The GranCabrio (known as the GranTurismo Convertible in the U.S.) made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show a year and a half ago, but it hasn't set the world alight in terms of sales so the 'Sport' version, with upgraded performance and handling, should help to broaden its appeal, the Trident having had much previous success with improved versions of its key models the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

Conceived to give the GranCabrio a harder-edged model to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the GranCabrio Sport uses the MC Stradale's more powerful and fuel-efficient version of Maserati’s, all-alloy 4.7-litre V8, coupled with the ZF six-speed automatic transmission.

This naturally aspirated 4,961cc engine produces in the new GranCabrio Sport configuration 450 hp at 7,000 rpm (compared to 440 bhp for the current model which now slots into the range underneath) while it has peak torque of 510 Nm at 4,750 rpm (up from 490 Nm). Maserati’s Friction Reduction Program has made the GranCabrio Sport’s engine more reactive to the driver’s most-nuanced inputs, while reaching a 6 percent reduction in fuel consumption. The top speed of the GranCabrio Sport is 285 km/h, up fractionally from 283 km/h for the base GranCabrio while the 0-100 km/h time is 5.2 seconds, up from a 5.1 second sprint for the existing version.

This six-speed transmission is equipped with the super-fast MC Auto Shift software and has been developed for the GranCabrio Sport directly from the transmission in the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The MC Auto Shift provides optimised gearshift response resulting in an even-greater engagement.

The handling of the GranCabrio has received some attention for the 'Sport' version, with an upgrade and revision of the Skyhook active-suspension system – now with a sportier tuning - and the adoption of grooved and drilled dual-cast brake discs.

Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is characterised by a more-pronounced dynamic look. This look begins at the GranCabrio’s distinctive nose with a black grille and a Trident with red accents. The headlights now have a black look with white sidemarks, while front corner splitters and the redesigned side skirts are both body coloured. The GranCabrio Sport also debuts a new body colour for Maserati: Rosso Trionfale inspired by the red Italian national colours used on 1950s racing Maseratis – in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won his fifth F1 World Championship title at the wheel of a red Maserati 250F.

The new GranCabrio Sport will be on sale in all of the sixty two markets that Maserati is represented in starting from the summer.