RAY MASSEY: Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo is speedy, sporty... and super expensive

For many, the extended school and religious holiday granted by Easter weekend is an opportunity to relax with family and friends – and maybe even gorge oneself on ever-tempting chocolate eggs as Lent comes to an end.

So in the spirit of indulgence, I treated myself to a rather special automotive Easter bonnet of my own. Taking advantage of the early spring sunshine, I enjoyed a glorious day of top-down, wind-in-the-hair motoring in Maserati's elegant new GranCabrio Trofeo.

I've always had a soft spot for the brand, with its trident badge and lilting name, but it's been a while since I've been behind the wheel of one of these luxury rides.

But equipped with a mighty 550hp petrol engine, and a slick German ZF eight-speed gearbox, the latest member of the Italian family did not disappoint.

A fraction short of five-metres-long, the roomy Maserati GranCabrio boasts four full-sized seats front and rear.

With assured all-wheel drive traction, it accelerates with gusto from rest to 62mph in just 3.6 seconds, up to a top speed where legal (such as German Autobahns) of 196mph – if you dare. There are four driving modes: Comfort, GT, Sport and Track. I shuttled mostly between grand-touring GT cruising and the feistier Sport mode.

Pricey: Maserati's elegant new GranCabrio Trofeo starts at a hefty £156,015

The car made a wonderful exhaust cacophony of burbles and blips as I moved energetically up and down through the gears. The fabric roof takes 14 seconds to open at the touch of a button, at speeds of up to 31mph.

The roof stowed leaves 172 litres of boot, enough for a soft bag, but expands up to 1,311 litres using the rear seat area. A useful 'neck warmer' blows a welcome envelope of warm air from the seat to avoid chills, and a wind-stopper behind the front seats reduces turbulence inside the open cockpit when two are travelling alone.

Riding on 20in (front) and 21in (rear) tyres, powerful brakes bring you to a stop from 62mph in under 37 metres – or around the length of three double-decker buses. But expect low fuel efficiency of around 27mpg and high CO2 emissions of about 238g/km.

Inevitably, there's also a hefty price tag to navigate: my GranCabrio Trofeo starts from £156,015 and, with tantalising bespoke extras (a head-up display is a £2,100 option) and safety packages, it's price as driven soars to £187,435.

Supportively cosseting sports and ventilated front seats are an £840 addition.

If petrol remains your passion but that price is too steep, Maserati recently unveiled a slightly less expensive 490hp version, with a top speed of 186mph, costing from £131,015.

Alternatively, if you fancy going fully-electric with the roof down, the 750hp open-top zero-emissions battery-powered GranCabrio Folgore starts from £184,110 and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in a lightening 2.8 seconds (0 to 124mph in 9.1 seconds) up to a top speed of 180mph with a range of 274 miles on a full charge.

Developed in tandem with the GranCabrio, there are also hard-top coupe GranTurismo versions of both petrol Trofeo models, priced from £125,265.

Top down, my Maserati GranCabrio cut a dashing swathe through the Warwickshire countryside just as effectively as the controversial high-speed HS2 rail works that seem to be digging up the landscape and blocking off roads there at every turn, and especially around Kenilworth and its historic castle, in part of the Midlands more closely associated with home-grown car-making rival Jaguar Land Rover.

I also found it fascinating that no-matter how much technology continues to advance, sometimes it's the gorgeous, timeless, classical old-school charm and presence of a car like this that wins the day.

With assured all-wheel drive traction, it accelerates with gusto from rest to 62mph in just 3.6 seconds

No-matter how much technology continues to advance, sometimes it's the gorgeous, timeless, classical old-school charm and presence of a car like this that wins the day

Trofeo brake calipers come in five colours: black, yellow, blue, red and red anodised

A fraction short of five-metres-long, the roomy Maserati GranCabrio boasts four full-sized seats front and rear

‹ Slide me ›

The fabric roof takes 14 seconds to open at the touch of a button, at speeds of up to 31mph

For example, taking a gentle diversion around the ever-expanding Warwick University campus - a world-renowned centre for much cutting-edge automotive research and development - I chanced upon a team of academic engineers accompanying a futuristic-looking self-driving autonomous electric pod around the site. One of their team looked over to me, raised a thumb and said with feeling: 'What a beautiful car.'

My gas-guzzling Maserati isn't cheap, green, or particularly politically correct. But which would you prefer – the brave new world being transported in an emissions-free self-driving pod, or driving yourself in an open-topped petrol-powered Maserati? I know which I'd choose.

The standard Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo is available in six colours -including Bianco Astro, Nero Assoluto; Blu Modena; Verde Grigoirzia, Verde Giarda; Grigio Incognito; and Grigio Maratea Matte – with 26 specialised shades and other bespoke options.

Trofeo brake calipers come in five colours: black, yellow, blue, red and red anodised. The pure-electric Folgore version offers three more colours: lime, white and orange.

It's just as well that the GranCabrio's road-holding is good as it's proving a tricky time for the Maserati brand which last year celebrated its 110th anniversary.

Following a big slump in global sales Maserati recently discontinued its Ghibli, Quattroporte, and Levante models and axed the launch of its proposed flagship M20 Folgore – a planned electric version of its petrol M20 supercar - due to insufficient demand for the EV.

President Trump's high tariffs in the USA triggered further fevered speculation – this week quashed – that parent group Stellantis was considering selling off Maserati as part of its wider financial turnaround strategy.

This week the conglomerate insisted: 'Stellantis confirms its commitment towards Italy, its workers, and all its brands, including Maserati.'

Phew. For now. Let's get out and enjoy some more of that cabriolet sunshine while we can. And pray for an Easter lottery win.

A worthwhile 'Renault' read

As if he's not busy enough running one of the world's great car firms, Renault's CEO Luca de Meo is searching for a British publisher for his highly entertaining car book.

Though Italian, his paperback is written in French with the title 'Dictionnaire amoureux de l'automobile' (Plon, €26).

A personal message: Renault CEO Luca de Meo signing his book

I think a better title for English-speaking readers would be 'A Car Lover's A to Z', as it takes us on a passionate romp through the automotive alphabet from Alfa Romeo to Zagato.

A great dip-in book, I bought a copy at the Paris Motor Show and, like many fans, got the man himself to sign it. Bravo, Luca!