2012 Maserati GranCabrio Sport (2011 Geneva Auto Show)

Maserati has just unveiled the 2011 Gran Cabrio Sport at the Geneva Motor Show, and it looks better in the flesh than even re-touched press photos could have promised. Maserati is aiming the Gran Cabrio Sport squarely at giving its droptop GT a little more performance cred.

The blacked-out tailpipes and wheels draw attention to the idea that this thing is meant for more than just posing. Inside, Maserati hammer home the car's purpose even harder, with carbon fiber dashboard trim and shifter paddles. All those touches do a good job making this car look fast, but Maserati made sure the car goes as well as it looks.

To that end, they upgraded the standard car's six-speed paddle-shifted transmission for even quicker gear changes. The ZF-sourced gearbox gets spun by a 450-horsepower version of Maserati's top-dog 4.7-liter V8. Maserati has also firmed up the car's Skyhood active suspension and thrown in bigger brakes to keep everything from going awry.