VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS, the sun setting over Lake Garda or Monica Bellucci merely strolling down a Milanese via, Italy has and continues to provide an abundance of majestic sights and sounds and now it has got one more to add the expansive list – the Maserati GranCabrio Fendi.

Like all things Italiano, simply being beautiful isn’t enough. If it’s not jaw-droppingly, impossibly, out of this world stunning then it just isn’t right, capisce? Take their food (seriously take it, it’s good). Not content with the humble cheese and tomato sandwich like the rest of the world, the Italians had to open it up, cook it and create many peoples’ favourite dish in the world. And the architecture. Most would be content with a perfectly standard beige ceiling for a place of worship. Not if you are Michelangelo, however, whose splash of colour daubed upon the Sistine Chapel’s roof is a reason in itself to visit the Vatican.   

The Maserati brand has enough cache to ignite the imaginations of the world’s petrolheads. It’s sporting credentials, historical resonance and uber sleek personality means the mention of the marque is enough to make drivers stand up and pay attention. The cars feature in rap stars’ ditties, garner footballer customers and yet maintain their high class appeal; a difficult aspect in today’s increasingly discerning consumer environment.

True to form, though, the Modena-based carmakers have upped the wow factor just to rub it in among all the rest of the plain mortals.      

Whether you’re into cars or fashion, or hopefully both, Maserati is offering an exclusive opportunity to own a car that is sure to become a collector’s item. The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi, limited to only 50 units worldwide, has now arrived at Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors showrooms in the UAE.

The car, designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, is born from the union of two brands that represent the best of the Made in Italy tag.

It is crafted with exclusive bespoke materials created in various colours especially for this project.

The three-layered body colour named Grigio Fiamma Fendi is a dark grey with an iridescent golden finish on the surface.

The wood trim Pergamena Fendi runs across the width of the dashboard, on the doors and on the top of the gear lever, all in the iconic Fendi yellow that is also the colour of the brake callipers and the embroidered trident logo on the headrests of all four seats.

Adding a stronger yet elegant character to the GranCabrio is Fendi’s unmistakable double F logo, stitched on the luxurious seats, also appearing in the centre of the 20-inch alloy wheels.

Cuoio Romano, Fendi’s precious leather from its Selleria line, has been used for detailing such as the instrument cluster cover and for the gear lever. It also features in the Limited Edition Travel Set of luggage and accessories.

The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi represents a harmony between the art of ‘fatto a mano’ (made by hand) and the ultimate technology of its 4.7-litre V8 engine coupled with automatic transmission, which brings to life a unique sound that is music to the ears of motoring connoisseurs.

Silvia Venturini Fendi’s specially crafted logo seals this collaboration. A silver oval plaque with the engraving of the Maserati Trident, Fendi logo and the five-digit series number (five being an iconic number for Fendi) is located on the dashboard, in front of the passenger seat, and on both sides of the black cloth folding roof.

Driving the limited edition vehicle is as magical as one would expect. Perfectly poised on the road; drop the roof, put some tunes on the excellent sound system, listen to that engine roar when you put  your foot down and you’ve got yourself a large chunk of la dolce vita. 

AUTO STAR

Adding a little local flavour, Oman’s very own Bollywood starlet Sarah Jane Dias will next be seen in comedy Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum. Her favourite set of wheels? A Ferrari 599 according to reports.