2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

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The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires and it incorporates the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati's three racing programs. It produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag, it produces more power without using more fuel and it is more agile without sacrificing the GranTurismo S's highly praised ride quality.

With 450 horsepower, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale generates more power from the 4.7-liter V8 engine than the GranTurismo S, while its 376 lb-ft of torque is a further 12 lb-ft improvement. Its race-bred heritage is highlighted by a 240 lbs weight reduction from the GranTurismo S, down to 3902 lbs. It mirrors Maserati's racing advantages by retaining an optimal 48 : 52 weight distribution, ensuring balanced handling and even tire wear.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale uses advanced electronics to cut gear-shift times from the upgraded MC Race Shift electro-actuated transaxle gearbox to just 60 milliseconds. This all helps to slash the 0-60 mph sprint time, which the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale covers in just 4.4 seconds.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is also the first Maserati in history to have a dedicated Race mode alongside the upgraded Auto and Sport modes in its simplified dashboard layout.

With the removal of the rear seats, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale becomes the first two-seat Maserati since the MC12. The GranTurismo MC Stradale has also benefited from new Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, custom-developed Pirelli tyres, a unique suspension layout and rigid, light-weight, carbon-fibre race seats.

The push for the GranTurismo MC Stradale came from existing Maserati customers who wanted a road-legal super sports car that looked and felt like the GT4 and Trofeo race cars. The GranTurismo MC Stradale also provides the latest step in the well-trodden path between Maserati's racing programs and its production road cars and, often, back again. In the 1990s, the Ghibli Open Cup race car gave birth to the Ghibli Cup and a decade later the Trofeo GranSport gave birth to the GranSport MC Victory. At the pinnacle of recent Maserati's road-to race story, the FIA GT-winning MC12 was developed directly from the MC12 Stradale.

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale: Review (2/2)