Maserati GranTurismo Convertible

The Maserati GranCabrio will be known as the GranTurismo Convertible in many markets

Maserati has decided that the recently revealed GranCabrio will be known as the GranTurismo Convertible in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

‘A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ said Juliet. So we have no doubt that Maserati’s elegant new four-seat convertible – the GranCabrio – won’t be diminished in any way by the decision to call it the GranTurismo Convertible in North America and the Antipodes.

But why has Maserati decided on a name change for the biggest part of the English speaking (+ Mexico) car market? Do they think that English speakers are too stupid to work out what the GranCabrio is? There must be some sort of Italian logic to this, but we can’t work it out. But maybe it will start a trend.

We could have the ‘Audi A5 with Sloping Back’ (A5 Sportback); ‘MINI Roofless with 2 Seats’ (MINI Roadster) or perhaps the ‘Aston Martin DB9 Stretched with 4 Doors’ (the Rapide)? It would make sure no one was under any illusions what was being marketed.

But whatever it’s called, the GranCabrio is still a great looking car.