Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Axed
Maserati is hard at work on a new GranTurismo, but those looking for a new drop-top model will be disappointed.
According to a report from Car Magazine the 2018 GranTurismo will be a sportier vehicle than the outgoing model. The publication says that the CEO himself acknowledges the new cars niche market for hard-core enthusiasts and noted that the cabriolet version catered mostly to one demographic: Americans.
“The Americans love it, but one major market alone simply does not generate enough volume,” Maserati CEO Harald Wester said. “The new coupe will be a fully focused driver’s car – nimble, agile, responsive and stuffed with serious V8 power, not to mention a cascade of low-end torque.” While the upcoming GranTurismo will house a V8, the company could also fit its smaller V6 engine in the car, especially if it wants to increase sales volume. The twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 can put out between 350 to 520bhp, while the V8 manages 560bhp.
Underpinning the new model is the same platform that is at work in the new Quattroporte and Ghibli, but the sports car will be rear-drive only.
While no GranCabrio replacement is in the future, a new convertible is on the way for Maserati, based on the upcoming Alfieri.
[Source: Car Magazine]
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Sami has an unquenchable thirst for car knowledge and has been at AutoGuide for the past six years. He has a degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto and has won multiple journalism awards from the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada. Sami is also on the jury for the World Car Awards.
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A shame but perhaps not just the demographic being limited to USA. The car, in grancabrio form, is no match for the slightly more expensively priced California .......... and absolutely no match for the Bentley. Ride wise Bentley by far and away better and then at the end of ownership the residual value of the grancabrio is dreadful.