There’s is only one reason to strip out all the Italian goodness from a car, and it’s to go racing. So now we’ve got more pics of the lighter faster version of Maserati’s GT car, the GranTurismo MC. These were taken as the GT4 competitor made its debut at the Paul Ricard circuit, in France.
After revealing details on their latest creation, the Maserati GranTurismo MC, the Italian automaker has released the first video of the GT racer stretching its legs at the Paul Ricard circuit, in Le Castellet, France.
The new model is an offshoot of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept introduced last September in Monza and is based on the Maserati GranTurismo S road version, with electro-actuated gearbox system.
Weren’t able to get your hands on a Maserati MC12? Well fear not Italian race fans because a new competition Maserati is on the track. Maserati unveiled today the GranTurismo MC, which is the production version of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Concept. Although this won’t set any Nurburgring lap records like the MC12, the track-only MC should provide good competition in the FIA’s GT4 class.
Maserati didn’t reveal horsepower figures, but oddly enough it was able to give estimated total weight as well as estimated power to weight ratios. According to those figures, the 4.7-liter V8 engine is making greater than 412 hp.
This seems like a suspiciously low starting point considering the same engine makes 440 hp in GranTurismo S.
The GranTurismo MC will go on sale starting in October at a price of €135,000 (about $180,000 at the current exchange rates).
Maserati first unveiled the GranTurismo back in 2007 at the Geneva Motor Show. The car was then launched with a 4.2 liter V8 engine mated to a automatic gearbox with self-adjusting controls which adapt the gear change to the driving style and conditions.
Two years later the company unveils the GranTurismo S Automatic. What’s new about this car is the combination of the automatic transmission with a 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers 440 HP at 7000 rpm and a peak torque of 490Nm at 4.750 rpm.
Thanks to the combination of the 4.7l V8 engine and the smoothness of the ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox, the Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic stresses the original granturismo concept while at the same time offering peak performance.
The Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic features some marked stylistic differences which make it immediately recognisable: the new under-door mini-skirts featuring a prominent shape, which enhances the dynamism of its profile and the new 20" wheel rims with "Trident" design, which recall the strength and elegance of the car.
At the Detroit Auto Show Maserati showed off the Quattroporte Sport GTS, which increased the power in V8 4.7-liter engine by 3 hp for a 433 hp grand total. The GTS package also gave a new shift pattern to the automatic transmission. Now it’s time for the GranTurismo to get the GTS packaging (looks like someone forgot the rules of alphabet soup), making it the first time a fully-automatic transmission will be offered in the car.
The bigger news coming from the Italian automaker will be what is being considered a third model in its lineup called the Spyder. It should should have seating for four, and may be ready for public viewing as soon as the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The Spyder will be heavily based on the GranTurismo but is being considered its own model by Maserati.
Design house Italia Independent used a Maserati GranTurismo to gain attention at last year’s Pitti Uomo fashion expo to gain attention for its clothing featuring "natural" colors. Because having one cool Italian in an ultra-cool paintjob wasn’t enough, they also painted a Fiat 500 and Vespa scooter in the lack-luster finish to complete the effect.
Maserati has released a new video of the accessories for the GranTurismo S.
This just shows how bias we really are. We wouldn’t get excited or post a video about the anti-stone chipping film for the front grille, different color brake calipers, or a floor mat kit for a Honda Accord.
The Maserati MC Sport Line made its debut at the beginning at this month at the Bologna Auto Show. And today the company revealed a video with the car at the show. There’s no new info on the car, but a video of a Maserati is always good time.
The MC Sport Line adds front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers, side skirts with a matte black central panel, carbon fiber mirror housings and exterior door handles, and glossy black 20" wheel rims. Maserati also added performance enhancing elements. The suspension has been upgraded to stiffer springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. There’s also new software for Maserati’s Stability Program, which the company says allows the driver "more freedom".
The second video (after the jump) includes the entire Maserati line-up in Bologna.
Of the two models Maserati is working on (a smaller car that will compete with models like the Porsche Boxster and a Spyder version of its GranTurismo) the GT Spyder is the easiest to imagine. After all just take the current GranTurismo and chop off the top.
There’s nothing new rumored to be going on underneath the skin either. The spyder is expected to share architecture with the Quattroporte and utilize a 399 hp 4.2-liter V8, just like the hardtop version. But the fact there’s no improvements doesn’t matter, it’s still a beautiful Italian. In fact, its a topless beautiful Italian. So we will be first in line at 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show to try and find out more.
Looks like Maserati is getting into some territory usually reserved for the customizers when it unveiled a new special edition at the Bologna Auto Show, the MC Sport Line. Starting with a GranTurismo S, Maserati adds front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers, side skirts with a matte black central panel, carbon fiber mirror housings and exterior door handles, and glossy black 20" wheel rims.
Maserati also added performance enhancing elements. The suspension has been upgraded to stiffer springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. There’s also new software for Maserati’s Stability Program, which the company says allows the driver "more freedom".
Because this comes directly from Maserati everything is done in good taste. This makes it a much harder sell for some of the custom jobs out there. Although this MC Sport Line is based on the GranTurismo S, Maserati says it will bring the Sport Line features to the GranTurismo and then the entire Maserati line-up in 2009.