So here we are with a £185,000, four-seat electric cabriolet that will do 0-62mph in 2.8sec – as fast as the Ferrari 296 GTB, despite the fact that it weighs 2.4 tonnes. How does that translate to UK roads?
Well, despite the vaguely nauseating headline figures, the Grancabrio is an enjoyable GT. Forget the outright pace. Between the adaptive air suspension and all-wheel drive that all Grancabrios get (including the 542bhp, V6-engined Trofeo), this is a charming, long-legged cruiser.
The electric drivetrain actually suits it, too. The seamless ebb and flow of acceleration accentuates the general sumptuousness of the Grancabrio, and with the roof down, you can really enjoy the calm progress. Sure, the V6 will have an entirely different appeal, precisely because it makes more noise – and good noise at that. Nobody is denying it. But it’s credit to Maserati that you can choose between the two powertrains, and the electric propulsion does work well in the Grancabrio, even if a range of up to 279 miles is underwhelming when plenty of premium touring EVs are now returning around 400 miles on WLTP figures.
Brake feel is very good, too. It’s a short-travel pedal, with plenty of bite, that’s easy to modulate whether you’re cruising around town or piling into a fast corner.
We would like sharper accelerator response, as it can feel a bit soggy (particularly in the more workaday drive modes), but the Grancabrio is hilariously rapid if you want it to be, yet also a very easy thing to drive smoothly in everyday progress.
Being able to toggle through the four brake regen modes (from entirely off for free coasting to a not-quite-one-pedal driving mode) via the big paddles is also a really nice feature.
