Those lucky few with a hefty bonus still burning a hole in their pocket and those suffering from frugality fatigue will be thrilled that the Maserati GranCabrio – arguably the choicest cabriolet of 2010 – finally hits European roads this month.

Defiantly eschewing the German way – which is to first make a really fast car, then slice off the roof – Maserati started with a blank sheet of paper and came up with an opulent, mouthwatering convertible. The point is not to be the fastest but the sexiest, and with the first four-seater convertible in its history Maserati wins hands down.

No one thought that that last summer’s exquisite GranTurismo, on which the GranCabrio is based, could be made any prettier but the designers at Maserati’s Viale Ciro Menotti factory took as big a design gamble as they did when they traded the four doors of the Quattroporte (even the name ‘Four Doors’ sounds beautiful in Italian) for two, yet kept the long wheelbase and four seats.

And what a result. The GranCabrio’s form is wrapped in a sophisticated combination of linearity and curvaceousness – flat viewed from the sides, yet boasting all the right curves in the wings, grille and boot. However, the crucial decision behind the Italians’ latest aesthetic triumph was to ignore the recent obsession for folding metal roofs, sticking to a much lighter and smaller-to-stow fabric hood.

Finally, the Maserati does what increasingly fewer Italian cars do: it serves up an amazing soundtrack from an old-school V8, somewhere between the rawness of a Ferrari and the bellow of a Lamborghini – the one thing a supercar cabrio must deliver – but with the carefree operation of a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, though the extra weight of the soft-top’s necessary bracing adds a few 10ths to its five second 0–100km sprint.

Naturally, though, this means an almost dipsomaniacal thirst. Although claiming a combined highway/urban consumption of  
15.23 l/100km, the real experience will be much closer to the urban figure of 23.22 l/100km, or 12.16 mpg. With a 75-litre fuel tank that means pumping €100-plus of super unleaded for every 350kms if you live in one of Maserati’s core EU markets – Germany and the UK.

So it really is a work of art, the GranCabrio – better suited for gawping at, parked, or swanking round posh neighbourhoods. It is certainly not for crossing borders unless you really love admiring glances at petrol stations.

Roofless ambitions

As intoxicating as the Maserati is, you shouldn’t overlook the German competition, in particular the Audi R8 Spyder (from €140,000). The Maserati might boast a 4.7 V8 and a 0–100km time of 5.4 seconds, but the Audi trumps it with a 5.2 litre V10 and 4.1 seconds. The Audi is, bar none, this year’s most ‘super’ supercar cabrio and it’s hugely desirable. But the Audi is strictly a two-seater and, bizarrely, hits the roads in August.

Another tantalising proposition is Porsche’s all-new Boxster Spyder (from €50,000). Inspired by the legendary James Dean 550 Spyder, the new Porsche breathes much-needed magic back into the brand with its thrilling and unmistakable ‘double bubble’ engine cover. Despite costing just half the price of a Maserati, it barely lags the Audi for performance – but it’s still a two-seater and all the focus is on the driver.

Then there is March’s other arrival: the Mercedes E-Class cabrio (from €36,000). It’s no Maserati but it is pretty and sports a fabric roof, four seats and some frugal diesel engine options. It costs two-thirds less and it’s practical in areas that count, such as keeping rear passengers warm when the top’s down.

Finally, there will be a facelifted cabrio version of BMW’s very pretty 3 Series Coupé out next month. Pricing will mimic the existing car, which starts from around €32,000, while changes will include a new bumper, headlamps and tail. Given the return of the company to resolutely traditional designs, this final tweak of BMW’s best looking Chris Bangle-era car is worth serious consideration.

TECH SPEC
MASERATI GranCabrio

Price from €110,000
Engine 4.7 litre V8
Power 440ps
Top Speed 281km/h
0–100km/h  5.4 sec
CO2 354g/km
Economy EU urban 23.22 litres/100km