Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale review by Autocar
#1
02-23-2011, 08:49 AM
Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale review by Autocar 
Maserati Granturismo 4.7 V8 MC Stradale
What is it?
If you're looking for the current daddy in the Maserati line-up, this new Granturismo MC Stradale is it. Simply put, this is the lightest, most powerful and fastest Maserati in the current range.
Maserati says that the big coupé was inspired by the company's motorsport efforts, namely the GT4 and Trofeo Granturismo series. Indeed, a quick walk-around the MC Stradale reveals cues that are meant to shout 'I'm a race car, me!'
There is a (quite handsome) aero splitter under the front bumper and other carbonfibre flourishes include a lip spoiler on the back and the exterior door handles. The whole rig has been lowered 10mm at the front and 12mm at the rear, and rides on gorgeous 20-inch wheels that are unique to the MC Stradale.
What’s it like?
Well, Maserati has managed to excise a quite impressive 110kgs of weight compared with the Granturismo S. The carbonfibre front seats saved something like 26kgs, and doing away with much of the car's sound insulation scored another 25kgs. Those bespoke wheels are lighter, as are the carbon ceramic brakes.
The serious race cues continue inside, with a roll-cage living where the rear seats once did and a four-point race harness hanging over the back of those thin, form-hugging seats. Power and torque are up slightly compared to the regular S, to 444bhp and 376lb ft respectively.
But at the heart of Maserati's tilt at motorsport cred is the slightly mad 'Race' mode. Say you're bumbling along at, say, 70mph and you hit the button. The robotised manual box instantly drops from 6th to 4th and that V8 sets about tearing the atmosphere into tiny aural shreds (in Sport and Race mode, you control the gearbox via flappy paddles and it won't shift up or down without your say, even if you're bouncing off the limiter).
Should I buy one?
When it isn't pretending to be a nuclear weapon, the MC Stradale is an agile, progressive and predictable drive. And the fact that Maserati has managed to do all this without ruining the ride is a real achievement. It's a proper (if expensive) effort, this.
If you're looking for the current daddy in the Maserati line-up, this new Granturismo MC Stradale is it. Simply put, this is the lightest, most powerful and fastest Maserati in the current range.
Maserati says that the big coupé was inspired by the company's motorsport efforts, namely the GT4 and Trofeo Granturismo series. Indeed, a quick walk-around the MC Stradale reveals cues that are meant to shout 'I'm a race car, me!'
There is a (quite handsome) aero splitter under the front bumper and other carbonfibre flourishes include a lip spoiler on the back and the exterior door handles. The whole rig has been lowered 10mm at the front and 12mm at the rear, and rides on gorgeous 20-inch wheels that are unique to the MC Stradale.
What’s it like?
Well, Maserati has managed to excise a quite impressive 110kgs of weight compared with the Granturismo S. The carbonfibre front seats saved something like 26kgs, and doing away with much of the car's sound insulation scored another 25kgs. Those bespoke wheels are lighter, as are the carbon ceramic brakes.
The serious race cues continue inside, with a roll-cage living where the rear seats once did and a four-point race harness hanging over the back of those thin, form-hugging seats. Power and torque are up slightly compared to the regular S, to 444bhp and 376lb ft respectively.
But at the heart of Maserati's tilt at motorsport cred is the slightly mad 'Race' mode. Say you're bumbling along at, say, 70mph and you hit the button. The robotised manual box instantly drops from 6th to 4th and that V8 sets about tearing the atmosphere into tiny aural shreds (in Sport and Race mode, you control the gearbox via flappy paddles and it won't shift up or down without your say, even if you're bouncing off the limiter).
Should I buy one?
When it isn't pretending to be a nuclear weapon, the MC Stradale is an agile, progressive and predictable drive. And the fact that Maserati has managed to do all this without ruining the ride is a real achievement. It's a proper (if expensive) effort, this.
