Be one with the elements

When Maserati’s technicians began work on the GranCabrio project, they set themselves an ambitious target: to make a convertible that was as responsive and fun to drive as a coupé. To do this, the bodywork on the new GranCabrio was designed to ensure it was extremely rigid, even with the hood down.

“The result in terms of chassis stiffness is excellent, above all when you consider the size of the car, especially the wheelbase”, pointed out Federico Landini, the technician who worked on the GranCabrio. “Usually, to increase the rigidity of a cabriolet, you focus on two factors: shortening the wheelbase or re-enforcing the chassis. The problem is that both these things increase the weight. On the GranCabrio, we managed to stiffen the frame but keep a long wheelbase, making life on board more comfortable. We also managed to limit the inevitable added weight to 100kg compared to a coupé set up. Normally, the difference between convertible and coupé versions is between 150-190 kg”.

Most of the work on the chassis was carried out behind the scenes with aluminium and composite inserts fitted to strengthen the underbody and engine unit. “These elements give the driver a feeling of compactness between the front, middle and rear of the car. Another worthwhile modification was raising the sill; something that doesn’t compromise getting into and out of the car nor does it affect the overall looks”.

These changes meant hours of experimentation and calculation and the result of all this effort is clear as soon as you step inside Maserati’s latest gem. “The elevated levels of bending stiffness and static torsion translate into absolute driving pleasure”, continues Landini. “These features mean that the GranCabrio handles just like a coupé. Also, the elevated levels of torsional frequency eliminate vibrations or noise that come from where the mechanical parts meet the chassis; all this enhances the ride”.