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Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC Stradale at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, but the company is now bringing the North American version of the car to the New York Auto Show. It’s not exactly the street-legal machine found with the Stradale nameplate, though. This is the Maserati Corse (MC) which means we have a racing setup with no hopes to take it out on the streets. Eliminate the Stradale wording, add a new transmission and two rear seats, and you get a car that will only be sold on the US and Canadian market, strictly for track use. The new GranTurismo MC will be the fastest production car Maserati has ever sold in the US market. It is powered by a 4.7-liter all-alloy V8 engine that delivers 443 HP at 7000rpm and and a peak torque of 376 lbs-ft at 4750rpm. This translates into enough power to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 185 mph. The MC version comes with a automatic gearbox instead of the Race Shift transmission that was used for the Stradale version. Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC. Exterior and Interior The new GranTurismo MC comes with the same design exterior inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC. This consists of a new front splitter and a redesigned rear bumper, along with a combination of the front splitter, side skirts, and the front guard panels. The bonnet and the rear bumper also get two hot air extraction outlets that Maserati claims will reduce lift and provide an increase in downforce of 25 percent in front, 50 percent in the rear. While the Stradale version featured a roll cage to protect the driver at high speeds, the MC version will add two more rear seats in order to offer interior room for four passengers. The seats are covered in Poltrona Frau leather and the steering wheel in Alcantara. The interior also gets a new dash layout, a redesigned instrument panel, and black accents instead of the chrome trim found on the standard GranTurismo models. Engine The new Maserati GranTurismo MC is powered by a 4.7-liter all-alloy V8 engine that delivers 443 HP at 7000rpm and and a peak torque of 376 lbs-ft at 4750rpm. This power is just enough to make the MC the fastest car ever sold by Maserati on the US market. It has a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 185 mph. The MC version comes with an automatic gearbox instead of the Race Shift transmission that was used for the Stradale version. This engine will be offered with a comprehensive "friction reduction program" including Diamond-Like-Coating of high friction parts inside the valve train. The new exhaust system also plays a part in helping the GranTurismo MC achieve its seemingly conflicting goals of a six percent improvement in fuel economy and even-better responsiveness. With a shorter exhaust path, the lighter exhaust not only keeps the bypass valve that enriches and intensifies the engine note, but takes lessons from both the GranTurismo MC Stradale and the GranTurismo MC Trofeo race car by exiting through the center of the rear bumper. PricesOrders are now being taken for the new Maserati GranTurismo MC with prices being revealed at a later date. Competition Despite the fact that the Maserati GranTurismo MC is the fastest car offered by the company, it still has some serious competition in models like the Porsche GT3 and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S. The Porsche GT3 is powered by a 3.8-liter six-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine that develops a maximum output of 435 bhp and sprints from 0 to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. The Aston Martin Vantage S gets a V8 engine that delivers 430 hp and is capable of a top speed of 189 mph. The Maserati beats both of these models out in power so we’re excited to see what the vehicle will be capable of once it actually hits the track.  Looks great
Fast and powerful
Fastest shifts of any full automatic transmission in production.
Some of its competition has better performance times
20 comments: Maserati GranTurismo MC Hmm, the Jag also has some good points for it, but the GranTurismo MC tops it in terms of engine performance. This one is definitely a hard choice.
 Well, I would probably be picking this one up against a Jaguar. For one, its looks are rather unique when compared with that of the Jag, which has become somewhat a bit too standard.
 Hmm, it would be tough to decide when this one is being compared to a Jaguar. Though the MC does perform as well as that one, it still has some short comings.
 Well, considering that the GranTurismo MC is still pretty much a sports car, then performance would still be a highlight in here. Good thing that it has high marks on that aspect though.
 hmm. Why do they need to emphasize that this car is fast and powerful? IMO, when we say sports car is was given that this car should have those two important factor.
 It really looks great and I have to agree that this car has an amazing performance among Maserati brand only and not among all the sports car.
 Wow, that close up of the front actually made me more appreciative of the whole car’s design. I never really thought that the MC is actually that exquisite looking.
 Wow, they’re finally bringing that car to the States, this one is certainly a long time coming. Too bad though that they won’t be bringing in the street legal version.
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Posted on
05.5.2011 @ 00:36