Maserati 5000 Reviews

Then we head north in a Holden Cruze and Mitsubishi ASX, looking to see how far this pair can go on a single take of fuel.  Ed Ordynski is in the ASX and I have the Cruze, holding  the trip computer just over 6 litres/100km as Ordynski - expert driver - is below 5 litres/100km.The first stop is just outside Port Pirie after 250 kilometres and the figures are 5.3 and 4.2, as we battle wind and rain.  A lunch stop in Waikerie - about 530km into the journey - and then a turn south to follow the Murray both cars maintain sub-6 readings - the ASX in the region of 4.5 and the Cruze 5.5 litres per 100km as we pass the 700km mark near Murray Bridge.The weather worsens as we follow the river south through 730km at Wellington."The ASX was more adversely affected by that, it was 0.3 litres/100km worse off - we did what you need to do into a headwind and that was reduce the speed a little," Ordynski says.Running down through the southern foothills to complete our 1000km journey we return the tanks to full. There are still 15 litres in the Mitsubishi's 60-litre tank, but my Cruze is almost on fumes.  But after thirteen hours of "real-world" driving we have hit our 1000-kilometre target."I would drive like that with people on board and not be embarrassed," Ordynski says.  "You win on fuel use and emissions as well, with 2kg of CO2 for every litre of fuel, you win on maintenance and longevity of the vehicle by driving it kindly as well, it's hard to see a downside."Ed Ordynski’s Fuel TipsLevel 1. Overall factors1. Plan when you need to use your car to avoid unnecessary journeys.2. Plan your journey to avoid peak hour and congested roads.3. Measure your fuel consumption and take pride in reducing it.4. Choose an energy efficient vehicle.Level 2. Anyone can try1. Concentrate on driving smoothly and anticipate traffic flow to conserve momentum.2. Keep tyre pressures at maximum recommended.3. Avoid any excess weight in the vehicle and remove accessories which affect the aerodynamics (e.g. roof racks).4. Choose a manual transmission and learn to drive it properly for optimum fuel efficiency.Level 3. Hard-core methods1. Avoid use of airconditioning and keep windows closed.2. Do not use cruise control but do focus on keeping a constant speed and conserving momentum.3. Drive at low speed - most cars are at their most efficient at around 75km/h in top gear.4. Drive off as soon as the engine is started, especially from a cold start.GREEN STARSMake-model weight price combined fuel con1. Mitsubishi -MiEV 980kg $leased 02. Toyota Prius 1370kg $39,990 3.93. Smart Fortwo 750kg $19,9904.44. Honda Insight 1205kg $29,9904.65. Suzuki Alto 880kg $11,790 4.8GREEN DUDS1. Ferrari 599 1690kg $677,250 21.32. Ferrari 612 1849kg $698,000 20.73. Nissan Patrol 4.8 2440kg $75,690 17.24. Maserati GT S Coupe 1880kg $345,900 16.65. Mercedes ML 500 2148kg $132,400 16.5

The trident marque has sold 110 of its ultra luxury grand tourers in Australia this year and used AIMS to emphasise it recent feats on European tracks.While the name wants for something of the car's streamlined elegance, the Quattroporte Sport GT S MC Sportline recognises the 40 race victories of the MC12. Sinisterly turnedout  with the same t in gleaming black metallic paint and black 20-inch alloys, and caron fibre trim within, the limited edition of 30 costs "only" $298,800 - that's $30K under the standard GTS with the same tuneful 4.7-litre 323kW V8.Making an altogether different, and literally more open statement, is the GranCabrio, which has it first showing to the local general public. Arguably the beauty queen of AIMS 2010, Maserati's first fully four seat convertible is current range topper at $338,000.Maserati Australia boss Glen Sealey affirmed that an entirely new model is being developed.

... in Sydney when Jaguar displays its new XJ Supersport and Maserati spotlights its Quattroporte GT S at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS).The XJ Supersport, the quickest model in Jaguar’s XJ range, adds new competition to the luxury performance saloon category.  Jaguar’s all-new XJ Supersport combines luxury appointment with substantial power and critically acclaimed handling.The Supersport is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged engine, producing 375kW of power, 625Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds.  Interior luxury comes by way of leather seats that are both heated and cooled, and a 1200W Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system."The all-new Jaguar XJ reinforces the strength of the new Jaguar in the Australian market,” said Jaguar Australia general manager Kevin Goult.  “With its spectacular looks and performance, this XJ competes with a much wider range of challengers than any previous XJ."The all-new XJ challenges the notion that large cars should be conservative or constrained, with a blistering 0-100km/h performance time of 4.9 seconds.  “The XJ is far from a compromise in performance and maintains very high levels of expected luxury,” Mr Goult said.Maserati’s Quattroporte GT S, the company’s flagship saloon, will be making its Sydney motor show debut. The Quattroporte GT S is powered by a 4.7-litre V8 engine which produces 323kW of power and 490Nm of Torque.“The Maserati Quattroporte established this much sought-after market sector and remains the benchmark,” Maserati Australia and New Zealand general manager Glen Sealey said.  “Key measures that set it apart from its rivals are exclusivity and heritage.“Maserati offers a unique heritage and, with its products limited to the Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio, a name and badge that will only be found in this rarefied area of the car market.“The drivetrain and chassis ensure that the Quattroporte is more than capable of withstanding performance comparisons with sports cars, let alone other saloons.“The driving pleasure is accompanied by the rich baritone roar of its engine, while enveloping its occupants in the highest levels of comfort and luxury,” Mr Sealey said.The Australian International Motor Show will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour. The show opens at 5pm on Friday, 15 October and runs until 6pm on Sunday, 24 October.

This should have been a review of the Hyundai i20. The Korean baby boomer is up next for a Carsguide test but, when it failed to front this week, we have to switch to Plan B. In this case, B is more like Z, since that's about the distance from a $14,990 price fighter to a $318,500 Maserati GranTurismo.But GT time is fine while we wait for the i20, and it's good to sample a little of what's happening at the top end of the car business. There are lots of new supercoupes and the choice in four-seater grand tourers has exploded with the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide.The latest Maserati is a tweak on familiar shape and recipe, combining the latest 4.7-litre Ferrari-built V8 with an MC supershift gearbox, essentially the robotised manual previously fitted to the Ferrari F599.The Maserati GT is one of the best looking cars on the road today and, even if it only has two doors, there is space in the cabin for four real adults and you can get golf clubs in the boot. The cabin is also wrapped in the finest Italian leather, it has satnav and Bluetooth, and giant wheels to make an impact.But the Italian GT is about driving, which is why there are 323 kiloWatts and 429 Newton-metres on tap, with driver-adjustable fully-independent suspension, giant disc brakes and a six-speed gearbox that promises full auto ease with full manual control on demand.The GranTurismo is surprisingly big and fairly hefty too, at nearly 1900 kilograms, but that's par for this course.And remember that, since Ferrari and Maserati sit under the same ownership, the GT is planned to sit alongside and below the sports car brand with a little more comfort and family focus. Not that the Maserati is the sort of car for long-distance family trips.Next week, definitely, will be i20 time. And, seriously, I cannot wait.DRIVINGThe Maserati is a hoot. And relatively friends and family-friendly at the same time. It's never going to match a Kia Carnival for space with lots of kids, but it's a supercoupe you can actually use.We've tried the GranTurismo coupe in the past but this is the first time with the 4.7 V8 and supershift, a robotised manual change. So computers and gizmos can make it fully auto or you can take manual control.The Maserati comes with driver adjustable settings for the suspension, gearbox and even the exhaust note. The car always gives a raspy rev on start-up but gets seriously loud at full throttle, unless you touch the Sport button for loud all the time. It's not a nasty loud, either, but the sort of melodious V8 rumble most people love.The performance of the GT is solid and on tap all the time. The V8 is tuned for bottom-end thrust and it delivers at all speeds, especially for overtaking. The brakes are great and the suspension is surprisingly compliant. It's firm but not thumpy. The steering is heavy in Sport mode but fine on the basic setting.But... and here we go. The self-shift side of the gearbox is too slow and baulky unless you switch to Sport, and then it's still not as smooth as rival brands. Including Ferrari, with the double-clutch system in the latest California. It's fun as a full manual but I find it is still flawed and not as commuter friendly as a full auto.The seats don't fit me at all, with far too much lumbar push and not enough side support; it's hard to fit a child seat in the back, and the electronics don't want to help with mirror adjustments or setting the seats but still leaving enough space to get people in and out of the back.Still, there's a sense of occasion when you drive the Maserati and that's what makes it so special. It's not my favourite but it's a serious class contender and better than any Maserati I've driven in the past.SHE SAYS Alison WardIf only this car wasn't so expensive... I think it is fabulous. It may not be a Ferrari with its sports car handling and showmanship, but what it lacks there - by only by a little when I'm driving - it makes up for in practicality. I am a lover of cars that you can share with your mates. Solo driving in shopping carts is all very well, but you can't strike up much chatter with your groceries.So the Maserati not only accommodates you and three passengers, but it does it comfortably and with superb style and sophisticated technology.I love the sounds of this car. It can be the exhaust bark while burning down my street, the awesome audio system or the leather trim moving under your rear. It just fits a small pram in the boot, which is surprisingly big for the type of vehicle. I find getting the toddler in and out a breeze thanks to the automatic seats, too.But I feel duped that a rear camera isn't installed as its almost a given in most models of this price tag. This car is the family car we all dream about but with the class only a few can afford. It's a pity really...THE BOTTOM LINE: A very special drive with that special Italian flair.MASERATI GRANTURISMO - AutomaticPrice: $318,500Engine: 4.7-litre v8Power: 323kw at 7000 revsTorque: 490nm at 4750 revsTransmission: robotised six-speed manual, rear-wheel driveBody: two-door coupeSeats: fourDimensions: length 4881mm, width 1915mm, height 1353mmWheelbase: 2942mm, tracks front/rear 1586mm/1590mmSteering: rack-and-pinion power steeringSuspension: fully independent with front and rear wishbones and coil springsFuel tank and type: 86 litres, premium unleadedFuel consumption: 16.6l/100km combinedWeight: 1880kgSpare tyre: space-saverBrakes: anti-skid all-round discsWheels and tyres: 20-inch alloys, 245x35 front, 285x35 rearSafety: dual front/side/curtain airbags, electronic stability & traction control, anti-skid brakes, brake assistCo2 emissions: 168g/km.

HOW do luxury brands survive a downturn as severe as the GFC? For some, the global appetite for their models was cut in half and that's the sort of diet that could imperil any manufacturing operation, let alone one with biblically long lead times, the overheads of a small nation and customers it knows by name.So far, though, the casualties have all been bread-and-butter brands. They include Pontiac, which was GM's blue singlet badge, and Saturn, which was its attempt to repel the Japanese small car invasion.All told, the clean-out at GM cut its portfolio from eight badges to four, but the sweepers have been much less vigorous in Europe. The closest thing to a fatality has been GM cast-off Saab, whose heart stopped beating long enough for it to sustain permanent damage. It remains to be seen if tiny, independent Dutch sportscar maker Spyker can supply enough voltage to keep Saab on life support.Most luxury brands enjoy more shelter than that, under the aegis of global car groups with the resources to ride out a storm. Volkswagen has a handful of trumps with Bugatti, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche and Audi. It's unlikely to let any of these perish just because of a recession or two.The Fiat group, meanwhile, has the same number of brands as pre-bankruptcy GM, including three among the premium ranks. For Fiat, relinquishing either Ferrari or Maserati would be like losing an arm, and it's going into overdrive to keep a pulse going at Alfa Romeo.But there's more to it than that. The further up the luxury scale you go, the more the GFC was a case of “let me eat cake''. At the super-rich end of the market, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari sales suffered comparatively slightly -- down 17 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.Even allowing for the long waiting lists at this level, which provide a cushion against economic swings, the difference between Ferrari and brands just one rung below on the price ladder is marked. Aston Martin, Bentley and Maserati all slipped 40 per cent or more last year -- 49 per cent in the case of Maserati.Within the Fiat group, Maserati comes a distinct second to Ferrari in the brand hierarchy although it benefits from the association by, for example, running Prancing Horse engines in its cars. No small part of the appeal of Maseratis is that they dance to an eight-cylinder Ferrari tune.But there's a price to be paid. Since becoming part of Fiat, Maserati has also had to learn not to tread on Ferrari's feet. It must make models that complement what Ferrari is doing, rather than compete. To achieve this, the Trident badge has had to abandon some of its historic sporting aspirations and target buyers who want their luxury wheels to have as much elegance and practicality as pace. If Ferrari is a bullet-train, Maserati has to be the Orient Express.With the launch of the Maserati GranCabrio last week, this two-brand jigsaw puzzle is finished -- for the time being, at least. This convertible completes a three-model line-up for Maserati that includes the Quattroporte sedan and GranTurismo coupe, and nearly a decade of brand realignment. Its next model will be a mid-size sedan due in three years, and Ferrari definitely won't be making one of those.Maserati believes the GranCabrio will attract new customers and it will need to, because it has never made anything like this before. It built smaller and racier two-seat convertibles in the past -- the last was the Gransport Spyder, discontinued four years ago -- but not any more. That's Ferrari territory.Like its siblings, the GranCabrio is a large car -- longer than any rival, apparently -- with the clear goal of providing four open-air seats that can all accommodate adults. Here it succeeds, although it's as well to remember that when a carmaker describes a convertible as a full four-seater, it's using a different system of measurement from the one it applies to sedans.If there's a practical downside to the GranCabrio it's the boot, which is tiny. Maserati says it can swallow a set of golf clubs but, just in case, offers a bespoke set of luggage that fits perfectly . . . on the rear seats.A key part of the appeal of any convertible is the way it presents with the roof down, and the GranCabrio cabin is suitably plush, if a little traditional. Maserati says the leather and trims on offer mean there are nine million possible combinations for the finished result, although I suspect that 8.9 million of these would be indictable crimes against good taste.One small drawback for Australian buyers are zipped panels in the rear seats necessitated by the child seat fittings mandated in this market. The front seats power-slide forward to allow access to the rear, although the glacial rate at which they move would test anybody's patience. The roof folds more quickly.The GranCabrio, like most convertibles, needed engineering changes from the GranTurismo coupe to prevent it driving like a shoebox without a lid. Extra-thick widescreen pillars are one result while, with the roof up, the high rear window offers an excellent view of traffic about half a kilometre behind.Drivers will find the same scattergun logic to button placement as other Maseratis while the control screen, with its foggy logic and even foggier graphics, was clearly inspired by late-70s Nintendos.In terms of its overall shape, the GranCabrio is almost identical to the lovely Coke-bottle-on-steriods design of the GranTurismo coupe and it avoids some of the pitfalls of convertibles, such as an overly tall tail. It's a glamorous beast that draws plenty of stares.The roof is almost as thick as a fold-out mattress and offers good insulation against noise by convertible standards, with engine sound dominating. That's as it should be in a car like this -- and it gets even better with the roof down, when the 4.7-litre Ferrari V8 can show off its full vocal range. It whumps on downchanges and crackles on overrun while pushing it through to the 7200rpm redline is a sonic -- as well as dynamic -- thrill.The six-speed automatic is the right sort of transmission for this sort of car, but it could do with a little more finesse in its programming. It doesn't always make the right moves and reverts too quickly to D when the paddles are being used by the driver. Maserati will replace this unit with an eight-speeder in its next Quattroporte, which means if you can wait long enough it will be offered in this car, too.On the twisting roads of northern NSW last week, I used those paddles a lot. Sometimes just for the fun of it. There's a world of difference between this two-tonne look-at-me-mobile and a Ferrari, but some solid work on the chassis means it's possible to get plenty of enjoyment from the engine.It's certainly no slouch, stopping the clock at 5.3 seconds to 100km/h, and the car feels balanced with unwanted body movements kept well in check. So much so that through corners, some of the mass evaporates and it only betrays its true heft under brakes.The controls lack the precision of a dedicated sportscar but they get better as speed rises, when the lazy feel to the steering disappears. Keeping this much open-top metal on a tight rein requires fairly stiff suspension, which means chassis nuances are a bit remote, but not absent. Worse, the ride can feel too detailed and brittle on rough country roads, with shudders travelling right through the cabin to the rear-view mirror.That's a flaw that will be familiar to most convertible owners and Maserati's claims that the GranCabrio is as rigid as the best sound plausible, at least. The convertible owners who currently drive a BMW 6 Series, Mercedes-Benz SL or Porsche 911 are precisely the ones Maserati believes it can lure to the brand.It's hard to argue with the endless delights of a Ferrari engine at Maserati prices while it's impossible to argue with the brand's assertions of exclusivity. Last year, with 4489 buyers, it was about 2000 units more exclusive than Ferrari itself -- and 49 per cent more exclusive than it was the year before. Fiat is unlikely to let a brand with those sort of credentials expire.MASERATI GRANCABRIO - $338,000 plus on-road costsVehicle Four-seat convertibleEngine: 4.7-litre V8Outputs: 323kW at 7000rpm and 490Nm at 4750rpmTransmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Maserati's GranCabrio is the first roof-down four-seater from the Italian maker. And, as to be expected, a fine piece of automotive art.It has a long, head-turning profile, best appreciated with the cloth top down. It is packed with leather and luxury, down to a stereo system that self-adjusts tones depending on roof position. It has 323kW of sporting V8 up front, mated to a clever six-speed transmission. All in all, it’s a most impressive, albeit expensive, package of poise and performance.Maserati has a fair heritage of open top sports cars, back to the beautiful Frua Spyder of 1950. But this is their first four-seater convertible. And the GranCabrio more than lives up to the heritage. It is a practical, elegant convertible with comfort and performance. It is capable of being caught in peak hour traffic without a grumble, capable of offering a spirited run through the mountains and happy to loaf down long motorway stretches in quiet comfort.Perhaps the boot is a bit small (but will take a set of golf clubs) and perhaps the back seat is no place for the tall with the roof up (though these seats reportedly accommodate 62.5 per cent of people).Here the GranCabrio, at $338,000, joins the GranTurismo and the Quattroporte to give Maserati a trio of prestige machines covering some high-flying territory. (The four-door Quattroporte is the best-selling Maserati of all times and the marque's brand awareness has risen 10 per cent in the past decade plus there's a new 'medium' sedan is somewhere around the corner to keep the flag flying.)The time was right for a little more Italian fashion, a little more look-at-me in the style of an open-top tourer. And 27 Australians and Kiwis have already signed up for this year's allocation of 45 of these machines.The payback is spirited performance, chassis balance and ride comfort (though there is sometimes a little chattering feedback from the front wheels). Plus the exclusive charm of a four-seat Italian convertible; said to be longest, roomiest in this class of exotic convertible.The 65kg roof can drop, when the weather's clear, in 28 seconds at up to 30 km/h.  Without the roof, top speed drops from 293km/h to 274km/h and the weight distribution changes from 49 per cent front and 51 per cent rear to 48 per cent front, 52 per cent rear.Top up or down the Maserati is a well-balanced car. There is nice weight to the steering and, for a fairly big car weighing in at 1980kg, the GranCabrio is easy to place on a tight mountain road. Handy here is the rear grip and the eagerness of the 4.7 litre V8 to work up to its 323kW and 490Nm of torque at 4750rpm through the six-speed auto transmission.There are steering-wheel column mounted paddles for shifting through sports ratios, handy for down changing, whether out for a harder run or just impressing city pedestrians. The Italian's aurals are as sweet as anything out there and a Sport buton rempas gearbox, engine and suspension details for even harder growl and go.The cabin is, naturally, packed with convenience, comfort, luxury and safety... right down to integrated pop-up roll bars (with sharp pin to break the rear glass) in the event of a major accident.There is all the best in navigation systems, information and entertainment systems. There are choices galore in leather trim colours and highlights, there is an airconditioning system which quietly adjusts a pre-set temperatures to a closed or open cabin.For maximum effect the Maserati's top will be down, listening to that V8... and watching the watchers.Check out Keith Didham's review of the Maserati GranCabrio.

But peak motoring body the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries believes consumers are confused enough to warrant a broad-ranging education program about what ESC is and what it does.The Transport Accident Commission has already been running an ad highlighting the merits of curtain airbags and ESC. It has been endeavouring to lift awareness among buyers about what they do, via websites like howsafeisyourcar.com.au.But with Victoria moving ahead for the compulsory fitting of ESC to all passenger cars from January, the FCAI believes now is the time to increase awareness among car buyers.Despite TAC's efforts some carmakers like Honda believe consumers are still confused by the different acronyms used to describe the various systems. However, FCAI spokesman, James Goodwin, believes it will be difficult to mandate a single naming strategy."It comes down to marketing," he says. "All systems are different to some degree."Goodwin also believes it would cost too much to standardise the terminology on imported cars because the volumes are relatively small. Carmakers use different terms for the proprietary electronic stability program invented by Bosch and co-developed with Mercedes-Benz.Subaru Australia spokesman, David Rowley, says Subaru's own research shows a higher awareness among buyers of its own electronic stability control system, called vehicle dynamic control."Our customers tend to look in depth at the features of our cars," Rowley says. He backs an education program as “something worth considering" but balks at a name change. "A lot a brands have invested a lot of intellectual time in creating a point of difference with their various stability systems," he says.What they call it -Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - Holden, HSV, JeepElectronic Stability Program (ESP) - Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Skoda, Peugeot, SuzukiDynamic Stability Control (DSC) - Ford, FPV, BMW, Mazda, Land Rover, Aston Martin, JaguarVehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) - ToyotaVehicle Stability Control (VSC) - LexusVehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) - Nissan, SubaruDynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) - VolvoElectronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) - Audi, VolkswagenActive Stability Control (ASC) - MitsubishiVehicle Stability Assist (VSA)- HondaAutomatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T)  MiniMaserati Stability Program (MSP) - MaseratiPorsche Stability Management (PSM) - PorscheStability and Traction Control - FiatStabiliTrak -Hummer

Move over Mercedes-Benz, backpeddle BMW, and just get out of the way Jaguar. The new Masser is about to hit town and it wants its day in the sun.  The tops are off and let the boulevard battle begin.This is the new and very stunning — Maserati GranCabrio, the open-top version of the potent GranTurismo coupe, which goes on sale in Australia in April for $338,000. That's $19,500 premium over the hardtop but that hasn't deterred 20 buyers who have already put their hand up for one. And numbers will be limited. Australia's allocation for the year is just 43 cars.Maserati has had cabriolets before, but the Spyders have all been two seaters. This is the brand's first four-seater and it's aimed directly at the American market Maserati gambling its prestigious brand combined with the extra seating capacity will prove a marketing winner.In Australia, true four-seaters, as against two plus two, are thin on the ground but Maserati is up against models from Benz, BMW and Jaguar for the up-market ‘fun in the sun’ dollar.  Maserati is counting on pulling power of the cabrio — the third model in its lineup behind the coupe and Quattroporte sedan — to drive it out of the global financial crisis to add even more sex appeal to the famous Italian brand.It does so in spades. This is adult-rated car porn; a cabrio to lust for. A car that should equally appeal to both sexes but for different reasons.It has performance, and it has style.  But the cabrio nearly didn't make it to market so early in 2010. Maserati's marketing director Massimo Farao hinted to Carsguide that the company, which has been regaining ground after years of financial losses, had considered stalling the launch because of the worldwide economic crisis."Sure we looked at it (delaying the launch) but decided to go ahead and introduce this new model. The global situation had a very serious impact on our markets but, with careful planning, we finished the year in the black. It was the right decision; the GranCabrio adds a third model alongside the Quattroporte and the GT to round out our lineup," he says.While it may seem an easy task to create the GranCabrio by simply chopping the roof off the Turismo, Farao says the task was not that simple. "We had to do a lot of work to strengthen the car because the cabin is so long," he says. "We did a lot of strengthening around the sills and under the car and we kept the weight difference (over the coupe) down to less than 100kg, which if you look at our rivals is a remarkable achievement."Defying modern trends, Maserati opted for a three-layered fabric roof instead of a folding metal lid, although the mechanism itself is very similar to that used by Ferrari in its California. The decision Farao says was made on tradition, style and practicalities. The soft roof allows for proper four seats and luggage space, albeit it's limited. Opening and closing the top can be done on the move up to 30km/h, taking 20 seconds plus another eight seconds to open or close the windows.The GranCabrio shares all of the underpinnings of the coupe, including the 4.7-litre V8 (323kW/490Nm) from the GT-S version and the six-speed ZF transmission from base model GT. It misses out on Maserati's lightening quick electro-actuated semi-automatic gearbox which can make gear changes in just 100 milliseconds. It's a safe bet however the high performance gearbox will feature in an S version of the cabrio which is believed to be under development and due in a year's time.And like the Turismo there is a downside: the V8 engine is thirsty at 23.9l/100km in the city and averaging 15.4l/100km (combined cycle) for a mix of urban and highway running. Nor is it clean and green, producing 358g of CO2 per kilometre. It's an area Maserati says is working on to improve for the next generation of cars, expected after 2012.While the lighter coupe is quicker over the standing 100km/h dash at 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 295km/h, the cabrio shouldn't belittled. It's only marginally slower, at 5.3 seconds to 100km/h, and tops out at 283km/h with the roof closed and 274km/h with it open.At 2942mm, the new Maserati has one of the longest wheelbases on the market and uses the space to provide a luxurious Italian leather-bound. But it's not all good news. While Maserati says you can get two sets of golf clubs in the boot, the luggage space is compromised by the folding rag top. The same top severely reduces visibility to the rear quarter and rear headroom is going to be tight for anyone over 6ft.The cabrio's sensuous styling with its sleek profile is all thanks to Pininfarina, while Maserati also worked with Bose to design the audio system, tailored for open air driving.This cabrio also comes packed with safety features including multiple airbags, traction and stability control, the latest generation of anti-lock brakes with brake assist and a patented rollover protection system the hoops are electronically fired in less than 190 milliseconds. There's also an elaborate alarm system designed to deter thieves from pinching items from the cabin if the roof is down.Who would be mad enough to launch a cabriolet in winter. The Italians, who want their new model ready for summer, that's who.  To set the picture: The first snowstorm in 25 years blankets Rome as it spreads across Europe. Blocked roads, cancelled flights, stranded passengers sleeping at airports, chaos on the cobblestoned streets, Romans building miniature snowmen on the backs of their scooters. It's beak and freezing and we can't drive the car.The Maserati team take it on the chin. "Hey, we have built a beautiful car for summer," one quipped. And they have.  The following day it takes me exactly 11 seconds to make my mind up about that. That's the time it takes to circle the boulevard cruiser. That's twice as long as it takes for the cabrio to hit 100km/h from a standing start.Hey, this is supposed to be a cruiser not a bruiser, but a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds for a car which weighs in just under two tonnes says Maserati means business. This is no show pony and the ride and handling show Maserati's development work in producing a car which soaks up the bumps but also allows flat cornering has worked a treat.Despite its stunning looks, there is no hiding the fact the GranCabrio is a big lump of a car. This is a high flying four seater first class lounge on wheels. But any cabrio is always going to be a compromise. Removing the roof creates enormous engineering problems to maintain rigidity, while storage of the folding room is going to rob luggage space. But Maserati has done a good job here.The rear pews are tight but comfortable and there is some boot space which is a bonus and there's little in the way of buffeting indeed the cabrio is so well protected the optional wind blocker is not needed..  The GranCabrio is two cars in one. Left in its normal settings it is a very capable cruiser. Push the sport button next to the steering wheel and it's a whole new ball game.Sport means the suspension becomes stiffer, the gear changes are quicker and, beyond 3000rpm, the V8 get a much deeper and louder note thanks to a small gate being opened in the exhaust which allows a free flow of gases, partly bypassing the muffler.  The engine note is nothing short of breathtaking.Deep, sonorous, sexy and mind-blowing with the roof down.  Like it. No. I'm in love with it.

The launch of the GranCabrio was timed to coincide with the opening of the new $32 million Ferrari Maserati Sydney headquarters, described this week by Maserati's commercial director, Raffaele Fusilli, as the ‘most beautiful’ in the world. "We are already holding 40 customer orders for the GranCabrio and I am confident that for the full year we will be able to sell at least 45,"  Ferrari Maserati Sydney dealer principal Edward Butler says of the $338,000 convertible. "We are predicting overall sales this year of 165 cars with all the growth coming from the GranCabrio."  Butler says he is confident that the new convertible will not draw buyers away from the GT car, but rather from key rivals BMW, Mercedes and Aston Martin. "With the traditional soft-top the GranCabrio is quite different to the Coupe and will appeal to a very different buyer ... that may not have been the case if it had a folding metal roof." Butler believes a key point of attraction for the new car is that there is a useable amount of legroom for the two rear-seat passengers.   "This is a car in which four people can comfortably sit ... it is not compromised in any way as a four-seater," Butler says.

Congratulations Ford Falcon