Maserati Grancabrio sport goes on sale

Maserati GB Maserati GB has confirmed pricing for the new Maserati GranCabrio Sport at £102,615 on the road. The first right-hand drive vehicles will reach UK clients in October 2011. Officially unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow earlier this year, the Pininfarina designed four seater convertible was received with great enthusiasm by clients and media alike.
Conceived as a harder-edged GranCabrio, the GranCabrio Sport uses a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati’s all-alloy 4.7-litre V8. This configuration of the naturally aspirated engine produces 331 kW (450 HP) and a maximum torque of 510Nm at 4750 rpm.
Maserati’s Friction Reduction Programme has made the GranCabrio Sport’s engine more reactive to the driver’s inputs, whilst achieving a further 6% reduction in fuel consumption. Its ZF six-speed automatic transmission includes the super-fast MC Auto Shift software. It allows the GranCabrio Sport to reach a top speed of 285 km/h (177 mph) and the 0-100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint is now reduced to 5.2s.
The Skyhook active-suspension system has been revised to grant a sportier feel and so has the braking system which features grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.
The mechanical changes also include a revised exhaust system which automatically opens its bypass valves in Sport mode to provide an even richer sound.
Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is characterised by a more-pronounced dynamic look: from the black grille featuring a Trident with red accents to the black look headlights with white sidemarks. Front corner splitters and redesigned side skirts matching the colour of the car’s body, black oval exhaust tips and 20” Astro-design wheels complete the dynamic look of the GranCabrio Sport.
The look is carried over inside the cabin with newly designed seats and driver-focused contents such as longer Trofeo-design gear-shift paddles and drilled aluminium pedals.
The GranCabrio Sport also features a new body colour:  Rosso Trionfale, a rich metallic red inspired by the Italian national colour used on 1950s racing Maseratis.
Inside the cabin, two new leather colours are available for the new M-design seats: Bianco Pregiato, a brilliant ivory shade; and Grigio Chrono, a sporty, dark tone of grey.