Remember the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that was introduced last year at the Paris Auto Show? The Italian sportscar maker has brought a ‘softer’ version of the MC to the States that drops the “Stradale” word from its name. That is because the GranTurismo MC has a full automatic gearbox instead of the original Race Shift transmission and two extra seats in the back instead of a roll cage. Even so, the Granturismo MC is the fastest series production model Maserati has ever sold in America.
With a top speed of 298 km/h (185 mph) and a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 4.9 seconds, the GranTurismo MC is 3 km/h and 0.3 seconds slower than the Euro-spec MC Stradale. The reason is that the full automatic transmission can’t match the response of the Race Shift box. Furthermore, the rear seats add weight to the car, although Maserati didn’t release any specific numbers. These modifications were made to suit the tastes of U.S. consumers, with the company claiming that the GranTurismo MC is “aimed at a slightly more luxurious market”.
Developed by the Maserati Corse division (hence the MC nameplate), the car is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine delivering 450 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 510 Nm (376 lb-ft) of torque at 4,750 rpm (20 Nm of torque more than the GranTurismo S Automatic).
Visually, the GranTurismo MC is identical to its European cousin, sans the colored turn signals and the black mirror caps and door handles. The MC was launched at Maserati’s new showroom in the TriBeCa area of New York, with information on pricing and production numbers to be released at a later date.
By Dan Mihalascu
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