New Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Caps Week Long Celebration Of Maserati With Premiere On Park Avenue In New York

NEW YORK - October 17, 2009: After a week on display in famed Grand Central Station, leading the Columbus Day parade with a 1929 V16 powered road car which won the World Speed Record in 1929, Maserati welcomed the brand New GranTurismo Convertible to a packed room at its Corporate Showroom on Park Avenue.

According to Mark McNabb, President and CEO of Maserati North America, "New York has always represented power, style and capability. These attributes not only capture our new convertible, but Maserati itself. We could not be happier with the enthusiastic reception this evening."

The GranTurismo Convertible represents the essence of a Maserati in terms of open-top cars: unmistakable style, craftsmanship in each detail, driving pleasure and genuine performance. It enriches all five senses in a shared open-air experience for four, without sacrificing comfort or performance.

The GranTurismo Convertible is continuing the Maserati tradition in timeless open-top automobiles, beginning with the 1950 A6G Frua Spyder, through a long list of open air cars. However, in adding to this tradition, the GranTurismo Convertible opens a new chapter, as the first spacious four-seat convertible to roll out of the famed Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory. Careful design has yielded a spacious rear seatback angle of 22 degrees - true comfort for two real adults in back.

The GranTurismo Convertible is supported by a host of other important statistics:

-- A hand-built 4.7 liter V8, 433hp engine -- Top speed 176 mph -- 0-60 in 5.3 seconds -- The longest wheelbase in its segment -- The same trunk volume with the soft top either up or down -- A racing-style aluminum undertray producing an aerodynamic coefficient of 0.35 Cd -- Monocoque body stiffness with benchmark Torsional dynamic frequency of 27.2 Hertz -- The roof is opened automatically in only 24 seconds

Active safety measures extend to a new Maserati designed extendable roll bar system, new braking circuit design, and passive features like dual-stage front airbags, cast aluminum structural supports and stronger lateral door sill sections.

The GranTurismo Convertible, like all Maseratis, was designed to enable the owner to select from a vast array of colors, materials and trim to create a unique expression of style. The roof itself is available in six colors with three interior choices. Sumptious Poltrana Frau leather seats and surfaces available in 10 colors, contrasting stitching, carpet colors as well as 6 interior trims and naturally a perfectly-fit set of luggage.

In North America, this car will be called the GranTurismo Convertible - in the other 54 of the 59 where Maserati is marketed, the name will be GranCabrio. The 56 North American Maserati dealers are accepting preliminary orders now and full details are available at www.maserati.us.