Maserati brings four-seat track star to Australia
BY MIKE COSTELLO | 14th Oct 2013
The $345,000 (plus on-road costs) track-focused sports coupe gets the familiar Ferrari-built 338kW and 520Nm 4.7-litre V8 engine from the $364,400 two-seater, matches the 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds, and actually has a higher top speed of 303km/h (up from 301km/h).
Engine tweaks over the ‘run-of-the-mill’ 323kW/490Nm GranTurismo include the development of a new engine map to optimise combustion and adjustment of the variable valve timing at high engine speeds, and redesigned pistons.
Meantime the momentum is hauled in by Brembo ceramic carbon brake discs.
Maserati has increased the size of the front roll-bar by 5mm to 25mm, lowered the ride height by between 10 and 12mm, added 295/35 Pirelli P-Zero Corsa rubber and stiffened the springs by 8 per cent.
Pitched as a car for weekend track days that can transport an extra set of passengers, the MC channels power to the rear wheels via an updated MC Race Shift electro-actuated transaxle automated paddle-shifter gearbox with shift times of just 60 milliseconds in Race mode.
There are also softer modes – Sport and Auto – that reduce throttle response, slow down gear changes and presumably soften the ride quality.
Weighing in at 1700kg dry, the MC Stradale is some 80kg lighter than the GranTurismo S, but 30kg heavier than the two-seater Stradale thanks to its additional pair of seats – leather and Alcantara, hand-stitched buckets with cupholders, no less.
Weight-reducing features are believed to include lighter flow-formed 20-inch alloy wheels, lighter wiring, a lighter exhaust system, the ceramic brakes, 12kg less body sealing and a carbon-fibre bonnet.
Maserati claims a 48 per cent front/52 per cent rear weight distribution, while front/rear downforce improves by 25 per cent and 50 per cent respectively, at 200km/h.
Visually, the GranTurismo MC Stradale has changes made to the front and rear bumpers, the front guards, the new carbon fibre bonnet and the boot lid, aimed at boosting down force and aiding engine and brake cooling.
