Skip advert
Advertisement

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

Ultimate coupe has more power and less weight. But is it worth the price premium over its rival here?

Few manufacturers can rival Maserati for glamour. In its heyday, its racing cars were famed as much for their aesthetic beauty as for their track success. The company still understands how to make its models look the part, and the new MC Stradale aims to add some of the brand’s motorsport know-how to its stunningly styled coupe line-up.

Advertisement - Article continues below

On the outside, the standard car’s curves are complemented by a 10mm lower ride height, deeper side sills and a more aggressive front bumper. The rear end has been redesigned to incorporate a diffuser, placing the exhausts higher up and closer together than before. Subtle bonnet vents and deep slots in the bodywork behind the front wheels finish the purposeful look.

Video: we put the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale through its paces on track

 

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68692","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

Many of the changes are devised to create downforce rather than improve the car’s looks, and this focus continues on the inside. The first thing anyone who is familiar with the regular GranTurismo will notice is that the back seats have been removed, to save weight. Our test car was even fitted with the optional rollcage and race-style four-point seatbelts.

Slide into the supportive carbon fibre seats, though, and you’re greeted by the same classically shaped dash, delicate analogue clock and chrome-ringed dials that make the standard car feel so special. Acres of Alcantara trim and generous amounts of carbon fibre add to the sense of occasion.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Tucson

2023 Hyundai

Tucson

33,363 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £19,200
View Tucson
E-PACE

2020 Jaguar

E-PACE

54,933 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £13,800
View E-PACE
1 Series

2019 BMW

1 Series

27,000 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £24,150
View 1 Series
XC60

2020 Volvo

XC60

55,200 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £23,450
View XC60

Despite this, the Maserati isn’t perfect. Its dated sat-nav is fiddly to use, and some of the switchgear is low-rent for a car in this price range. Still, these worries are banished the moment you turn the key...

Advertisement - Article continues below

Some of the regular model’s sound deadening has been removed, so the 4.7-litre V8 barks into life with even more potency. And it delivers one of the most intoxicating soundtracks we have experienced. Baffles in the exhaust open at 4,000rpm in Sport mode to increase the volume, but they’re never closed in Race mode. And in this setting the Stradale sounds just as good as the Trofeo track version.

Selecting the Sport and Race modes also sharpens the throttle response and quickens the action of the automated gearbox. The transmission isn’t as smooth as the Jaguar system, but when you upshift in Race Mode at over 4,000rpm, with the throttle more than 70 per cent open, the six-speed set-up completes the change in 60 milliseconds.

The violence of the shift sends shudders through the chassis, yet the reward comes when selecting lower ratios as each and every downchange is accompanied by a glorious and perfectly timed throttle blip.

Drive the MC Stradale as a pure automatic, and it doesn’t really compare with the slick-shifting Jaguar. However, when you increase the pace, it’s a more dynamic choice. The same is true of the chassis, which has been tuned with keen drivers in mind. The firm’s engineers have learned from the Trofeo race series, and as well as the lower ride height, you get thicker anti-roll bars and stiffer springs. Add the sticky Pirelli P Zero tyres to the mix, and the Stradale produces much more grip than the Jaguar. You can’t escape its size and 1,770kg weight, but it turns into corners with real confidence.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The initial body movement takes a moment to settle, yet once it has, the Maserati’s composure is impressive. The steering has more weight than the Jaguar’s and, despite the firm suspension, excellent damping ensures the ride isn’t unpleasantly hard. Standard ceramic brakes round off a strong dynamic package by delivering mighty stopping power.

Against the clock there was only going to be one winner here – but the Maserati was far from outclassed. Despite weighing 17kg more than the XKR-S and having to cope with a 99bhp power deficit, the car’s traction is superior. That helped it sprint from 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds – trailing the Jaguar by only one-tenth of a second. And while the supercharged torque of the Brit gives an advantage in terms of in-gear shove, the Italian model never feels short on performance. Its racy V8 relishes hard work.

Timed over a flying lap of our twisting test track, the MC Stradale also proved noticeably faster than its more punchy rival – meaning it has the pace to back up its higher price tag and desirable image.

Details

Chart position: 1
WHY: Fastest and most extreme GranTurismo yet is a true supercar. Stunning looks, soundtrack and performance promise big thrills.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,161 off RRP*
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,806 off RRP*Used from £15,644
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £3,189 off RRP*Used from £11,990
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £5,330 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years
MG Cyber X design render - front

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years

Boxy small SUV is gearing up for production, and our exclusive images show how the model might look
News
30 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Ford Puma Gen-E granted ultra-low £132 monthly lease
Ford Puma Gen-E - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Ford Puma Gen-E granted ultra-low £132 monthly lease

The EV grant has made the Ford Puma Gen-E a lot cheaper, and lease customers can cash-in with today’s Deal of the Day
News
29 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month

The Renault 5 is taking the market by storm – and at this price it’s easy to see why. It’s our Deal of the Day for August 30
News
30 Aug 2025