I am standing in the Piazza della Borsa in Trieste, Italy, for the global unveiling of updated versions of the GranCabrio, GranTurismo, and Grecale that have each had facelifts in celebration of the Trident turning 100. At the heart of the square is the Fountain of Neptune bearing his trident with around 20 Maseratis lined up in front, stopping people in their tracks. The Italian philosophy of Gran Tursimo, or Grand Touring, is a lifestyle of long-distance driving and the Grecale—a svelte SUV—is of particular interest to me given its appeal in the Indian market. But I will drive that later in the afternoon. Fun fact: 2026 also marks 100 years since Maserati’s first motorsport win at the iconic Targa Florio race.
My day starts with the most powerful Trofeo variant of the GranCabrio, the convertible sibling of the GranTurismo. I get talking with the head of design at Maserati, Klaus Busse, before I get behind the wheel of the GranCabrio, whose first variant launched in 2007. Busse points out the streamlined front fascia, which sees a major design shift. “Previously, the front grille was flanked by two intercoolers, totalling three separate units. Now they have been fused into one, giving more personality and elegance to the shark nose front,” he says.
Hopping across the Italian border from Trieste into Slovenia, I get a chance to experience the sheer power of the iconic 3.0 litre V6 Nettuno twin-turbo engine, on different terrains, with a magnificently curated exhaust soundtrack to accompany it. As a side note, there is a strong historical context to the road that I am driving on this morning: I am following the route of the legendary Trieste-Opicina race, now defunct, a hill-climb race that was referred to as ‘Uphill Monza’. It’s special to be driving something so firmly rooted in the culture of racing and performance, interpreted so beautifully for a daily driving context. The Trofeo variant pumps out a whopping torque of 650 Nm and while I may not be able to attain the promised top speed of 320mph on the Italian-Slovenian highways, the throaty performance and precision-based road handling of the GranCabrio gives me a sense of how it would perform at high speeds. If, however, one does have a high-speed track at one’s disposal, I’d recommend trying out Maserati’s drive modes, especially the Trofeo-specific Race driving mode.
Hopping across the Italian border from Trieste into Slovenia, I get a chance to experience the sheer power of the iconic 3.0 litre V6 Nettuno twin-turbo engine, on different terrains, with a magnificently curated exhaust soundtrack to accompany it. As a side note, there is a strong historical context to the road that I am driving on this morning: I am following the route of the legendary Trieste-Opicina race, now defunct, a hill-climb race that was referred to as ‘Uphill Monza’. It’s special to be driving something so firmly rooted in the culture of racing and performance, interpreted so beautifully for a daily driving context. The Trofeo variant pumps out a whopping torque of 650 Nm and while I may not be able to attain the promised top speed of 320mph on the Italian-Slovenian highways, the throaty performance and precision-based road handling of the GranCabrio gives me a sense of how it would perform at high speeds. If, however, one does have a high-speed track at one’s disposal, I’d recommend trying out Maserati’s drive modes, especially the Trofeo-specific Race driving mode.
The variant also gets specific air intakes and rear diffusers for increased aerodynamics. For me, the design highlight is the introduction of a row of metallic gear shifter buttons at the centre console that renders the drive experience more tactile. Another design insight that Busse so succinctly puts across to me is that the central infotainment touchscreen has been deliberately placed below the AC vents so as to maintain a full, uninterrupted view of the road ahead, making the drive experience as pure as possible. While getting out of the car, one design detail is pointed out to me: the geometric pattern of the stitching on my seat upholstery is a replica of the geometric pavement design that Michelangelo designed for Rome’s famous Piazza del Campidoglio on Capitoline Hill.
It’s time to swap the convertible for an SUV. I’ve driven the Grecale several times and referred to it as ‘Maserati’s most India-friendly car’. It gives one the space, height, and functionality of a city, family SUV, with the experience of driving a high-performance sportscar. The latest version sees the same design cues including the three-side portholes and the Trident badging on the nose. The centre clock comes with a fresh digital face that can be customised to show not only the time, but also other geeky details like G-force and braking.
I flip between drive modes on the coastal road. GT and Sport work like a charm while Off-Road and the Trofeo-exclusive Corsa modes lend themselves to specific terrains. The spacious Grecale cabin is a showcase of Italian craftsmanship and materials with a redesigned sporty steering wheel wrapped in plush Alcantara leather. Powering along the Italian border roads, the Nettuno V6 engine—derived from Formula One cars—pumps out 530hp (Trofeo variant) and promises a 0 to 100mph sprint in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 285mph. I am with the Trofeo V6 trim, but the Grecale V6 and Modena V6 variants are also available, the Folgore electric variant of the SUV. I learn that this SUV is poised to be a bestseller for the Indian market, given its practicality for Indian roads while retaining its ultra-luxe positioning. A customised Grecale from the marque’s atelier in Modena would be ideal, I reckon.