Revealed to the public at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is the flagship version of the Italian firm’s four-seat convertible model. Following the international press drive in Trieste, Italy last week, Maserati has now announced the launch of its new soft-top sports car.

In the UK, the harder-edged GranCabrio is priced at £102,615 on the road, with the first right-hand examples to reach the market in early October.

The GranCabrio Sport combines an upgraded 4.7-litre V8 engine with a 10 horsepower increase to 450-horses with the faster MC Auto Shift 6-speed transmission for 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.2 seconds and a 285km/h (177mph) top speed.

The changes continue with the revised Skyhook active-suspension system and a more-responsive brake package, while Maserati also took care of the car’s exterior with the addition of a black grille, smoked headlamps with white sidemarks, new front corner splitters and redesigned side skirts.

Along with the introduction of the GrandCabrio Sport, Maserati also refreshed the regular GranCabrio for the 2012MY with a new chromed front grille and side vents, improved lumbar support for the front seats and the addition of optional anodized matt red brake calipers.

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