The GranTurismo MC Stradale is powered by an enhanced version of the Italian marque’s 4.7-litre V8. The bulk of the savings are due to the Stradale’s carbon fibre seats (26kg reduction), reduced sound insulation (25kg), carbon ceramic Brembo brakes (18kg) and lack of a rear seat (16kg).
The removal of the rear seat makes the Stradale the first two-seater Maserati since the MC12 supercar.
The first examples of the 2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will arrive in Australia in June.
Maserati has taken 110kg out of the Maserati Granturismo S to create the racing-inspired MC Stradale. Read on for CAR's first drive review of the new Maserati MC Stradale to see if the claims are true.
The new Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale certainly looks like it means business...
It also earns top score for cabin ambience, thanks to lightweight body-shaping bucket seats, a four -oint shoulder harness, a partial roll cage dislodging the rear seats, wall-to-wall Alcantara and carbonfibre trim.
Driving the Granturismo MC Stradale
Through Barcelona, the big coupe catered primarily for eyes and ears. Further enhancing the ground-effect talents are a lower ride height (by 10mm and 12mm front and rear respectively), stiffer springs and tauter fixed-rate dampers, thicker anti-roll bars as well as minor camber and castor changes.
Switch to Race mode, and the MC behaves like a boxer flexing his muscles. Thank the serious diet: lightweight seats (-26kg), minimised sound deadening (-25kg), the now standard carbon brakes (-18kg), and the absent rear seats (-16kg).
Verdict
At £109,995, the MC Stradale is significantly more expensive than the entry-level Granturismo model.
Alas, we now have evidence of Maserati’s wild side. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale special edition has been tweaked and modified as a direct result of the lessons learned from Maserati’s three racing programs. More details about the car will be released closer to its official unveiling.
Updated 03/24/2011: Maserati has unveiled today a new video showing the MC Stradale in action on a race track.
The MC Stradale is inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC, but it needed to be modified in order to become road legal. For that Maserati needed a car with great aerodynamic down force at high speed without creating more drag, even while it is diverting airflow into effectively cooling its brakes.
Undeer the hood of the new GranTurismo MC Stradale Maserati has placed a 4.2 liter V8 engine that delivers 450 HP and 376 lbs-ft of torque at 4750rpm. The MC Stradale will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4,6 seconds and will hit a top speed of 186 mph.
Yes, the Porsche model is faster than the MC Stradale, but the Maserati model has the advantages of delivering a better aerodynamic, and it is also better looking than the GT3 model.
