The GranTurismo MC is the ultimate embodiment of Maserati's knowledge gained over nearly a century of creating exceptional cars for road and track. The GranTurismo MC is a road car with authentic racing genes. A unique car with the unmistakable style of the GranTurismo, renowned for its performance, design and comfort, it is also a car with the sporting heritage of Maserati Corse, a synonym for pure adrenaline, whose name it wears with pride. The MC is also an extremely exclusive car, with a limited production of only 250 for the North American market during model year 2012.
The history of Maserati has always been inextricably linked with racing. The company was founded by the Maserati brothers in 1914 with one purpose in mind - to go racing. That competition heritage reached its pinnacle with the mighty MC12, which dominated international GT racing from 2005 to 2010. The 'MC' stands for Maserati Corse, the race team dedicated to extracting the ultimate potential from competition cars bearing the Trident. Occasionally, Maserati Corse breathes its special magic directly onto road cars as well.
The new Maserati GranTurismo MC is a product of Maserati Corse development. Whether you consider it an homage to the glittering achievements of racing Maseratis down the years, or a more civilized version of the GranTurismo MC Trofeo racer, this is the most sporting car in the expanding Maserati line-up. From nose to tail the entire car has been subjected to the scrutiny of Maserati's competition engineers, and the results speak for themselves - this is the most powerful and fastest production car in Maserati's long and glorious history, and it remains a delight on the street.
The 4.7 liter V8 engine which lies at the heart of the GranTurismo MC has had numerous internal revisions designed to reduce friction and thus improve power and efficiency. These upgrades, such as the use of the super hard but slippery Diamond Like Coating (DLC) on the camshafts and tappets, see peak power rise to 444 hp, with peak torque also swelling to 376 lb-ft - yet fuel economy is also improved by 6%. Programming of the six-speed automatic transmission now includes MC Autoshift; with Sport mode engaged it will hold a gear all the way to the red line, shifts are even faster and a double-declutch throttle 'blip' is added on downchanges. All the enhancements mean the GranTurismo MC can sprint to 60mph in an effortless 4.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 185 mph.
The handling of the GranTurismo MC has been further honed too; suspension is by single-rate coil springs over performance dampers, with double wishbones front and rear; since this set-up is de rigeur for racing, it is no surprise to find it on the GranTurismo MC. Skyhook electronic adaptive suspension is available as an option.
The sporting intent of the new Maserati is clear from the outside; the aggressive nose is now more boldly shaped, with sculpted air intakes to cool the Brembo brakes. The hood includes two vents to extract hot air from the engine bay, while the rear diffuser now incorporates two centrally-mounted exhaust pipes. The car features dark trim in place of chrome, and all new MC Design 20" wheels are the finishing touch.
The interior of the car has been fine-tuned to emphasize the car’s purposeful sporting intent; it is only appropriate that carbon fiber, the material of choice for racing cars, features prominently. Each car is equipped with carbon fiber trim on the dash and door panels, a carbon center console and carbon shift paddles, even a carbon steering wheel. The pedals are drilled aluminum, while the central panels of the seats feature new M-Design stitching.
Maserati owners rightly expect the best of everything, and this is no stripped-out racer; the interior of the GranTurismo MC features all of the amenities to be expected in a true Grand Tourer. Dual-zone climate control, cruise control, tire pressure warning system, rear parking system all come standard - and if a contrasting stitching color is specified, the Maserati logo on the front seat headrests will be embroidered. The rear seats are the feature which made the GranTurismo such a ground-breaking model, and they are retained in the GranTurismo MC.
The GranTurismo MC is the pinnacle of the Maserati range. Contact your local authorized Maserati dealer to find out more. But hurry, as they will be going - fast.
The 2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC is available now through Maserati Beverly Hills at a base MSRP of $139,900. Limited production of only 250 for North America in model year 2012!
Credits: Maserati.com