Maserati GranCabrio: the four-seat one

Some cars you review. Others give you an audience. The GranCabrio I met at Maserati Sydney wore a deep blue that behaved like evening wear, and when I leaned in for a closer look there was an ivory interior, a little trident stitched into each headrest like a family crest. Four real seats, an open roof. That's the whole manifesto, before you've even touched a key.

The grand tour, times four

Maserati has been building grand tourers since before the phrase needed explaining, and this is that inheritance with the roof politely removed. The twin-turbo V6 up front is the same operatic heart as the GranTurismo's, and with the roof down it performs in the round.

But the real headline is the seating. Open-top glamour usually comes in twos, and the GranCabrio brings four proper chairs for four proper people, which turns every drive from a duet into a dinner party. It's built on the lovely idea that a sunset is better shared. Long, low, unhurried until you ask, and yes, serious money, because so is everything that makes strangers wave at you. Sydney will suit her perfectly: harbour light on that blue, ivory cabin glowing, a coastline that photographs like it's auditioning.

Three crowns and a sun hat

So why three and not four? Nothing is wrong with her, it's procedure. A car this sociable can't get her final verdict in a showroom, however good the light. Four real seats and no roof have earned the right to be judged properly, on a coast road, every seat full, before I hand out anything higher. Consider the other crowns reserved, like a good table. In the meantime she did everything a parked siren can: she had four of us planning an imaginary long weekend on the spot.

Adjusting my sun hat and drawing lots for the back seats.