Maserati GranCabrio: Bringing some sunshine to Frankfurt

For some people the global financial crisis is an event that's only been observed on their 60-inch TVs. If you're one of those people, or know enough of those people, then the GranCabrio is probably for you.

Although it's not the first Maserati to drop its top, the Maserati GranCabrio will be the first four-seater convertible in Maserati history and joins the Quattroporte (literally four-door) and GranTurismo coupe as the third vehicle in Maserati's current product line-up.

The GranCabrio is powered by the same 4.7-litre V8 found in the GranTurismo S and Quattroporte S. In this case it develops 323kW of power. No word yet on performance or economy figures.

Following its debut in Frankfurt, Maserati will begin sales of the GranCabrio in Australia in the third quarter of 2010, just in time for spring. Naturally, pricing and specifications won't be available until closer to that date.

Maserati claims that the GranCabrio will have the longest wheelbase of any convertible on the market. If it truly is longer than the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, this will be a truly gargantuan vehicle.