The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible has the look of a dynamic, modern and elegant cabriolet, finely detailed but not overwrought. The lines mimic the hard top Maserati GranTurismo, with a soft-top roof designed with a false C-pillar that preserves the shape of a coupe. Long and low, with a long sloping hood, the GranTurismo Convertible has 20-inch wheels with three trapezoidal side ports. Rounded fender bulges impart a feline quality. At the rear are large, twin oval chrome tailpipes.

Viewed from the front, the distinctive oval Maserati grille with chrome trident dominates. The windshield is large and steeply raked, and with headlights mounted high above the grille, the effect is something like a shark or ray. With the low stance, rear spoiler and long, sloping hood, aerodynamic drag is reduced to 0.35, and just 0.39 with the top down. A continuous band of chrome trim circles the cabin, subtly suggesting an open-top speedboat.

The soft top takes less than 30 seconds to deploy and can be dropped using the key fob. It is made of a substantial three-layered material that sandwiches an insulating layer between an outer canopy layer and inner liner. It is supported by steel and aluminum spokes and designed so that it does not distort to compromise the aerodynamic profile. The top is available in six different colors.

The soft top is more easily packaged than a convertible hard top, with fewer compromises in weight, complexity and space. Even so, the trunk on the GranTurismo Convertible is rather small due to the retractable top.

Interior Features

The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is designed to offer enough space for four adults, seated in an elegant and luxurious cabin. The interior is comfortable and gracious, with equal attention paid to rear seat passengers, who have unusual access to amenities, roomy seats set at a comfortable angle, and ample legroom. The cabin is divided by a central tunnel that distributes the space between the occupants along the car's length. Front and rear, the GranTurismo Convertible's cabin is attractive, tactile and built for comfort. Plush seats are upholstered in soft Poltrona Frau leather, and a variety of real wood materials are used for the dashboard, door panel and rear flank features, including Carbalho wood from Brazil. Because every piece of real wood has a different grain, each car is unique.

Up front, the dashboard extends horizontally and its upper section features a characteristic V, a distinctive Maserati symbol, with a circular analog clock in the center of the dash. Unlike some ultra-luxury cars, the dash is simple and easily understood, not littered with buttons, switches and dials.

The interior is executed in fine detail. Exposed stitching on the armrest is hand-sewn. The buttons on the steering wheel and dash have a thin chrome surround, and the back of the steering paddles have an Alcantara finish. Even the seat belt fixtures have elegant chrome rings around the belts where they emerge from the seats. A Maserati Trident logo is embossed on the headrests.

Cabin electronics are state-of-the-art luxury car equipment. The GranTurismo Convertible's navigation system consists of a 7-inch, high-resolution color display located in the center of the dashboard, The display houses controls for the CD player, navigation system, radio and on-board computer, which displays average mileage and instant mileage, among other things. The GranTurismo Convertible also has a hard disk that can contain up to 30 GB and can store up to 180 hours of music obtained directly from CDs or downloaded as Mp3 files. A USB port is located in the glovebox compartment, so a computer or other player can be used as an audio source.

The steering wheel has controls for audio and other frequently used functions. In addition, the audio system, navigation system and telephone, where applicable, can be managed using voice commands. The GranTurismo Convertible can also read SMS messages and provide traffic information. An iPod connection is available on request, allowing the owner to control tunes through the Bose audio system.

The Bose sound system was developed with open-top operation in mind. The car is equipped with an AudioPilot system that has a small microphone mounted in the dash. The microphone monitors noise level inside the cabin and adjusts sound equalization accordingly. Sound is automatically adjusted for high-speed wind swish, and readjusts when the car rolls to a complete stop. With no roof to contain the sound, 12 speakers were used to deliver audio to all four seats. Key among them are the two woofers, located on the rear panels, and a rear bass box that extends behind the rear armrest.

On the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, the air conditioning system has been equipped with dual logic metering to provide desired comfort levels with the top up or down. The system automatically adjusts to maintain the set temperature. With the top down and two on board, buffeting can be practically eliminated by use of a windstop. The windstop was developed specially for the GranTurismo Convertible, and is available as an option.

With the top down, the hidden roll bar mechanism can be seen, located behind the rear headrests. The extendable roll bars work with the top down or up. If the top is down, the roll bars extend through the rear window to protect the occupants.