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Interior Design

The more-aggressive look is carried over inside the open-topped cabin, with a new seat-face design and drilled aluminum pedals.

The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport introduces changes to the gear-shifting system, with Maserati's Active Shifting paddles now standard. The paddles, drawn from the Trofeo racing car, are longer than the standard steering column-mounted paddles and make shifting easier in enthusiastic driving.

The 2012 GranTurismo Convertible Sport debuts two new interior colors in rich leather: Bianco Pregiato and Grigio Chrono. Bianco Pregiato is a more-pure white color than the existing pearl color and can be used everywhere except the top of the dashboard. Grigio Chrono is a darker grey, developed to complement the new Rosso Trionfale body color.

To differentiate it further from the standard GranTurismo Convertible, the GranTurismo Convertible Sport badge will be positioned on the dashboard in front of the passenger.

While the front passenger seat matches the driver's seat by receiving adjustable lumbar support as standard, all four seats incorporate the new M-Design seat stitching. This design reflects classical Maserati grille designs and replicates the design in the central seat panel, all crafted with Poltrona Frau's finest leather. The Trident-embossed headrests can also be enhanced with customized stitching and customers can choose 13 different colors to contrast the leather of the seat.

444-hp Engine

The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport uses the latest version of Maserati's sonorous, all-alloy 4.7-liter V8, taken straight from the high-performance GranTurismo MC. This naturally aspirated engine produces 444 horsepower (331 kW) at 7000 rpm: that is 10 hp more than the GranTurismo Convertible. It is also rich with torque, with a peak of 376 lb-ft (510 Nm) arriving at 4750 rpm. Eighty percent of its maximum torque is already available at just 2500 rpm.

The performance increases are a result of Maserati's Friction Reduction Program, which has made the GranTurismo Convertible Sport's engine more reactive to the driver's most-nuanced inputs. This program included a revision of the oil sump's fluid dynamics and the application of a Diamond-Like Coating to the tappets and the super-finished camshaft lobes. Besides added power, torque and responsiveness, the Friction Reduction Program has lowered the GranTurismo Convertible Sport's fuel consumption by six percent.

The new exhaust tips also help the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport to give a richer engine sound when the bypass valves are activated. The valves are always open in Manual-Sport mode, while they are open above 2500 rpm in Auto-Sport mode. This exhaust system allows Maserati to hit its target of improving the car's performance and also give its customers access to a new open air musical theatre and a rich sound experience.  However, the valves are closed in Normal mode, giving the driver and passengers a quieter ride.

Transmission

The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport is the first Maserati to match the upgraded, 444 hp version of the 4.7-liter engine with the day-to-day luxury of a fully automatic transmission.

This six-speed transmission includes the super-fast MC Auto Shift mode and has been developed for the GranTurismo Convertible Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The MC Auto Shift mode contains a launch-control mode and is active in both Manual Sport and Automatic Sport modes to provide faster gearshift times and to automatically "blip" the throttle during down-shifts.

To operate the MC Start Strategy (launch-control mode), the driver turns off the MSP in Auto Sport mode, then holds the brake pedal while pressing the accelerator. The driver should reach the optimum revs for a fast start (between 2300-2500 rpm), and then simultaneously release the brake pedal and press the accelerator pedal completely. This maneuver is only recommended for use on a race track or in closed conditions of complete safety.

Like the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the MC Auto Shift gives the driver even-greater engagement by holding gears in the Manual Sport mode, even when the engine reaches its rev limiter, and introducing a digital in-dash display to indicate the ideal gear-shift timing.

The transmission gives the driver five distinct operating modes: Auto-Normal, Manual-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Sport and Ice.

Chassis and Handling

The handling has received significant attention, with a new, sportier tune of the Skyhook active-suspension system and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.

The upgraded "Sport Skyhook" uses acceleration sensors to register wheel and chassis movement. It sends this data to a central processor, which also analyzes the road conditions and the driving style and instantly and precisely regulates the dampers to suit any situation. With the GranTurismo Convertible Sport, the Skyhook system received upgraded management software and dampers to give a sharper focus on handling, grip and balance, while even the springs and anti-roll bars have been upgraded.

Derived from the GranTurismo's high-strength steel monocoque architecture, the GranTurismo Convertible and GranTurismo Convertible Sport feature aluminum structural reinforcements beneath the floor for extra rigidity at the cost of only 220 lbs (100 kg) compared to the GranTurismo S.

Attached to the front of this architecture are aluminum wishbones with forged aluminum hub carriers and struts, aluminum gas dampers and springs, while at the rear adds a radius bar for each wheel to control toe-in.

The changes to the brakes, with grooved, ventilated and drilled discs on all four wheels, have targeted a sporty, responsive and consistent feeling for the driver.

The grooves have been designed to keep the brake pads clean by avoiding dust build-up, which can reduce braking performance, while the drilled holes ensure the uniform wear of the disc and the pads for long-term consistency. This all helps the GranTurismo Convertible Sport to stop in just 111 feet (33.8 meters) from 60 mph.

Optional equipment

TThe 2012 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport will have the MC Sport Line packages available immediately at its launch, including interior and exterior carbon fiber features. For example it is possible to change the front splitter to carbon-fiber, while the side skirts are also available in black.

The stro-design, 20-inch wheels are also available in Shiny Anthracite Grey to create a darker, more-menacing look. It is also possible to change the body-colored waist line around the cabin from black (Shadow line) to the same Chrome-line that is standard on the GranTurismo Convertible.

The Chrome-line can also be fitted to the door handles, the capote moldings and the exhaust tips.

Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications