AIMS: Maserati goes for sport

MASERATI will be out to make its presence felt at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show opening on Friday, when it unveils range-topping versions of both its GranTurismo coupe and closely related GranCabrio convertible models.

The GranCabrio Sport will make its Australian debut at the Melbourne show, with first deliveries to take place in Australia and New Zealand by early 2012 – when pricing for the more powerful yet more efficient Maserati cabriolet will be revealed.

Apart from its more aggressive look, the GranCabrio Sport comes with a 331kW/510Nm version of the standard GranCabrio’s 323kW/490Nm 4.7-litre Ferrari-built V8.

Matched with the MC Shift variant of its ZF six-speed automatic transmission – as well as upgraded Skyhook active suspension and beefier brakes – fuel consumption drops by a claimed six per cent.

Taking Maserati performance to an even higher level is the GranTurismo MC Stradale, which will appear in Melbourne just days after first examples of the hardcore coupe hit Australian roads.

“As would be expected from a company with the sporting history of Maserati, everything on the Maserati stand at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show is performance,” said Maserati Australia general manager Glen Sealey.

Top Maserati billing in Melbourne will go to the top-shelf MC Stradale version of the Italian sportscar brand’s GranTurismo coupe, which also employs a 331kW/510Nm 4.7-litre V8 that this time offers 0-100km/h acceleration in just 4.6 seconds.

What’s more, the MC Stradale packs a 301km/h top speed, making it the fastest Maserati production model ever, while being 13 per cent more fuel efficient and 110kg lighter that the GranTurismo S it is positioned above at $364,900 plus on-road costs.

“With so few coming to Australia and the car offering so much performance, the motor show is probably the only place it will be possible to see a Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale standing still.”

The Maserati stand will also feature a range-topping Sport GTS MC Sportline version of Maserati’s Quattroporte sedan, and an automatic version of the GranTurismo coupe.