- Free-revving V8 engines sing sweetly
- Usable rear seats
- Seductive styling
- Generally impressive ride/handling balance…
- … but suspension lacks low-speed compliance
- Heavy steering lacks precision
- Steering wheel kickback over bumps
- Awkward appearance with roof up
Overview
Released in July 2010, the Maserati M145 GranCabrio was a four-seat cabriolet with a soft-top roof. Manufactured in Modena, Italy, the rear-wheel drive GranCabrio was powered by a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission (with steering wheel gearshift paddles for sequential shifts).
Engine
Produced by Ferrari, the 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine had an alloy cylinder block and head, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing and a compression ratio of 11.25:1. The exhaust system featured pneumatically-controlled valves which would open above 3000 rpm for a louder exhaust note.
Dimensions
Based on the M145 GranTurismo coupe, the GranCabrio was 4881 mm long, 1847 mm wide, 1353 mm tall and had a 2942 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the GranCabrio’s three-layer, power-operated roof could be raised or lowered in 28 seconds and at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
Suspension
The M145 GranCabrio had double wishbone front suspension and independent, multi-link rear suspension. Fitted as standard, Maserati’s ‘Skyhook’ suspension system provided continuously adjustable damping according to body and wheel movements; the system included a selectable ‘Sport’ mode which also provided faster gearshifts and greater exhaust noise.
Maserati GranCabrio Sport
In January 2012, the GranCabrio Sport was released. The GranCabrio Sport was fitted with a more powerful 4.7-litre V8 engine – due to reduced internal friction – and a six-speed ‘MC Auto Shift’ transmission with throttle blipping and launch control functions. The GranCabrio Sport also had upgraded brakes, sportier settings for the Skyhook suspension and could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. Visually, the GranCabrio Sport could be identified by its 20-inch Astro-design alloy wheels (with 245/35 ZR20 front and 285/35 ZR20 rear tyres), black grille, unique headlights, body-coloured corner splitters and black oval exhaust tips.
Maserati GranCabrio MC
In May 2013, the GranCabrio MC was released. Visually, the GranCabrio MC could be identified by its 20-inch MC design alloy wheels and bonnet vents, while the bumpers, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler contributed to increased downforce. Like the GranCabrio Sport, the MC variant was fitted with Maserati’s ‘MC Auto Shift’ transmission, though a ‘super-fast’ mode provided 50 per cent faster gearshifts. As such, the GranCabrio MC could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and had a top speed of 289 km/h.
| Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GranCabrio | 2010-19 | 4.7-litre petrol V8 | 6sp auto | 323 kW at 7000 rpm | 490 Nm at 4750 rpm |
| GranCabrio Sport | 2012-19 | 4.7-litre petrol V8 | 6sp auto | 331 kW at 7000 rpm | 510 Nm at 4750 rpm |
| GranCabrio MC | 2013-19 | 4.7-litre petrol V8 | 6sp auto | 338 kW at 7000 rpm | 520 Nm at 4750 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Maserati GranCabrio included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, an automatically-deploying pop-up roll bar and seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters for all (four) seats.
Features
Standard features for the Maserati GranCabrio included 20-inch alloy wheels, a twelve speaker Bose sound system with CD player, MP3-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5mm/USB) and 30GB hard-drive for music storage, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, satellite navigation with a seven-inch colour display, leather upholstery and Alcantara trim, power adjustable front and rear seats, heated front seats, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with washers, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, power folding mirrors, a power adjustable steering wheel (height and reach), power-operated park brake, electrochromic rear view mirror, ambient lighting, tyre pressure monitoring, a trip computer, motion-sensing alarm and immobiliser.
The GranCabrio was also fitted with a limited slip differential.
Brochure
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