Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2001, this open two-seat grand tourer marked a major turning point for the modern era of the brand. Although its styling carried clear family resemblance to the earlier 3200GT, the car was mechanically much more ambitious and signaled a new phase of close technical collaboration with Ferrari. It replaced the previous twin-turbo approach with a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8, and its gearbox was mounted at the rear in a transaxle layout to improve weight distribution and driving balance.
The car was developed as a compact, performance-focused convertible rather than a simple roofless version of the coupe. Its shortened wheelbase, fully automatic soft top, and strict two-seat cabin gave it a more intimate character than many of the brand’s earlier grand tourers. The design and engineering package also helped re-establish the marque in the United States, making this model historically important well beyond its role as a stylish open-top sports car.
In period terms, it belongs to the Maserati-Ferrari era that began after the brand’s revival under Fiat ownership, when the company was rebuilding its image around exclusivity, Italian design, and everyday usability blended with genuine performance. Production continued through the 2007 model year, and the nameplate is remembered as one of the key cars that defined Maserati’s modern return to the global luxury sports-car market.