Maserati GranCabrio Sport

Sports car makers always are on a mission to launch a high performance car that is better than its competition. Now the game has shifted to who can make a better convertible high performance car. Read on to know more about the latest offering from Maserati

First things first, the new red colour introduced on the GranCabrio Sport is a tribute to the championship winning Maserati racing cars of the 1950s. The car should live up to its ‘Sport’ badge then. 

The Sport gets 10 horsepower more than the standard. That is enough to catapult the car from 0 – 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds which is 0.1 second faster than the standard GranCabrio. Given a stretch the car will hit a top speed of 285 km/h which is 2 km/h faster than the standard car. Not much to shout about then. 

But the car does shouts louder than the standard GranCabrio because it has new exhaust tips that enhance the sound when the bypass valves open at 2500 rpm in Auto-sport. Do not worry though, as the valves can be left permanently open by selecting Manual-sport mode. It’s not all show and no go however. The new exhaust system helps to improve. The Sport gets 30 more torques, which is a lot. 

The gearbox of the GranCabrio Sport gets the MC Auto Shift a feature that has been developed from the system on the Quattroporte GT S. The new system gets launch control which can be used in both Manual Sport and Automatic Sport modes. 

The engine gets Maserati’s Friction Reduction Programme. This ‘programme’ includes a revised oil sump a super finished camshaft. The Friction Reduction Programme is more oriented towards bringing the mileage down which it does by 6% over the standard engine. 

The chassis is where there is a major difference is. The Sport has bigger anti-roll bars and while the springs have been upgraded. The Sky-hook active-suspension system has been upgraded to analyse road condition, driving style and instantly regulate the dampers to provide sharper handling along with better grip and balance. The front suspension gets aluminium wishbones, dampers and springs. At the back there is an added radius bar in each wheel to reduce toe-in. 

The brakes are ventilated drilled-cast disc brakes all around with grooves. The grooves are designed to avoid dust build up, which increases braking distance. 

The standard GranCabrio looks absolutely stunning. Playing with it perfection does not always yield results, it has for Maserati this time though. The Sport looks more aggressive and hunkered down with new corner splitters and side skirts. The grille receives a black treatment and the Maserati Trident receives red inserts, a Maserati tradition reserved for the fastest model of a car. The car also gets new black alloy wheels and black oval exhaust tips. The headlights are finished with a black look with white reflectors.

The most important feat for any convertible sports car is to look absolutely stunning and be nothing like any other car, job done by Maserati then.

MASERATI LATEST CARS

There’s something about Italy. The country has some of the most beautiful women on the planet, is known for its exotic food, and I do not need to tell you about the achingly beautiful Italian cars, right? I think every enthusiast dreams about getting behind the wheel and experiencing the beauty and the finesse of Italian cars. I got my chance when I was asked to go drive the latest Maserati, the MC Stradale. At the Shanghai International Circuit, no less.
This Italian sportscar name has a rich history behind it, some excellent cars but compared to the well-known brands, has a quieter, dignified sort of presence. And I was going to get introduced to it by their new flagship car. But first, a little history.
The Maserati story began way back in 1914, when the Maserati brothers established the brand in Bologna. But the first Maserati complete with the famous trident logo was born in 1926. It was called the Tipo 26, and won in its debut race in the same year. Maserati continued making successful race cars in the ensuing years, but the most memorable moment for Maserati perhaps was in 1957, when Juan Manuel Fangio won the F1 championship in a Maserati 250F. Following the World Championship win, Maserati started focusing on road cars, and motorsport activities were given lesser importance. The big boost for the brand came in the 1990s when Maserati was first bought over by Fiat in 1993, and then Ferrari in 1997. Ever since, Maserati has produced some really juicy cars that have returned the name to its former glory. Maserati also made a comeback in racing with its MC12 that was built on a modified Ferrari Enzo engine and chassis.
Maserati’s current line-up includes the fifth-generation Quattroporte – a four-door sedan, the Gran Cabrio – one of the best-looking convertibles in the world and the Gran Turismo – the grand tourer. But the hottest Maserati’s is their latest – the MC Stradale. The MC is the new version of the Gran Turismo, and replaces the latter as the range-topper. MC stands for Maserati Corse (as in Maserati Racing) while Stradale literally means road in Italian, and the car is a tribute to Maserati’s racing heritage. Maserati says the MC Stradale is a race-ready road car, and is a fitting example of Maserati’s ability to create beauty with passion and draws inspiration from current generation Maserati race cars such as the Trofeo Gran Turismo MC and GT4. Every single aspect of the Gran Turismo has been tweaked to perfection to justify the Stradale’s billing as being the best Maserati yet.
Every curve and line on the Stradale’s Pininfarina-designed body is considered design that contributes to its styling as well as its function. The huge grill upfront is a signature trait, while the ‘smiling’ air scoops on both sides look awesome and help cool the engine as well.
It’s an aggressive design. The trident logo sits in the middle of the wide grill at the front, giving the car a mean look further accentuated by the front spoiler at the bottom and flared wheel arches. The slots in the side wings on each side are a trademark Maserati detail while the sharp edged headlamps add to the intense sense of focus with a hint of the ominous. At the rear the Stradale employs a redesigned bumper with a re-engineered diffuser and a spoiler. Given its reworked body styling, the MC Stradale is able to develop 25 percent more downforce at the front in comparison to the Gran Turismo S. At the rear, the Stradale generates an impressive 50 percent more downforce than the Gran Turismo S. The triangular tail lights, twin exhaust pipes and 20-inch alloy wheels complement the racy stance.
Inside, it’s a luxo-fest. The interiors are swathed in alcantara, to reduce weight. Behind the steering wheel are the carbon-fibre paddle-shifters. And importantly, the paddles in the Stradale – or any Maserati for that matter - are not mounted on the steering wheel, but on the column. A two-seater, the comfortable seats are moulded carbon-fibre with a standard four-point harness. And just to make a point, all this carbon and alcantara business is part of the 110kg the MC has lost over the Gran Turismo S.
Driving time! We were quickly briefed and then given a set of demonstration laps - at which point I realised that we weren’t doing the full race lap. Which meant that I wouldn’t be barreling down the back straight in full anger like I was hoping to. But the deep hum of the Stradale’s V8 quickly elevated my mood once again. The 4691cc, V8 engine is borrowed from the Gran Turismo S and tweaked to put out 10PS more, 450PS at 7000rpm. Maserati have managed to up the power output by reducing internal frictional losses in the engine, which in turn has helped improve efficiency as well. Maximum torque is 510Nm at 4750rpm. The combined effort of the Stradale’s weight loss program and the engine tweaks together help it achieve a feat no other Maserati has been able to – the Stradale is the first Maserati to break the 300kmph barrier, and boasts a claimed top speed of 301kmph.
And then it was time. To open wide those doors, slip my bum in to the seats, fire up the V8 and exit the pit lane and let the V8 loose. It’s almost as if the throttle pedal was connected to my adrenaline glands rather than the engine. I was pushed into the seat by the acceleration, while I swiftly overdosed on the hormone. Brake hard moments later for turn one and feel the light steering offer you precision and control as I was able to make the car go exactly where I wanted with very little effort. In sport mode, the gearshifts come quickly, and I was to experience the race mode on the next lap. Shift times for the Stradale’s electro-actuated gearbox vary. In Auto mode, the gearbox takes 140 milliseconds. In sport mode that drops to 100 milliseconds, whereas in race mode it is down to 60 milliseconds. Sport and Race modes also open up flaps in the exhaust giving the audible presence of the MC Stradale an incredible fury.
A car this fast deserves extra-powerful brakes as well, and the Stradale boasts Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. The front end uses 380mm perforated brake discs with 6-piston calipers, while rear wheels use 360mm drilled brake discs with 4-piston calipers. A light dab on the brake pedal, and the car slowed down perfectly to enter the upcoming corner. It felt nimble and sure-footed around corners to say the least, benefitting from the lowered ride height as compared to the Gran Turismo S, apart from the massive, custom-made Pirelli tyres and taut suspension.
I completed a rapid, relatively quiet first lap and hit the race button as instructed. The rasp of the V8 transformed into a ferocious roar instantly and the gearchanges became so quick that you would almost miss them if you weren’t looking for them. They do lose smoothness in the process, especially on the upshifts. As instructed, approaching the first corner again, I held the paddle as long as I needed, the motion causing the gearbox to keep shifting down until I released the paddle. Evidently this helps concentration. When I turned into the corner, I could feel the suspension behaving much stiffer, the car seemingly enjoying more grip and myself, trying to get to grips with this extremely fast car. The luxurious howitzer shell of the previous lap had turned into a guided missile. I went quicker and quicker with every corner, gaining confidence with a smile that threatened to link both my ears. I was all set to break the lap record on lap 3 when I remembered that we were only allowed two laps each.
Short date, but hot date - these Italians really tease you, eh? My session was at end, but I understood this. The MC Stradale is an awesome flagship for the Italian brand, a blend of performance, passion and luxury. The brand is due here in partnership with the Shreyans Group and the first showroom should come up in Mumbai shortly, followed by a second one in Delhi next year. And then, you could buy this exotic car right here in India. What would it cost you? I can’t help you there - the price is on request only for the moment.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport first drive

The Italians know food, pretty damn well. It’s as fine an art as the art of dressing up, pursuing women, playing football or manufacturing cars. So the pasta dished out with a lamb ragout at Europa 92 is easily the best I have ever had the pleasure of digging into. It tastes and smells divine, every ribbon of pasta is deliciously smeared with the finest olive oil, the juices of a lamb that’s grazed ravenously in the Italian alps and let me not forget Modena’s speciality, balsamic vinegar! All of these come together to lend a series of unique flavours and tastes which I am not going to forget for a long time to come. Its almost ruined every other meal for me, that is how high its raised the bar where food is concerned.

That meal was a fitting finale after driving the exquisite Italian supercar, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport. Both the meal and the car had kept the mood ebullient throughout, the car through the day and the meal at night. My brief pit stops into Italy have seldom been unrewarding and this weekend then was no less. Onto the car then, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is no ordinary spin off of Maserati’s first 4-seater convertible. It’s gorgeous undoubtedly, probably more stunning than the GranCabrio and easily the most good looking convertible I have ever laid my eyes on and a definite shoe-in to the title equivalent of the Miss Universe.

The GranCabrio Sport is stunning on several levels, not just with its Pininfarina inspired lines and curves and the minute details that help differentiate the Sport from the standard Cabrio. You may in fact not even notice the detailing, which is not a good thing because you might want your neighbour to realise you’ve  got the Sport variant rather than him thinking it’s just the GranCabrio. So minute stuff like the red prongs on the trident logo reserved only for the most powerful Maseratis, the black lined headlamp cluster and the black grille, the small winglets along the edges of the front bumper and the specially made 20-inch alloys are subtle touches that add to its beauty.

The GranCabrio Sport is also beautiful to drive and it’s not a word I’d loosely use to describe this convertible. Where sports cars are concerned and convertibles to boot, there are cars that have more spring in their step than the GranCabrio Sport such as the R8 V10 Spyder. There are cars with a lot more flash and aggro tones such as the Gallardo Spyder, some such as the Aston Martin Vantage are as lithe as a pair of track and field shoes, none though possess the startlingly good looks of the GranSport Cabrio. This is an elegant car, driven in an unhurried fashion it feels graceful and were it not for the glorious sunny weather around Modena, driving with the top up would have ruined the mood that this car sets. It’s spectacular on the outside, especially in the new deep and rich wine red shade called Rosso Trionfale and with the creamy bright upholstery just as magnificent on the inside.

With the Sport tag comes a bit more power from the 4.7-litre V8 primarily used in the Stradale. A small ten per cent power increment over the Cabrio thanks to a different engine map and reduced friction for the tappets and camshaft lobes enhance performance. Further improvements in fluid dynamics improve noise insulation while at the same time improve performance and keep consumption and emission within tolerable limits.The small output hike translates to 456PS at 7000rpm, good enough for a 0-100kmph blast in 5.2 seconds. Torque has also increased to 510Nm, a substantial enough hike over the Cabrio’s 490Nm.

The Sport then is fast and sounds very enthusiastic while doing fast thanks to a tuned exhaust note with bigger exhaust bypass valves that are ideally sampled with the targa roof lowered. What this car isn’t is aggressive and violent. I also got my hands on a GranTurismo MC Stradale for an hour and that felt savagely fast, worthy of its four point harness and low set carbon fibre seats. The GranCabrio Sport in contrast felt meek, perfect for a blast down the French Riviera rather than slogging at a track. And yet Maserati has sharpened several aggregates of the GranCabrio to make the Sport competent enough to register some very hot laps.

Apart from horsepower and torque ratings, the GranSport Cabrio gets the sharper MC Auto Shift transmission. Its got five driving modes but is quickest in auto sport mode where the shift points are altered resulting in supercar like performance. This transmission allows the engine to rev up to the red line in a gear, but does not initiate kickdown allowing drivers to hold gears. The transmission ratios are closer than in the GranCabrio and a launch control function makes quick traffic light getaways a momentous occasion. Shifts are also 50 per cent  quicker than the standard GranCabrio while the transmission also allows the engine to rev 500rpm more before the rev limiter is hit. 

Climbing to logic defying speeds is one thing, but any sports car shines thanks to a healthy working relationship between engine, transmission and suspension. In the GranCabrio Sport the suspension is stiff without being harsh and yet compliant enough for a plush cruise.

The GranCabrio Sports big ticket item is its Skyhook suspension system, which is basically an adaptive suspension system which helps you eke the maximum damping comfort in urban areas while ensuring a heightened state of dynamics when you seek out the perfect corner. At cruising speeds there is a slight amount of body roll and the aluminum dampers soften up to deliver a comfortable ride. Switch to sport mode and the suspension stiffens up considerably without turning entirely hard.

The GranCabrio Sport still retains its plushness, this car has no pretensions about where its loyalties lie and it’s not the track yet its handling improves and the steering feels more direct and heavier as speeds increase. Turn in is sharper and more precise but don’t go expecting the GranCabrio Sport to keep step with its more track and performance based sibling, the MC Stradale.

On the motorways and B-roads around Modena the GranCabrio Sport felt composed and stable though deep in the twisties, it does get a bit twitchy but that’s only because the torque comes bursting through the seams instantly, stressing the tyres for grip. There were enough opposite lock moments and though the weight distribution, 49 per cent at the front and 52 at the rear is balanced on paper, the rear does feel a bit heavy and ponderous when climbing uphill. And yet what I liked most is its flickability, for a car that is 4.81 metres long and weighs just a little under two tonnes, that sort of immediacy to flick through traffic is vital. I also liked the ride, it’s apt for our conditions where a pothole could upset the breakfast you had last week. This car glides and thank god we drove in Italy because the roads here are nothing like what the Germans make. There are potholes and bumps and all sorts of undulations that provide a wide battery of tests for the suspension. And the GranCabrio Sport aces each of those tests.

I like cars that don’t compromise ride quality for the rigidity needed for better handling. It makes them more practical and nicer to drive everyday rather than to be reserved just for special occasions. I also like cars that look and feel special both on the outside and inside. And this cocktail of majesty and sporty is a rare breed. The GranCabrio Sport isn’t so much a sports car as much as it is a poser’s car passing off by association its infectiously good looks onto everything and everyone around, making everything a sight more beautiful to look at. It’s also one of the grandest open top grand tourers around with space for four full size passengers. It’s every bit Italian, as authentic, superbly dressed and as tasty as a plate of linguini covered in ragu with a generous sprinkling of mozzarella on top. Makes it a dish that’s absolutely divine!

Maserati’s mass market approach

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat and Chrysler, has set a typically astronomic target for Fiat’s Maserati subsidiary. By 2015, he intends the luxury sports car maker to be selling 10 times as many cars as today: an increase from fewer than 6,000 in 2011 to about 60,000. The extra volume will come, Maserati hopes, from two new models that will use Chrysler platforms and components. The Kubang SUV (above) unveiled at Frankfurt in September is built on a Jeep Grand Cherokee platform and the forthcoming sports saloon, smaller and cheaper than the existing Quattroporte, will share components with the Chrysler 300. Interesting that both the Grand Cherokee and 300 started development when Chrysler was part of DaimlerChrysler and still incorporate Mercedes technology.