Ultimate Maserati unleashed

The streamlined shape and trident badge are unmistakably Maserati, but this GranTurismo is anything but standard!

Called the MC, it’s a prototype based on the top-of-the-range GranTurismo S seen at March’s Geneva Motor Show. And nearly every element has been modified to give the maximum possible performance.
Weight has been stripped out to make the car lighter and improve its overall balance. The chassis is stiffer, too, thanks to an integrated roll cage, while the bodyshell is constructed from composite materials.

Under the bonnet, the 4.7-litre V8 has been remapped to boost pace. Power is up from 433bhp to 450bhp, and the unit delivers 500Nm-plus of torque. The air intake and exhaust systems have also been revised, performance dampers and uprated brakes added, while the 18-inch wheels wear slick tyres.

The grille has two large air intakes, designed to boost engine and brake cooling, and the vented bonnet is also new. At the rear, the bumper now incorporates centrally mounted twin tailpipes and even more air vents. The boot spoiler is larger than on the standard car to increase downforce.

The eyes of the car world are focused on this week’s Paris Motor Show, so you’d think this would be the ideal venue for the MC to make its debut. But a Maserati spokeswoman confirmed it wouldn’t be there. “It has been displayed at a small customer event in Monza to gauge opinion,” she said. “This is very much a race car project and could feature in a number of championships from 2010, or even a one-make series.”

However, she added the MC could also spawn a limited-edition roadgoing variant.