In the case of the 2013 Maserati Gran Cabrio – there is individualism in spades. Maserati has always positioned itself as a stylish alternative to the mainstream luxury marques. You could have the affluence of a Mercedes-Benz, but with Italian flair. It was always a car for individualists, not conformists.
The front fascia offers an aggressive visage without being obtrusive. The headlamps remain unchanged from last year but now include bixeneon illumination, LED DRL’s and adaptive lighting control, the latter follows the movement of the steering wheel up to 15 degrees. Along the side, there are enlarged openings – not portholes. Those things are for Buicks. Maseratis have “fender vents”. Around back, triangular LED lights flank an upswept tail that emphasizes the car’s athletic purpose, while the 20-inch wheels add the finishing touch.
Inside, the customer is welcomed by comfortable, body cradling seats with integrated headrests. The seats offer comfort for the straights and support for the bends in like measures. Front seats are heated (but not ventilated) with temperature control. The Maserati Gran Cabrio comes standard with features such as a navigation system and Bluetooth phone integration. In this cabin you can strap in three friends, and no one in the back will complain too much about rear seat comfort and not just because of the smooth ride. The Gran Cabrio is blessed with four adult-sized seats, not those in similar cars that are best used for packages.
The car’s superb Bose stereo system will probably remain in mint condition because the sound that comes from pushing the tiny pedal on the left is too good to interrupt. The real music comes from the Ferrari-sourced 4.7-liter V-8, rated at 444 horsepower (454 hp for the Sport and 460 for MC models) with 376 lb-ft of torque. Zero becomes 60mph in about 5 seconds and tops out at 177 mph almost as quickly. I rode in the “base” Gran Cabrio and if the performance is any more powerful in Sport and MC versions, I hope they come with a neck-snapping repair kit. Buyers get to choose from a wide array of colors, trims and finishes, limited primarily by your patience and budget.
This is the car of choice for those who want something a little more stylish and a lot less abundant. It can be enjoyed nearly as much parked in one’s garage as it can on the open road. There are far more more practical grand touring convertibles on the market, including some for less than $129, 500, but none can match the flair of the Maserati Gran Cabrio.
Please enjoy this fun TFLcar video of the more reserved 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL:
