An all-new GranCabrio convertible will come quickly after Maserati’s new GranTurismo coupe following a parallel development program.
Maserati will rip the top off its all-new 2023 Maserati GranTurismo in time for summer in Australia in late 2024.
The new Italian four-seater convertible is almost ready, but Maserati appears to be delaying the official unveiling of the GranCabrio to leave clear space between it and the GranTurismo coupe it revealed at the start of this week.
The development program for the luxury Italian coupe, totally renewed with a choice of electric or petrol power in the same car, has included side-by-side work on the next all-new GranCabrio convertible.
The GranCabrio will also come with a choice of either petrol or electric drive, and the battery-powered Folgore version should come close to the performance of the GranTurismo – 610kW and 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds – but losing out on weight and boot space.
Maserati gave an unexpected preview of the GranCabrio – but only with few details – during the official presentation from Italy for the GranTurismo.
It confirmed the GranCabrio line-up would mirror the GranTurismo, meaning the battery-electric Folgore – Italian for lightning – and two petrol versions: the mid-grade Modena and track-focused Trofeo.
It also showed a diagram of the basic body of the GranTurismo, alongside the same view of the GranCabrio.
The body-in-white diagram, chosen to illustrate the materials and construction of the new coupe – with extensive use of aluminium and high-strength steel in the frame – included side-by-side views of the coupe and convertible.
“This modular approach enables efficient customisation of the body frame to different applications,” said Massimo Capaldi, head of Maserati Product planning.
“This platform has been created by a white sheet for the GranTurismo. We are not planning to share this platform with anyone, though it’s suitable for many vehicle applications.”
Mr Capaldi was highlighting the ability to build the battery-electric and petrol-powered versions of the car on the same platform, but the picture shown to international media in an event last week also highlighted the shared basics of the coupe and convertible.
It also showed the extra strengthening work needed for the convertible, with high-strength steel panels behind the rear seats and along the side sills below the doors.
Asked if the chassis would also be a step towards other future Maserati models, Mr Capaldi was honest and direct: “Yes, if needed.”
Then he also confirmed the existence, and timing, and model range, for the GranCabrio.
“Yes, in the next year we will also see those models and the line-up will be the same as the coupe,” he said.
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