(Mon 24 Aug 09)

It sounds like a rather obscure pub question: what was the last four-seater convertible car built by Maserati? In fact there has never been one (Maseratis with four seats, yes, convertible Maseratis, certainly, but not both), which means that the GranCabrio is creating history by being the company's first ever car with that layout.

Powered by a 430bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine, the GranCabrio will become the third model in the Maserati line-up, along with the Quattroporte and GranTurismo. Its roof is made of canvas, and the wheelbase is reported to be the longest of any convertible in the world. That last statistic helps with the amount of interior space, particularly for rear passengers, who are described by Maserati as "not merely supporting actors, but co-stars of the journey".

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