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Maserati GranCabrio Sport
July 6, 2012
THE GRANCABRIO SPORT is the latest edition to Maserati’s highly successful Gran Turismo range. Combining defining elements of the standard GranCabrio and MC Stradale, the GranCabrio Sport is the firm’s most resolute and driver-focused open-top grand tourer to date. Several aesthetical modifications mean the Sport is lot more truculent-looking than the regular GranCabrio, the most noticeable change being the anthracite-coloured 20-inch wheels and blacked-out oval exhaust tips. You’ll need an eagle eye to make out the other alterations that include smoked-glass headlamps, revised side skirts, corner splitters and a special red-accented grille-mounted Trident logo (reserved only for the company’s most powerful range-topping models).
Last year I spent some time behind the wheel of the GranCabrio with my only criticism being the somewhat subdued engine note. Thankfully, Maserati has rectified this issue by raising the Ferrari-built 4.7-litre V8 to the same tune as the unit found in the boisterous MC Stradale. This means power and torque have both been dialed up from 323kW and 490Nm to 331kW and 510Nm – 80% of which is available from as low down as 2500rpm. The extra power comes as a result of uprated engine mapping and low-friction valve gear.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed MC Auto Shift – a similar ’box to the one found in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The transmission has five settings to choose from: Auto-Normal, Manual-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Sport and Ice. Naturally, Manual-Sport is the most involving, allowing the driver to play within the power band without the fear of the ‘box automatically changing up before the limiter is reached. The gearchanges are more brutal than the GranCabrio’s and, as a result, shift times have been halved from 400ms to 200ms. There’s also a launch control function that can slingshot the Sport from zero to 100kph in just 5.2 seconds (one tenth quicker than the GranCabrio).
And the soundtrack? As loud as you’d expect from an Italian V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, but sadly not as raw and fiery as the MC Stradale. The increase in decibels come compliments of a tuned exhaust system with bigger bypass valves that stay open when Sport mode is selected. However, the acoustics of the V8 can only truly be enjoyed once the roof is folded away.
The launch drive took the media convoy through Franschhoek Pass into the Villiersdorp/Elgin area – one of the best routes for testing a car’s handling, acceleration and aural attributes. The rocky face of the Franschhoek Pass and overcast conditions proved to be the ideal amphitheater for testing the Sport’s mechanical voice box. To eke the most from its feisty V8, I placed the Maserati’s gear lever into manual, engaged Sport mode and dropped down three cogs – whaarp, whaarppp, whaarpppp. The distinct low-pitched purr culminates in a thunderous, guttural roar as the rev needle sweeps around the dial before tickling the 7000 red-line. This tempts the driver to prod the accelerator pedal and compose an original symphony.
A sudden shower of rain let me test the urgency of the folding fabric roof, which takes 28 seconds to concertina away and can be done while travelling at speeds of up to 28kph. It’s by no means the quickest around, so to avoid getting drenched in a winter shower you’ll need to be quick on the draw.
While I couldn’t drive the Sport to its full potential due to the conditions, I did get to feel out its handling abilities, which are a lot crisper than the regular GranCabrio. The Sport button also sharpens-up items including the steering and throttle responses and the spring rate, transforming the 1980kg GranCabrio Sport into a surprisingly nimble handler. Everything feels much tighter as a result of a revised Skyhook adaptive suspension arrangement, which has firmed-up the spring rate by 15% and roll stiffness by 20%. Despite the firmer suspension, ride quality isn’t compromised and the open-topped Maserati still delivers a conforming and comfortable ride. Scuttle shake, however, is still an issue, especially in fluctuating road conditions, but while aluminium structural reinforcements under the body and engine bay have minimised chassis flex, it’s still very skittish through the corners.
And the cabin? As lavish as any other Maserati, with its Trident-embossed leather seats, a Maserati-branded clock and drilled aluminium pedals completing the package.
What does this all cost? It’s a pricey affair, I’m afraid. At R1813000, it’s only a shade more expensive than the faster Jaguar XKR-S Convertible but compensates for that with exemplary seating manners. Unlike the XKR-S, the GranCabrio Sport can easily seat four fully-grown adults. As a performance machine and genuine four-seater, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is the best performance drop-top on the market. Add in Maserati’s 3year/60000km maintenance plan and warranty, and suddenly buying a Maserati doesn’t sound like an unrealistic proposition, now does it?
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