2012 Maserati GranCabrio Sport Review

After a fantastic world with spruce convertible at 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati will use the Geneva Motor Show 2011 to take his grand-touring converted to a new level of performance and handling with the Maserati Gran Sport convertible.

Designed to provide a model tree to sit side more convertibles alongside Gran Turismo S and Quattroporte Sport GT S Maserati Gran Sport Convertible uses a more powerful and more fuel efficient Maserati, all alloy, 4.7-liter V8 coupled with six-speed ZF automatic transmission.

This naturally aspirated engine producing in this configuration is 331 kW (450 hp) and 510 Nm at the top of the rich, the fat torque curve. Maserati program for reducing friction has Maserati Gran Sport Convertible engine is more sensitive to input the most nuanced of the driver, while achieving a 6% reduction in fuel consumption. Top speed Maserati Gran Sport Convertible is 285 km / h.

This six-speed transmission features a high-speed software Auto MC-Shift is designed for the Maserati Gran Sport Convertible directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. Maj MC Auto to optimize the results of reaction of a commitment to change even more intense.

Handling has received attention, too, with review and update the Skyhook active suspension - now sports development - and the adoption of the grooved and drilled with dual-cast brake discs.

Visually, the Maserati Gran Sport convertible features a more pronounced look-dynamic. This does not begin to spruce convertibles with a pointed nose and a black grille trident with red accents. The headlights now have a black look with brands blank page, while the front corner splitters, side skirts and redesigned are both body color. The Maserati Gran Sport Convertible also introduces a new body color for Maserati: Trionfale Rosso inspired by the Italian national colors of red used on the Maserati racing 1950 - 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth world title at the wheel of an F1 250F red Maserati.

Maserati GranCabrio Priced from £95,630 in the UK

The convertible version of the Maserati GrandTurismo coupe, the GranCabrio, is available for order now in the UK with OTR prices starting from £95,630. The first right-hand drive examples will reach Maserati's showrooms in April 2010. It comes equipped with a folding fabric roof and according to Maserati, it features the longest wheelbase (2,492mm) of any convertible available on the market, meaning that it should offer adequate room for all four passengers.

The GranCabrio is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 delivering 440 HP and 490Nm (362 lb-ft) of torque. All that action is sent to the rear wheels through a ZF automatic six-speed gearbox with Maserati announcing a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 281 km/h or 175 mph.

Buyers can choose from 14 different colors for the body and six different shades for the soft top. In addition to the wide range of options, Maserati also offers a bespoke four-piece leather luggage set which fits perfectly into the boot.

Study Shows that Supercar and Luxury Automakers Reduced Average CO2 Emissions in 2009

Study Shows that Supercar and Luxury Automakers Reduced Average CO2 Emissions in 2009

It's not only volume brands that are reducing their average CO2 performance across their fleet, so are supercar and luxury vehicle makers, according to a report by auto consultancy JATO Dynamics that compares the average CO2 output of vehicles sold by selected specialty car brands in the first half (H1) of 2008 to the same period in 2009. With the exception of Maserati that recorded a 20g/km increase in CO2 output, all other makers included in the study showed a reduction in the average CO2 emissions of the cars they sold in the first half of 2009 compared to H1 2008.

"Of course, supercars are starting from a high base and have more scope to reduce emissions than mainstream cars, but the speed with which they are improving their CO2 performance should be credited," commented David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult.

"Sales volumes might be on a smaller scale, but those manufacturers we studied sell close to 100,000 cars combined each year, and we know well that the days of supercar makers being excluded from the environmental debate are over," Girolamo added.

Ferrari showed the highest reduction in CO2 emissions as the Italian supercar maker recorded a 40.4 g/km improvement in CO2 output of new cars sold in H1 2009 over the same period in 2008.

JATO Dynamic claims that this is the greatest volume reduction of any brand on sale in Europe representing a 9.5% improvement matching that of the best performing volume brand of H1 2009 (in Europe) which is Chevrolet.

This also shows that Ferrari is well on its track to achieving its goal to trim down CO2 emissions from 400 g/km per vehicle to 280-300 g/km, by 2012.

Percentage-wise, the overall winner in CO2 volume reduction is Alpina, a German maker that sells modified BMW cars, with a 14.1% improvement over H1 2008 - although notably on a smaller scale than many of the other companies included in the study.

However, readers should be aware of a significant factor when it comes to CO emissions and that is none other than the annual km / miles covered by these specialty cars. Meaning a Ferrari or a Lamborghini may deliver for example 350g of C02 per km, but many of these cars are driven less than 30,000 km / 20,000 miles in a period of ten years. Do the math and that comes to a (theoretical) average of 7 tons of CO2.

A VW Golf 1.4 TSI 122HP with a manual transmission for example returns 144g of CO2 per km but will cover an average of around 20,000km or more per year which comes to 28.8 tons of CO2 in ten years of use (that is, if the car has been well serviced during that time).