Frankfurt supercar: Maserati GranCabrio
Maserati has been quietly upping its sales and profile with the GranSport and Quattroporte, and the GranCabrio is the next logical step. It offers open-top thrills for four, with decent rear seat space, while the fabric roof helps retain a good-sized boot.
What's all the fuss about?
New Maseratis don't come along all that often, so the GranCabrio was bound to cause a rumpus. Added to that, any new version of a supercar is warmly received and when it's as sensational to look at as the GranCabrio, Maserati was certain to be on to a winner. To top it all, this is Maserati's first ever four-seat convertible.
Any new technology?
There's nothing groundbreaking in the way the GranCabrio has been designed or built, but Maserati says that using a fabric roof helps keep weight down compared to a folding metal roof. This is important as Maserati has added extra stiffening and bracing to keep the car rigid now it doesn't have a fixed roof. This in turn means the handling should not be compromised by the conversion to a soft-top.
When can I buy one?
Get your order in now and you could be driving a Maserati GranCabrio in March 2010. That is when the first cars will roll off the production line, but you will need around £90,000 to put yourself in that queue.
Frankfurt supercar: Maserati GranCabrio pictures
