Is the new Maserati GranTurismo MC a true driver’s car Let’s find out. Here is a first drive review on our American version of the GranTurismo MC Stradale, This 2012 “Mazi” is still official though. Hit the jump to read the rest of the review.
Funk Flex
Find Flex On Google+
Even if you’ve been in car-nerd lockstep with Maserati’s GranTurismo derivatives, you can’t be faulted for a bit of confusion. In Europe, the latest GT version is the GranTurismo MC Stradale, whose added horsepower, automated manual gearbox, carbon-ceramic brakes, racing buckets and nonexistent rear seating suggests a GranTurismo S dressed for a night out hustling races for cash.
That car won’t be coming to the U.S. Instead, we’re getting the GranTurismo MC. It’s similar to the Stradale, but with fewer track-day airs. Positioned as an edgier version of the GranTurismo S for buyers seeking more driver engagement than the GT S offers, the U.S.-bound MC has two, decent-sized rear seats, a mild-mannered ZF automatic transmission standing in for the F1 box and a couple-hundred pounds of extra weight. Sounds like the Europeans got the fillet again, and we’re stuck with another boiled eye-round roast? Close, but not exactly.
Maserati reps explain the dueling versions thusly: European buyers tend to garage their Maseratis in advance of the weekend’s recreational flogging sessions, but Americans want to drive their Maseratis during the week. So, for a buyer in LA or New York, the F1 box might be too finicky in commuter traffic, while the Stradale’s racing harness would likely crease their bespoke power suits. Unacceptable.
Still, both cars have gotten similar tweaks on the nose by the Maserati Corse racing program. In the MC’s case, the modifications largely involve aerodynamics. Those include a new, hand-formed hood with air intakes, a new front bumper and splitter combo, new fenders with air outlets, new side skirts, a new rear bumper and a larger rear lip spoiler. The result is 25% more downforce at the front and 50% more at the rear, at 125 mph.
On a recent test day, I only drove the MC, and so I can’t speak for the Stradale. I can state without perjury that the MC is the automotive equivalent of a pleasuredome.
read the rest of the review at Jalopnik