Maserati GranCabrio is set for a Frankfurt debut, will go on sale this year

Maserati will debut the GranCabrio, its first four-seat convertible, at the Frankfurt motor show.

The GranCabrio is a soft-top variant of the four-seat GranTurismo. It has a roof that opens or closes in 28 seconds and will go on sale by the end of this year. The price is expected to start at 125,000 euros in Europe. U.S. pricing is expected to start around $140,000.

The convertible was styled by Italian design house Pininfarina, which also styled the GranTurismo and Quattroporte sedan for the Fiat S.p.A. subsidiary.

The GranCabrio is powered by Maserati's 440-hp, 4.7-liter V8.

Maserati says the GranCabrio's 115.7-inch wheelbase--the same size as the GranTurismo--is the longest in its category, giving more room for rear passengers.

The GranCabrio completes the three-car Maserati family with the GranTurismo and Quattroporte sedan.

The car will add volume to the company's sales, especially in the crucial U.S. market, which is expected to be the biggest market for the convertible.

Maserati's unit sales were down 48.2 percent to 2,326 in the first half, which the company said was in line with a 47-percent decline in its market segment.

By Luca Ciferri- Automotive News Europe