Maserati

Yes folks, it's finally here. The 2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible has reached our shores. Open top Italian motoring can be had in as little as the 24 seconds it takes for the top to drop. This luxury cabriolet sports a 4.7-liter V8 engine with 433 horsepower and 361 ft-lb of torque which allows it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 176 mph. A six-speed adaptive gearbox with paddle shifters delivers power to the wheels.

But, what you really want to know is how much... The answer is $135,800 excluding taxes and such. A choice of 14 exterior colors is available along with 6 different hues of cloth for the cabrio soft top. But the fun doesn't stop there for the GranCabrio. Other options include 6 different color brake calipers, 10 dye choices for the Poltrona Frau leather and interior paneling completed in either Rosewood, Wenge or Walnut.

It's been a long time coming, but Maserati has finally revealed the highly anticipated convertible model that will join the family and sit side-by-side with the Quattroporte and GranTurismo. As a preview to the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, where the car will make its official debut, a small collection of photos and basic details on the Maserati GranCabrio have been released. The Pininfarina-styled vehicle is the Trident car-maker's first four-seat convertible, and they have done a magnificent job.

Maserati of North America, in a partnership with Architecture Digest, has just completed a nationwide search for the finest architectural garages in America. There were two categories for the competition which included EXISTING garages and CONCEPT garages. The concept garages are cool and all, but you almost need to be a building contractor to understand the schematic drawings, so we have chosen to focus on the existing car shacks. The winner of this category is none other than Holger Schubert (Archisis Inc.) in Los Angeles, CA. Below is the press release about his uber-smooth garage:

Maserati recently issued a press release announcing the official unveiling of the new GranTurismo MC during media days for FIA GT at the Paul Ricard Circuit. And today we have some video to showcase Maserati's new racer at the track. This model is derived from the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept that was previewed last September. Maserati will be offering a limited number of these vehicles for drivers wanting to compete in the 2010 GT4 European and national racing series. Those with the financial prowess and racing skills can pick one up in October for 135,000 Euro + VAT through Maserati Corse. The GranTurismo MC was created with GT4 in mind as this series comes closest to their existing production models.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC works off of a 4.7 liter V8 engine putting out 450 hp. It features an electro-actuated transmission with the company's MC Shift function to reduce gear changes to only 40 milliseconds. Paddle-shifters are provided to work through all 6 gears. To keep weight down the bodywork, shock absorbers, driver's seat, dashboard and console are all carbon fiber. In order to be FIA race compliant a welded integral rollcage has been installed. Six piston calipers in front and 4 piston calipers in rear slow down the massive 18" x 11" wheels. Check out the video after the jump!

Like the SUV craze that kicked off in the mid 80s, there is a new kind of race in play among auto makers. That new market segment is the four-door coupe, super sedan Grand Tourer. Of course, this is not the official name of the category. But essentially, this is a special niche that has garnered renewed interest and tons of momentum. The goal of the OEMs is to create a car that has the styling of a coupe, 4 access doors with plenty of leg room, superior performance and yet suitable for everyday driving.

First premiered at the 2008 Geneva International Motorshow, the Maserati GranTurismo S is the company's new halo model. Packed with a 440 bhp 4.7-liter V8, this high-performance car now sits at the top of the Maserati power lineup. Torque is pegged at 360 lb-ft with a top speed of 183 mph. 

The other item of note is the MC-Shift electro-actuated gearbox which can be put in either manual mode, for sporty performance, or automatic for a more laid-back drive. The transmission has 6 gears plus reverse. MC-Shift allows for lightning quick gear changes of only 40ms. Available only on upshifts above 5,500 rmp when the accelerator is at 80% opening.