The perfect blend of luxury, elegance, performance, and four-passenger seating only Maserati can deliver.

The Italian automaker Maserati, has released its first convertible since the 2006 model year, the GranTurismo Convertible, which will go on sale in the U.S. spring 2010.

The new Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is the latest interpretation on the driving pleasure, exclusivity and versatility that has always characterized Maserati vehicles. The first ever soft-top convertible to be developed and built at the company’s Modena, Italy headquarters, the GranTurismo Convertible is the only drop-top in its class to seat four adults in full comfort in a uniquely designed cabin that delivers leading style and luxury.

The GranTurismo Convertible transforms easily from a high-performance coupé into a breathtaking cabriolet. When travelling up to 20 mph the fully-insulated soft-top – designed in true Maserati tradition – tucks away at the touch of a button in just 24 seconds. With the roof down, the GranTurismo Convertible shows off its stunning profile, the result of artful design from the master coachbuilder Pininfarina. The sensation of power and driving dynamics on the road is achieved through the standard light alloy 20” Maserati birdcage design wheels.

The GranTurismo Convertible’s chassis was developed by Maserati engineers to deliver top performance and maximum driving pleasure. The V-8 engine is capable of 433 HP and is combined with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission that ensures smooth and precise gear shifts without limiting shifting performance at top engine speeds up to 7,600 rpm.

The Skyhook electronic suspension system is another feature that enhances the GranTurismo Convertible’s handling performance. It comes as standard and can instantly adapt to the driver’s style and the road conditions via automatic variable damping system.

All this, and the hallmark sound of Maserati makes the GranTurismo Convertible the most exciting and versatile cabriolet on the market; a unique car that offers an infinite range of personalized choices thanks to a practically limitless range of leather, bodywork and roof color combinations. The GranTurismo Convertible is the art of open-air performance.

The GranTurismo Convertible won’t be the fastest big-dollar convertible you can buy. On the other hand – it’s no slouch in comparison either, and it may be the sexiest to outshine…and will definitely work for a double date.

2011 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible (GranCabrio)

PRICE: $139,700

AVAILABLE: April 2010

LAYOUT: four-passenger, front-engine, rear-drive convertible

DRIVETRAIN: 4.7-liter V8, 433 hp, 361 lb-ft; six-speed torque-converter automatic

WEIGHT: 4,365 lbs.

PERFORMANCE: 0-60 mph, 5.15 sec; 176 mph top speed (mfr)

FUEL ECONOMY: 15 mpg combined (est)

For more information visit MaseratiGranCabrio.com

With the complete replacement not due until 2012, Maserati has wisely developed a mid-lifecycle update for its sumptuous sedan. The newly redesigned 2009 model should remain the same until 2012.

Maserati, the world-renowned automaker of both race and sports cars, hand-built its first automobile nearly a century ago in the Italian town of Bologna. Today, Maserati is based in Modena and is part of the Fiat Group, sharing technology with other notable high-performance luxury automakers such as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. Its flagship sedan, the Maserati Quattroporte, first arrived on the automotive scene in the early 1960s. Always designed as a powerful 4-door luxury car (Quattroporte translates to literally mean “four doors”), the largest Maserati is now in its fifth generation. The current model, introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2003, has been significantly updated for the 2009 model year.

Model Lineup
Two different Maserati Quattroporte sedans will be sold in 2009. The standard Quattroporte is fitted with the familiar 4.2-liter 8-cylinder engine, found under the hood of last year’s model. It is rated at 400 hp, and sends power to the rear wheels through a ZF-sourced 6-speed automatic transmission (the Quattroporte no longer offers the sequential transmission from earlier years). The new high-performance Quattroporte S adopts the new 4.7-liter 8-cylinder engine shared with Maserati’s GranTurismo S. With greater displacement, it is rated at 425 hp. The Quattroporte S will share the same 6-speed automatic transmission as the standard model.

Design
The Italian automaker has updated the exterior of the Quattroporte sedan for the new model year. The front fascia has been redesigned to adopt the traditional Maserati vertical slats, a design cue shared with the GranTurismo. Replacing the incandescent bulbs in the front and rear light assemblies are new LEDs. The latest lighting technology offers a more durable and energy-efficient illumination. The molding under the doors has also been redesigned, as have the bumpers. The driver and passenger exterior mirrors have been re-shaped, and feature a more streamlined mounting system. The interior of the Quattroporte is now fitted with a state-of-the-art entertainment and navigation system, and the primary and secondary controls have been refined. Two new shades of leather, Marrone Corniola and Sabbia, replace beige in the interior pallet. Maserati points out that these unique colors are only available on the 2009 Quattroporte and Quattroporte S. While the new models are being introduced worldwide in July 2008, the Italian sedans aren’t expected in showrooms until the fourth quarter of this year.

Quattroporte Base Sedan    $119,750    400 hp 8-cylinder    12 city / 18 hwy

Quattroporte S Sedan    $125,750    425 hp 8-cylinder    11 city / 18 hwy