2013 Maserati Gran Cabrio MC Reviews and News

Maserati.Inc - The Italian automaker threw in a revised, more aggressive front fascia, and the new nose helps stretch the convertible's overall length by nearly two inches. The GranCabrio also features reworked adaptive headlights with LED daytime running lights, and a rear spoiler that produces more downforce than the standard issue kit is part of the mix as well.

Inside, the Maserati GranCabrio MC delivers redesigned seats up front, which offer more bolstering and can be hewn from carbon fiber for extra coin. And the new design helps the machine deliver a bit more rear legroom out back. The lump dumps 460 horsepower onto the rear tires via a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC Stradale at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and two years later, the company is bringing the MC Stradale package back, but it’s the GranCabrio that will benefit from its features.

The GranCabrio MC is 48 millimeters longer than the standard GranCabrio and will adopt a highly sporty and aggressive look. Its front end was inspired by the coupe version of the MC Stradale, while the rear gets a large spoiler, with the third brake light built into the luggage compartment inside the spoiler. The Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale will also utilize the Coupe’s 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 460 HP and a peak torque of 383 lbs-ft at 4,750 rpm. The engine is mated to an automatic six-speed ZF transmission and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 179 mph.

UPDATE 10/02/2012: Maserati has unveiled a cool trailer video for their latest GranCabrio MC. Enjoy! gallery: 2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale .

Exterior 

The new GranCabrio MC exterior design was inspired by the Maserati Trofeo MC World Series and the GT4 version. It blends sportiness, dynamism, the search for aerodynamic perfection, elegance, and style.

The car is 48 millimeters longer than the standard GranCabrio and features design elements taken directly from the MC Stradale. The GranCabrio’s bonnet incorporates two generous air outlets at the center to optimize cooling of the V8 engine, while two additional air outlets added in the front wings are used to cool the brake discs. The car’s headlights feature LEDs for the daytime running light (DRL) function. At the rear, the car gets a large spoiler for greater negative lift at high speeds. The new GranCabrio MC is offered with standard 20" MC Design rims, available in glossy Titanio or matte Grafite.

Based on the experience gained in racing, Maserati obtained an impressive aerodynamic lift coefficient (measured at 140 km/h) which is 10% lower at the front and 25% lower at the rear compared to the standard GranCabrio.

Interior 

The rear passengers will now enjoy 20 mm more legroom thanks to a redesigned frame for the front seats. The seats were also revised to provide more lateral containment to keep the driver firmly planted in place whilst whipping the GranCabrio MC through the twisties without impeding on comfort.

For those that desire a little extra sport, Maserati is also offering optional carbon-fiber seat frames. The steering wheel was also redesigned with the rim flattened at the top and bottom for greater maneuverability, also for sports and high-speed use. The model is also being offered with Trofeo-design steering wheel paddles as standard, with increased dimensions as seen on the GranTurismo Sport, and an aluminum pedal unit.

Engine and Transmission 

It is the 4.7-liter V-8 engine that replaced the aging 4.2-liter Maserati engine.
This beast is tuned right next to Ferrari engines and boasts four valves per cylinder, two cams per bank – totaling four cams – and dual variable valve timing, allowing each bank to adjust its timing separately. On top of all of the technology, Maserati tore into the guts of this engine and performed a 5-point balancing to reduce its inertial rolling, so the engine is not only powerful at 460 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, but it revs up freely and quickly. This impressive engine links up to an equally impressive 6-speed ZF-built transmission.

This transmission can be used in Auto-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Normal, Manual-Sport, and Ice modes. In Manual mode, gear changes are carried out directly by the driver through the steering wheel paddles, as with a truly manual gearbox. In Manual-Normal mode, the driver can change gear until the threshold value is reached, while in Manual-Sport mode the gear is maintained until the driver next changes gear, even if this may result in over-revving and the intervention of the limiter.

This combination of power and technology helps propel the GranCabrio MC to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.9 seconds.

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2013 Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport News and Reviews

Maserati.Inc - The new Maserati GranCabrio Sport consolidates its presence on the convertible car market with completely revamped exteriors and a more powerful engine.

The new front bumper, with redesigned profile to enhance aesthetics and functionality, new headlights, a new, even more powerful engine and an upgraded suspension system make the new GranCabrio Sport a point of reference in the convertible car market.

Already one of the most highly regarded in the world of sports cars, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport's bodywork has undergone a restyling which skilfully harmonises the characteristics of the GranTurismo Sport. The steering wheel, with new design, is now more ergonomic and, in combination with the extended Trofeo-design paddles and light aluminium pedals, is better suited to sports driving thanks to a flattened rim and accentuated grip profile.

 The new grey EcoChrome materials for the interiors and the Poltrona Frau leather upholstery complete the existing characteristics, such as the steering wheel transmission paddles and the aluminium pedals.

Both the hardware and software of the engine have been improved significantly, improving its power by 10 HP and torque by 10 Nm, without adversely affecting consumption or emissions. At 7,000 rpm, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport delivers 338 kW (460 HP) with a considerable torque of 520 Nm at 4,750 rpm.

The automatic six-speed ZF transmission with MC Auto Shift is perfectly capable of handling the exceptional performance of the powerful V8 and derives from the transmission of the GranTurismo Sport. The Maserati GranCabrio Sport with MC Auto Shift transmission can reach 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds. The Maserati GranCabrio Sport was designed to combine peerless driving comfort for all occupants with optimum handling at high speeds.

Exceptional performance and road holding, as well as the handling of a great sports car, are qualities of the GranCabrio Sport that few other sports convertibles can boast. This is thanks to the shock absorbers with Sport Skyhook system, the most recent development of the Maserati damping control system. The Sport Skyhook system constantly adjusts the GranCabrio Sport's shock absorbers, adapting them to the road conditions.

With the aid of a new rear anti-roll bar which is 12% more rigid, the Sport Skyhook system allows the vertical rigidity of the Maserati GranCabrio Sport to be increased by 10% in Sport mode.

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The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte Review and News

Maserati Inc. -  The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte performs with some of the verve of a sports car, and aims to make new converts from those who drive stodgy luxury cars.

The Quattroporte--the name means "four doors" in Italian--pairs a roomy interior and nice proportions with a sleek shape penned by the design house Pininfarina. By design, the Quattroporte is arguably more coupe-like than any other four-door--even in these days of seemingly countless four-door coupes.

Its silhouette is recognizable from a distance, and even piecemeal, many of the details like its shark-like front end, aggressively raked windshield and smoothly sculpted roofline all look directly borrowed from a grand-touring sports car. 

The elegant tail is a welcome contrast in a world of rising-beltline sedans, and it accentuates the long-and-low elegance. 

The Quattroporte's interior stands out from the luxury-car norm as well, with a richness that's simply lacking in all the German alternatives, with fine detail work, real wood veneers, soft, lightly processed leather upholstery, and leather piping. Additionally, doors open with a softened electric assist.

The phrase "four-door sports car" has been used elsewhere in the market, but it really applies here. From the driver's seat, the Quattroporte feels dynamic and engaging, and much more like a four-door sports car than a luxury cruiser, or even than a well-honed German sport sedan, and even though the QP has four real doors it tends to meet sporty coupes halfway in the game of compromise. Quattroporte Sport models get a 434-horsepower, 4.7-liter Ferrari-derived V-8, while the Quattroporte Sport GT S model gets a 444-hp version. 

The GT S posts an official 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 178 mph. In either case, the engine sounds and revs like exotic sports-car material, loping along at idle but sounding a bit savage at the low and mid revs, then hitting a smooth sonorous high at 7,500 rpm. We recommend the Skyhook air suspension, as it tends to make the car feel just as buttoned-down while greatly improving ride comfort. 

In addition to very limited trunk space and tight back-seat space, there are some cabin materials and fits that may be below the standard for a $140k+ vehicle, although with build-to-order options and boutique-level service those are really minor quibbles.

With a wide range of options and features, including upholstery finishes, colors, and trim, it's quite easy to drive the Quattroporte's price much higher. Key differences in the Sport GT S model include Trofeo Design "Active Shifting" paddles, a more aggressive program for the transmission, a sport suspension, special Poltrona Frau leather with Alcantara (faux-suede) inserts, and a sport exhaust that sounds even better.

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2013 Maserati GranTurismo Sport Reviews and news

Maserati Inc. - Maserati is beginning to act its age. Sales, build quality, and reliability have been on a steady ascent since the maker introduced the current Quattroporte in 2003.

The previous decades saw Maserati lead an existence typified by exotic exteriors wrapped around temperamental hardware. To help keep the GT’s momentum, Maserati brought the coupe and convertible in for a quick makeover before the Levante SUV and sub-Quattroporte Ghibli sedan arrive next year and steal all the headlines.

Changes to the 2013 GranTurismo Sport editions run from cosmetic touches to horsepower-increasing engine mods. First, let’s cover the aesthetics. The front fascia has been slightly tweaked for a more aggressive appearance, and a splitter resides below the familiar Maserati grille. Although 

the basic shape of the headlamps remains unchanged, they now include bixenon illumination, LED DRLs, and adaptive lighting control, the latter tracking the movement of the steering wheel up to 15 degrees. Side skirts come standard on the Sport, as do enlarged fender vents—referring to them as portholes makes Maserati reps bristle—to aid in the extraction of hot air from the engine bay. New mirrors, 20-inch wheels (available in four styles), and more darkly tinted taillight lenses round out the exterior revisions.

The big news inside includes entirely new leather seats with integrated headrests front and rear, a pricey proposition—crash-test certifications don’t come cheap—for a car well into its life cycle. The new seat’s bolsters deliver comfort and support in equal measure, cradling but not constricting skeletal frames with the welcome familiarity of a favorite pair of jeans. Rear-seat passengers get a nominal three-quarters of an inch or so extra kneeroom in the switch. There’s no missing the shiny, high-grip aluminum brake and accelerator pedals, though.

Standard technology features sprinkled throughout the leather-lined cockpit include a Bose sound system with satellite radio, iPod connectivity, and a parking warning system specifically tuned for the types of curbs found here in the States. 

Surprisingly, no backup camera is available yet; Maserati says its arrival is held up by an integration problem with the in-dash head unit. Options on the coupe and convertible Masers we sampled in Sonoma, California, included a faux-suede headliner ($1700), red contrasting seat stitching ($450), trident-logo headrest stitching ($625), piano black interior trim ($2500), blue anodized brake calipers ($860), and gray paint for the 20-inch aluminum wheels ($800).

Like many vehicles that debuted as coupes, the GranTurismo convertible’s design can be somewhat polarizing, opinions formed largely on your vantage point. From the outside, the convertible sits naked and vulnerable with its top down, the loss of the coupe’s elegant rear pillar and backlight lessening the drama of the vehicle’s curves, particularly the rear fenders. The GranTurismo was never a class leader in torsional rigidity, and cutting the lid off its steel monocoque doesn’t improve matters. Wrap your hands around the new flat-bottomed steering wheel and twist the key—no pushbutton starter here—and the 4.7-liter V-8 burbles to life with a newfound soundtrack.

Now sporting 453 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque (versus 444 hp and 376 lb-ft in the 2012 Sport), the engine features redesigned pistons, revised engine mapping, and a radical advancement of the ignition timing—all springing from the desk of Paolo Martinelli, powertrain director for Maserati. Formula 1 die-hards might recognize Martinelli’s name from his decades spent as the head of the Scuderia Ferrari engine program, and Maserati assures us his title is more than honorary; the engineer most definitely got his hands dirty overseeing the engine revisions.

Pick a Mode

With handling aided by a claimed weight distribution of 49 percent front and 51 percent rear, we had a ball piloting the cars through some tight and twisting California back roads, running the standard, ZF-built six-speed “MC Auto Shift” transmission through its gears via the column-mounted paddles. Full Sport mode (accessed via a button on the console) not only reroutes the exhaust to produce a richer, more enthusiastic tone and enables automatic throttle blips on downshifts but also allows the driver to hold a gear indefinitely—a trifecta of parameters that extract the finest operatic performance this powertrain is capable of producing.

The Sport mode firms up the adaptive suspension by 10 percent, but we’d be lying if we said we noticed much of a difference in turn-in behavior or body motions; it did, however, seem to amplify road imperfections. The steering is nicely weighted and direct, the control-arm suspension working to maintain tire contact and keep the message from the helm undiluted. Braking is consistent and progressive, the Brembo six-piston calipers hauling either car down from speed confidently.

Push the console button once again to return to Standard mode, though, and its (slightly) softer side returns to the fore, with a more muted exhaust, softer ride quality, and less-aggressive shifts.

Whatever your preferred chassis setting, though, the GranTurismo keeps its true GT mission in mind; Maserati makes no secret of the fact that it wants the car to deliver a well-balanced, comfortable driving experience that keeps a little something in reserve, it says, for “when you put the stick to it.

” If you’re willing to trade creature comforts for a few 10ths or additional lateral g-forces, there are plenty of $125,000-plus cars that fill the bill. But if you’re the type who takes as much pleasure in perusing the label on a wine bottle as you do drinking the liquid inside, Maserati has a GranTurismo with your name on it.

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