If you're looking for an alternative to the likes of the Bentley Continental GTC, Aston Martin DB9 Volante or BMW 6 Series convertible, Maserati figures they've got just what you're looking for. Called the GranCabrio, it's based on the GranTurismo and was released a couple of weeks ago ahead of its debut last week at the Frankfurt auto show.

Exquisitely crafted with a Ferrari-designed 4.7-liter V8 engine, the GranCabrio offers the longest wheelbase on the market for a true four-seat cabin where many of its competitors are smaller 2+2s. It's been a long time in the making, and is finally here. Click on the thumbnail images below to browse our high-resolution photo gallery from the car's launch in Frankfurt.

Italians can do little cars. They can do big GTs. They can do extremely fast supercars. But if you wanted a four-seat convertible to cruise around in what you'd think would be typical Italian style, you had to look elsewhere. Until now, that is, as Maserati has unveiled the first four-seat convertible in its history.

Called the GranCabrio, it's based on the gorgeous GranTurismo, only with the roof replaced by a retractable fabric contraption. The standard engine is the higher-end 4.7-liter V8 from the GranTurismo S, mated to a ZF six-speed automatic transmission. The longest wheelbase on the market should ensure that four passengers can cruise in comfort, and the GranCabrio is set to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show next month.

Welcome to our new feature, "10 Luxuries." For each installment a notable figure in the world of luxury, tastemaker or stylish personality will tell us about the 10 necessary luxuries they simply cannot do without. Related quotes and images of each item can be found in the gallery.

Perry Oosting became president of Vertu, the world's leading luxury mobile phone manufacturer, earlier this year. He joined the company with extensive experience in the luxury industry via senior roles held at several blue chip brands including Bulgari, Prada, Gucci and Escada.Vertu uses the finest materials from the world of watchmaking, automotive design, aeronautics, and jewelry to create truly unique mobile phones of unparalleled craftsmanship and exclusivity, such as the new Ascent Ti Carbon Fiber. Vertu is also the only phone in the world to ever receive a hallmark from the Swiss Assay Office, the organization that guarantees the quality of the world's finest watches. In the gallery, Oosting reveals his 10 essential luxuries, from his favorite hotel, watch and car to shoes, wine, writing instrument and more, and tells us what makes them a must.

Once again one of Lindsay Lohan's cars has wound up on eBay (her Mercedes was on the auction website in 2007). The white Maserati Quattroporte did not belong to Lindsay Lohan but to Dennis DeSantis. Lohan was photographed driving the car and involved it in a fender bender, which TMZ reported that CARFAX does not mention on their report. The 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT is fully loaded with Brembo brakes, power seats, CD player, rear sunshades, parking sensors, suede headliner, white stitching, GT wheels and tires, sport exhaust, navigation and moon roof. and has just over 25,000 miles on it. Last time I looked bids were over $62,100.

UPDATE: The listing has been pulled. (Thanks, Colin)

[via Jalopnik]

Stretching a stock automobile into a limousine is a precarious venture. So while Mercedes-Benz can take its own E-Class sedan, as it's preparing to do, and turn it into a stretched limo to assuredly polished effect, when others try to do the same, more often than not, the modified vehicle turns out a complete abomination of the original. Take for example this stretched Maserati Quattroporte. Currently under the proprietorship of Florida's Padilla Car Collection, this Italian luxury sports sedan has been lengthened considerably to accommodate ten passengers in high style, but in effect the original's sumptuous lines have been lost along the way. Say what you will about stretched Hummers – which Padilla has in stock, too – but at least their form carries the extension well.

If you bought a machine as close to perfection as a Maserati, would you try to improve upon it? We're not sure we would, but if we did, we'd be turning to Novitec. The German tuning house has a long history in modifying Ferraris, and since Maserati is Ferrari's sister company and borrows its engines from them, the Novitec's know-how is a natural fit. In this case, they've taken the GranTurismo S, in all its 435-horsepower glory, and given it even more power and exclusivity thanks to a supercharger and other modifications that bring the total power output up to an even more outstanding 600. Novitec Tridente, as their new Maserati division is called, also fitted 20-inch modular wheels up front and 21-inch rims in the back, which together with the carbon fiber aerodynamics kit gives the GranTurismo an even more menacing look.

All week we've been treated to gorgeous new cars from the world's leading marques at the Geneva Motor Show. In most of the pictures we also got a tantalizing glimpse of thigh, shapely arm or other anatomical fragment of the equally alluring models hired to show off the luxurious machines to best advantage. For most these women are a mere sideshow, a sort of added attraction, but for Dutch artist Jacqueline Hassink they're the main event. Hassink, who has received critical acclaim for her books and exhibitions that deal conceptually with issues of power and social relations, spent the past five years traveling to three continents photographing car show girls.

The resulting body of work from major car shows in seven different cities on three continents, including New York, Paris, Geneva, Tokyo, Detroit, and Shanghai, is collected in her new book, Car Girls (Aperture, $85). Hassink used these sites to reflect on "differing cultural values with regard to their ideal images of beauty and women." The series captures the moments during the women's performances when they "become more like dolls than individuals." The luxuriously produced book, limited to an edition of 1,500 copies, takes a subversively fun yet conceptually astute approach to examining "differing cultural values and ideal images of femininity as used to define corporate identity," and luxury car brands in particular.

"Car companies are global players who need to continually re-present themselves to local markets," Hassink notes. "Each year they show off their latest car models at extravagantly staged shows in major cities across the globe. The shows that take place in Detroit, New York, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Geneva, and Paris are the most important according to the industry. Less important are the shows in New York and Shanghai. At these shows, the auto manufacturers take great pains to distinguish their brands, but they all present their latest cars in the same way: with the help of female models. Essentially, the women become tools to present the corporate image in a very distinctive way." See the gallery for examples from Ferrari, Maserati and more.

At $7,000 per night, the Premier Suites at the beachside Halekulani resort in Hawaii are among the world's priciest. However, the posh getaway has just added a luxurious new amenity that gets you a lot more bang for the buck. Called "Art in Motion," the program consists of a fleet of custom designed exotic autos, included at no additional charge as part of the Premier Suite guest experience. These include the Royal Suite, the Vera Wang Suite and the Orchid Suite.

The fleet features a Bentley Continental GTC convertible (above), Maserati Gran Turismo, Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige S. With the Bentley and Maserati guests have the option of being chauffeured around the glorious landscape in Waikiki, while the Lotus collection features GPS-guided thematic tours of the island, such as Culture, Adventure and Romance. Each car also comes with personalized leisure itineraries prepared by a Halekulani concierge.

I've often thought that car brochures were pretty enough to keep, now Maserati has immortalized their old brochures in the limited edition Momaboma eco-bag being sold from the Maserati store. The bags are made of old brochures from the Maserati archives and each one is unique. There will be 150 Momaboma eco-bags created and each sells for 149 euros.

[via CarPages]

Earlier this month my colleague Deidre Woollard wrote about the rare $8 million Bugatti found in a barn, which is being auctioned off in Paris on Feb. 7. While that may be the highest priced lot in Bonhams' Retromobile sale, there are several other gorgeous classic cars on offer as well, including some beautiful rare Ferraris, at much better prices. For starters, there's a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB 'Alloy' Berlinetta (above), estimated at about $2 million - $2.5 million. Also included are a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder, est. about $400,000 - $550,000; an incredible 1964 Lotus 30 Mk1 Group 7 Sports-Racer, est. about $300,000 - $450,000; a 1962 Maserati 5000GT Coupé, est. about $460,000 - $600,000; the ex-New York Auto Show 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupé, est. about $280,000 - $340,000; and more.

Maserati plans to unveil its stunning new Quattroporte Sport GT S (above), its most powerful luxury sedan ever, at next month's Detroit Auto Show. With all the buzz about the upcoming Lamborghini Estoque and Porsche Panamera, Maserati's sexy beast is a timely reminder that the Italian marque is the one to beat when it comes to heart-stopping four-doors. The Quattroporte Sport GT S boasts 433 HP, a 0 – 60 time of less that 5.5 seconds, a throatier exhaust, and a leaner, meaner look in general. It's expected to cost about $140,000. The Quattroporte's automotive heritage dates back to the 1960s when the Aga Khan ordered a stately but sporty Maserati sedan, which became the prototype for the vehicle.

I'm not sure where the partnership of high-end vehicles met office furniture but these luxury desk chairs put you in the driver's seat of some pretty fine autos. From Ferrari to Pininfarina, Maserati to Lamborghini and even Porsche, whatever prime car brand you admire you can sit your rear on its premium leather and speed-seeking construction everyday. If you think the list below is tempting wait till you see the gallery.

• Pininfarina's Xten Office Chair ($3,000)
• Ferrari 360 Daytona Office Chair ($6,500)
• Maserati Coupe Office Chair ($3,500)
• Ferrari Challenge Leather Race Chair ($4,000)
• Ferrari 430 Daytona Office Chair ($7,500)
• Lamborghini Superleggera Grey ($5,000)
• Porsche 997 GT3 RS ($3,500)

'Tis the season...for speed.

A rare and beautiful 1964 Porsche 904 GTS sports racing coupé (above), one of only 100 made, is expected to fetch up to $1 million during Bonhams' sale at the Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, England on Friday. The car, veteran of several important and historic competitions, is from the collection of renowned French racecar driver Bernard Consten and has won concours d'élegance honors.

Also on offer during the Goodwood Revival, billed as the world's most popular historic motor race meeting, is Consten's equally alluring 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1, est. at $430,000 - $500,000; a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante convertible, est. $450,000 - $540,000; a 1973 Ferrari Dino 246GT Berlinetta, est. $115,000 - $135,000; a 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7-Litre coupe, est. $50,000 - $60,000; and more. See the gallery for pix.

[via Affluent Page]

Perfect for those who love their Maserati, wish they had a Maserati to love, or are just all about all high-end sports cars, the latest writing instrument from OMAS is a silver, sleek Maserati pen. The inspiration from the Italian auto can be seen in the aerodynamic design, in the grille pattern on the upper half of the case, and of course by the Maserati logo engraved on the pen's silver nib. Made of sterling silver the pen will be issued in a limited edition of only 1,914 in honor of the year Maserati was founded, 1914. Available in fountain or rollerball styles, $2,750

Via Bornrich

A legendary prototype sportscar that helped shaped the future of Jaguar was auctioned off at Bonhams & Butterfields' Quail Lodge Sale in California on Friday for just under $5 million, setting a new world record. Bids for the 1960 E2A (above), often called the "missing link" between the marque's classic D-Type and E-Type models, had been expected to reach up to $7 million in what has lately been a heated market for multimillion dollar automotive classics.

Raced by some of the world's top drivers at Le Mans and elsewhere, the beautiful car had an historic win in August of 1960 at Bridgehampton, NY, beating out a Maserati Birdcage. James Knight, International Head of Bonhams' motoring department, called the E2A "one of the most charismatic and significant prototypes ever produced anywhere." And $5 million - now the highest price ever paid for a Jaguar at auction - isn't too shabby.