In an inspired bit of parts-bin engineering, Maserati has taken the best bits of its hottest street-legal car, the GranTurismo MC Stradale coupé, added them to the superlative GranCabrio four-seater convertible and tweaked the mix a little to create the GranCabrio MC.
Maserati says it has tried to give its new flagship drop-top the performance and sports characteristics of an MC racer while retaining the style and practicality of what is arguably Italy's finest Gran Turismo car.
The front treatment is derived directly from that of the MC Stradale, complete with splitter and winglets to optimise aerodynamic lift and flow, while a large add-on boot-lid spoiler - available in your choice of body colour or clear-coated carbon fibre - incorporates the third brake light.
The aero kit adds 48mm to the overall length of the car.
The media release that came with these four 'official teaser' pictures ahead of the GranCabrio MC's world debut at the Paris motor show later this week said nothing about the car's drivetrain, but we would expect to see the same 338kW/522Nm version of Maserati's proven 4.7-litre V8 as found in the Stradale MC, but driving through the GranCabrio's conventional - and very civilised - six-speed auto transmission, rather than the brutally abrupt robotised manual 'box of the coupé.
We're waiting on SA importers Viglietti motors for an answer as to when it will become available in South Africa and at what price.