a Ford". A car of such great beauty had to have a spyder version, created by the prodigious hand of Giorgetto Giugiaro. One of the most expensive cars of its time, it was equipped with a 4.7-litre V8 engine, or more rarely with a 335-hp 4.9-litre in the Spyder SS version.

In the 1980s, Maserati introduced the turbocharged engine with the 180-hp twin-turbo V6, with a top speed of over 215 km/h. The Biturbo Spyder was developed by Zagato, which transformed it into a two-seater (with two fold-down seats in the rear) by reducing its original wheelbase by 2400 mm. The Biturbo Spyder was launched in 1984 and continued to evolve until 1994, selling more than 3000 cars in a decade.

Under the protective wing of Ferrari at the turn of the millennium, Maserati restarted its production of convertible cars with the Maserati Spyder, a basic name to reconnect to the history of the Mistral and Ghibli, the basis for many important pages written by fans of the genre. The Maserati Spyder - also known as the 4200 GT Spyder - arrived in 2001 and was presented as a sleek and modern car, with a luxurious interior and a powerful 4244-cc V8 engine that could deliver 390 hp and a top speed of 283 km/h. A luxurious car with a great rush of technology, such as the "Cambiocorsa" steering wheel gearbox inspired by Formula 1.

We then come to the 21st century, by which point Maserati still believed in open-top models, launching the GranCabrio in 2009. Designed by Pininfarina, it embodied the essence of Italian style and elegance by offering a powerful V8 engine and cutting-edge technology, a new symbol of Maserati's commitment to combining driving pleasure with uncompromising performance.

And here we are with the present-day GranCabrio, the direct successor to the GranTurismo, a luxury car that then as now continues to turn heads and ruffle hair in the wind. In the Folgore version, it is the first full-electric open-top car in its class. Another step towards the future.

Pillars of GranCabrio

The characteristics of GranCabrio can be summed up in four basic concepts that condense the enormous potential of Maserati's latest product:

• Open-top elegance. Passion for detail, luxurious materials and extraordinary quality to create an unrivalled outdoor experience in a convertible, as the epitome of the Maserati spirit
• Performance. Driving pleasure, a powerful and muscular car on the track as well as on the road, ideal for travelling long distances in company
• Cutting-edge technology. GranCabrio incorporates state-of-the-art technology, from the infotainment system to driver aids, to improve performance, safety and entertainment
• Iconic design. A unique style, designed alongside the coupé version, to interpret the transition from a hard roof to a retractable top in the best possible way

Fabric roof

Maserati GranCabrio stands out for its unparalleled "open-air experience", to enjoy the road as you travel down it. The canvas roof, available in five colours - Nero, Blue Marine, Titan Grey, Greige, Granata - offers an impeccable driving experience when closed in a coupé form, whereas the excellent aerodynamics and great comfort are maintained even when driving it as a convertible.

The canvas soft top can be operated when driving at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). It opens in 14 seconds and closes in 16 seconds. The roof can be opened or closed at any time via a touch button on the central display.

To provide enough space for the folded top in the boot, a cargo space is available, which can also be put away (horizontally in the boot) if you decide to travel with the roof closed, to increase the boot capacity.

The Cabrio menu includes the option to open and close the soft top, either by gesture control or by pressing and holding the button. By swiping and holding a finger to the left, the user can close the soft top, or can swipe and hold right to open it. The movement can be stopped/resumed at any time by lifting the finger from the screen as the roof closes or opens, giving the user complete control of the mechanism.

Neck warmer and wind stopper

Comfort in the passenger compartment, even with the top down, is ensured by the neck warmer, which envelops the driver and passenger by blowing warm air directly from the newly designed seats. As standard on all models, it can be activated via a dedicated button on the comfort display, which can also be used to adjust the intensity of the air to any of the three speeds available.

One of the optional extras is a wind stopper that can be folded up in the boot. When fitted behind the front seats, it prevents the formation of turbulence in the passenger compartment when the top is down.

Naturally, this option is only available when two people are travelling, to optimise the aerodynamics even with the top down.

The wind stopper comes with a protective bag, for easy storage in the boot.

Unique front and eye-catching rear light clusters

As with all new Maserati models, starting with the MC20 halo car, the front of the GranCabrio also features vertical lights, bringing back what has become a new lighting signature for the brand. This stylistic decision gives the car a fresh, sporty look.

Conversely, the front grille includes the iconic 3D Trident logo.

The rear features the taillights launched in the GranTurismo, a mix between the classic boomerang form from many Maserati models in the past and a harpoon. Illuminated by Full LED technology, this shape also gives the GranCabrio an unmistakable, very assertive signature at the rear. GranCabrio offers the driver and their passengers an exclusive welcome, featuring an interior and exterior lighting strategy, triggered based on how far the key is away. The system uses interior and exterior lights to provide a greater sense of welcome and security when the user gets into the vehicle in the dark. The lights turn on as you approach and move away.

The feature also supports locking and unlocking the doors and tailgate, based on how close the key fob is to the vehicle. Customers can choose to unlock the doors when approaching the vehicle (Approach Unlock) and lock the doors when they move away from the vehicle (Walkaway Lock).

'Cofango' bonnet/fender

One of the most distinctive and representative elements of the GranCabrio design is the 'cofango', previously seen in the GranTurismo. This portmanteau term is made up of cofano ('bonnet') and parafango ('fender'), referring to a single component of the car that includes these two parts.

Made by a market leading partner in this technology, the GranCabrio's 'cofango' is the same as the GranTurismo's and has a surface area of over 3 m2, a market leader in terms of dimensions.

Wheels

The tyres have been specifically tested and developed to achieve the best performance in terms of handling and comfort.

The new Maserati GranCabrio Folgore comes with a staggered wheel configuration, larger at the rear (21" 295/30) than at the front (20" 265/35).

The wheel offering consists of six different designs, with four varying finishes for the Folgore version.

In addition, to optimize the maximum achievable range, the Folgore version can be equipped with low rolling resistance tyres. These specific tyres are available in AURA (AERO) and ASTREO (MUGELLO) designs.

The brake callipers come in two different colours for the Trofeo version: black and anodised dark copper.

In addition to these standard colours, the Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme offers four additional colours for the Folgore version's brake callipers: white, blue, yellow and anodised red.

Colours

A typical feature of the Maserati DNA that applies to the new GranCabrio, as it does to the GranTurismo, is inspiration from the Italian territory and the constant quest for beauty to make impactful pigments and innovative applications. The aim is a living surface, in constant interaction between light and matter.

Maserati GranTurismo Folgore is available in six colours: Bianco Astro, Nero Assoluto, Blu Modena, Verde Giada, Grigio Incognito, Grigio Maratea Matte.

In addition to these standard colours, a new range of 27 Folgore shades and the option to customise your car with exclusive materials are available as part of the Collezioni Corse and Futura and the Bespoke personalisations.

Interior

The GranCabrio trim level is bold and sophisticated; it fully embodies the spirit of Maserati by combining traditional Italian artisanship with the use of noble materials that perfectly define the elegance of the design, which can be breathed in throughout the passenger compartment. The result makes GranCabrio extremely luxurious, extolling its soul.

Braking system

The braking system available on the GranCabrio is closely derived from the MC20's: the aim is to offer the best performance and resistance during high-speed driving, combined with comfort in everyday use.

The front and rear fixed callipers are therefore available in aluminium, the monobloc type obtained from casting.

It also has a double-cast rotor with an aluminium bell.

Folgore system - Disc cleaning function

To avoid loss of braking performance due to the use of regenerative braking, the Folgore braking system adopts a self-cleaning function. BSM applies the appropriate amount of hydraulic braking torque, instead of regenerative braking, to provide the braking torque required by the driver and to clean the disc surface.

Maserati Folgore for GranCabrio

GranCabrio Folgore is the first luxury full-electric convertible on the market. Folgore represents Maserati's idea of electric mobility, where performance remains one of the main factors.

The electric motors used in the GranCabrio Folgore are clearly in the Maserati tradition: from racing to the road.

Ideally starting from a Formula E electric motor, the Maserati development team has created a new benchmark for the entire automotive industry.

Thanks to thinner rolled steel components in the rotor and higher-quality magnets, electric motors can be more efficient at reaching maximum power and maintaining it for longer.

The Folgore powertrain has been developed around cutting-edge 800-volt technology, introduced for the first time in the GranTurismo, still state of the art when it comes to performance and charging time.

In terms of components, the GranCabrio Folgore is driven by three motors, one in the front and two in the rear, for a total installed power of over 1200 hp. Specially designed for exclusive use by Maserati, they reach higher levels of power density (9.2 kW/kg) and are driven by silicon carbide (SiC) inverters derived from Formula E.

This solution makes it possible to precisely control the flow of energy to the motors with the concrete advantage of reducing the power loss typical of more traditional inverters.

The two totally decoupled rear motors - with no transmission to interconnect the wheels - make it possible to direct the torque to each individual side, independently of each other. This kind of torque management for each individual wheel is known as torque vectoring.

Torque vectoring adjusts the car's level of rotation ('yaw'), not only when accelerating but also when the pedal is released and when braking. The system acts in a similar way to a sophisticated electronically controlled differential, but in the case of the GranTurismo Folgore, the potential and the level of control are considerably higher.

The specific configuration consisting of two rear electric motors and one in the front offers broader adjustment in terms of torque distribution. Each motor can be controlled independently of the others via the Vehicle Domain Control Module (VDCM). The GranCabrio Folgore can therefore be driven solely in RWD or in AWD.

The battery, produced at the Mirafiori Battery Hub assembly plant in Turin, has a nominal capacity of 92.5 kWh and a discharge capacity of 610 kW, to continuously deliver around 750 hp to the wheels.

The specific set-up and innovative layout of the battery result in the containment of vehicle height to 1353 mm, without compromising its sporty nature. The shape of the battery pack, known as 'T-bone', is another example of the "zero compromise" approach and avoids placing the battery modules under the seats, mainly moving them around the central tunnel and therefore considerably lowering the car's H-point. It also results in lower inertia resistance force, to improve the vehicle's agility: more efficient yaw control (greater efficiency than a platform battery arrangement, distributed throughout the body).

Agility is one of the key factors: the weight of the battery remains in the centre of the car, both vertically and horizontally.

The GranCabrio Folgore sits lower than any other electric car on the market.

Supercharging the motors compared to the battery is another important factor for performance. This offers maximum flexibility in torque distribution up to very high values, unlike other applications on the market, forced to limit the power according to the distribution.

Maserati GranCabrio Folgore can discharge 100% of the available power even with the rear axle alone in Rear-Wheel Drive configuration only, or can discharge up to 400 hp on a single rear wheel.

In addition, the features of the GranCabrio Folgore system provide regen levels of up to 0.65 g, to recover energy during braking and achieve optimal conditions up to the peak charging rate of 400 kW.

Folgore sound

Of course, electrification does not equate to losing the typical characteristics of Maserati's DNA: an extensive study has been conducted on the sound, which remains an iconic factor, including in the GranCabrio Folgore.

The sound experience with the electric motor is the result of innovative engineering work: the natural acoustic dynamics of the electric motors driven by the inverters have been digitally shaped and integrated with the typical sound taken from the Maserati V8 tradition.

All this in-depth analysis has made it possible to integrate know-how of the Maserati sound with the noise the vehicle naturally generates, to produce a unique acoustic experience, closely linked to the car yet innovative at the same time.

It goes without saying that an electric car has no exhaust or intake; the sound tuning function is therefore delegated to sophisticated signal processing software, operated by synthesisers and released into the space by very high-quality speakers on the inside and out.

Drive modes, Folgore version

In its Folgore version with an electric motor, the GranCabrio comes with four different driving modes: MAX RANGE, GT, SPORT, CORSA.

The modes can be selected via the rotary control on the steering wheel, with the suspension settings button in the middle.

MAX RANGE mode, to provide the car with specific settings aimed at efficiency, ensuring maximum range by applying strategies to save energy. It is recommended when the battery falls below 16% and no charging point is immediately available. It throttles the maximum speed to 130 km/h, reduces the response of the accelerator pedal and limits the power of the climate control.

GT mode is the default drive mode when the car is started, and provides a balanced, typically "granturismo" driving experience. It is ideal for everyday driving and guarantees maximum usability, comfort and efficiency without sacrificing characteristically GranCabrio dynamism. In this mode, the exuberant power of Folgore is limited to 80%. The sound is noticeable but moderate.

SPORT mode offers the best dynamic performance, for an exhilarating driving experience on everyday roads. The sound is boosted, the Folgore system runs at maximum performance and the suspension set-up enhances the driving dynamics. The traction control gives greater freedom of control to the driver, who can even decide to disable ESC in conditions where it would be safe to.

CORSA mode offers the driver the most extreme experience, the option of enjoying the true sporty embodiment of the GranCabrio Folgore, and the full performance of its 800-volt powertrain. In typical track use, the car adopts minimum control strategies, giving the driver freedom to test their driving ability. In this mode, the accelerator pedal becomes very direct, and the torque is delivered very quickly from the three motors. Torque vectoring maximises performance when entering, navigating and exiting corners. The suspension damping level increases and the car takes on a ground clearance that maximises vertical downforce. The digital dashboard adapts the Corsa display to highlight the most relevant performance parameters, including monitoring of battery temperature (an important factor for performance) and for torque distribution in relation to the maximum acceleration that can be achieved.

Performance optimisations in Corsa mode

In Corsa mode, additional features - accessed via the drive mode controls on the infotainment system - enable the driver to make further adjustments to levels of torque vectoring and traction control, from optimal performance conditions on a wet surface to settings for extreme drift.

On the other hand, the performance optimiser offers peak performance by applying optimal powertrain management depending on use:

• Max boost: maximises acceleration performance
• Endurance: maximises performance in prolonged use on the track, by guiding the driver in system temperature management

In Sport or Corsa modes, the driver has the option to enable Launch Control - a procedure to obtain maximum possible acceleration with no consistent wheel slip - by pushing the "-" paddle and following the procedure indicated on the digital dashboard.

The level of braking from the motors in regen - which also recovers energy by recharging the high-voltage battery, as well as slowing down the car - can be set to four levels via the paddles, and can be adjusted while driving according to requirements.

On the GranCabrio Folgore, CORSA mode is further enhanced by several specific options designed by the Maserati development team to optimise vehicle dynamics, all fully integrated into the Vehicle Dynamic Control Module (VDCM).

Thanks to the specific Folgore architecture consisting of two rear motors, the driver can adjust the torque distribution logic to achieve the desired level of agility from the vehicle. In addition, the traction control can be adjusted separately.

The options available are as follows:

• Three levels of traction control
• Three levels of torque vectoring

The "performance optimiser" section also offers two powertrain-specific mappings that can provide up to 10% more power.

Digital cockpit

The interior of the GranCabrio is a perfect mix of luxury and technology, and includes a dual touchscreen.

12.3" central display and 8.8" Comfort display, both ergonomically positioned to facilitate access to the controls and to avoid any hindrance to the legs.

The digital climate controls are simply placed and are the quickest to reach in the car's class. The quick gesture controls, previously tried out in the GranTurismo, let you control the temperature and fan speed instantly, without taking your eyes off the road.

Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Baidu CarLife integrate your smartphone experience in seconds. Users can connect up to two phones.

12.2" digital dashboard. It remains a benchmark in terms of intuitiveness, ease of configuration and irresistible graphics. The attention to detail is unparalleled in its segment, demonstrated by the elegance and refinement of the graphics and the shape of the screen, which wraps around the steering wheel to maximise the visibility of the information. The customisation options consist of four different layouts: Classic, Evolved, Relaxed and Corsa (the latter is automatically enabled in CORSA drive mode). Embellished with elegant graphics, the numerous, useful widgets enrich the configuration of the digital dashboard.

Reconfigurable heads-up display. A rare feature in the segment, the heads-up display minimises driver distractions by projecting key information such as speed, maps and directions directly onto the windscreen.

Maserati Digital Clock. The best-loved in-car clock ever. An icon of the past transported into the future, revisited with modernity and functionality in mind. Reconfigurable in terms of various features: three skins (Classic, Design and Sport), four dynamic animations (compass, G-force meter, accelerator and stopwatch) and contextual pop-ups (smartphone connection via Bluetooth, start of wireless phone charging and EV charging-related features for the Folgore). Users can also interact with the Digital Clock via the voice command "Hey Maserati", to operate the voice assistant and quickly control the aircon, media, navigation and phone calls.

Multi-coloured ambient light. The ambient light is a perfect combination of luxury and comfort, included as standard. The GranCabrio's ambient light was created to highlight the infotainment profile, the upper part of the dashboard, the passenger and driver mats, and the front glove box where the wireless charger is located. The ambient light is available in three different colours: white, with three different adjustable levels of intensity; red, when the driver selects the SPORT drive mode; yellow, when the driver selects the CORSA drive mode. All the settings can be changed via the Comfort display, including brightness level selection.