Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

The MC Stradale now has rear seats, yet thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre it’s the same weight as the old car. Other than this it’s business as usual – which means that while this is the most focused Maserati you can buy, the performance and handling increase isn’t worth £20,000 over the normal GranTurismo.

The GranTurismo MC Stradale was the lightest and most focused Maserati on sale, but it could only carry two people.

In response to customer demand, the brand has reinstated the rear seats, so the car is now just as practical as the normal GranTurismo. Despite this, it weighs the same 1,700kg as before thanks to greater use of carbon fibre.

You’ll find it in the bonnet, door trims, seatbacks and even parts of our test car’s strangely shaped steering wheel. But having so much carbon on show rather than painted over seems a little dated.

The same is true of the MC’s six-speed paddleshift robotised manual, which is rear-mounted to improve weight distribution. The box can change ratios five times quicker than a human can blink – but less impressive is the whack in your back when upshifting under hard acceleration or the surging motion it exhibits while driving more sedately in auto.

This isn’t a car to be driven sedately, though. The screaming V8 loves to be revved and sounds especially vocal in Sport setting. It’s the same 454bhp 4.7-litre as in the GranTurismo Sport, but the 0-62mph time is three-tenths faster due to its lighter weight.

The reduced mass also improves agility slightly, and is combined with Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres and lowered, fixed-rate suspension. The latter is actually just as comfortable as the standard model’s adaptive system. Unfortunately, the car’s sheer size means it never feels as precise as a Porsche 911.

The Maserati stops well, though, thanks to the standard Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes. It’s just a shame they lack feel and are grabby at lower speeds.

And that’s the thing with the GranTurismo MC Stradale: it has plenty of flaws. Thankfully, it also has lots of personality. And personality goes a long way...

For an in-depth buyer's guide on the Maserati GranTurismo from Classic and Performance Car click here...