Maserati GranTurismo MC – The Fastest Production Car Maserati Has Ever Sold in the US Market

April 25, 2011

Maserati GranTurismo MC

Italian sportscar maker Maserati has recently brought the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale to U.S shore. The North American variant of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is officially named as the Maserati GranTurismo MC, eliminates the Stradale word from its name. The US-market GranTurismo MC is nearly identical to the European-market MC Stradale, save for two key differences: for one, it replaces the Stradale’s sequential gearbox with the smoother ZF automatic transmission from the standard GranTurismo, and for another, puts the rear seats that were deleted for the Stradale back in place.

All that slows the MC down a little, which now has a top speed of 298 km/h and a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds – 0.3 seconds slower than the MC Stradale with the MC Race Shift gearbox which boasts a top speed a shade higher at 300 km/h (186 mph). Powering the GranTurismo MC is the same 4.7-liter V8 unit as in the MC Stradale producing 450 PS (330 kW/444 hp) and 510 Nm (376 lb-ft) of torque.

Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC, as well as the GranTurismo Convertible Sport, as the top-of-the-line convertible at its new TriBeCa showroom in Manhattan on the eve of the New York Auto Show.

Maserati GranTurismo MC

Press Release:

Maserati introduces a taste of the race-bred GranTurismo MC Stradale’s magic to North America with the GranTurismo MC.

Launched at Maserati’s new stand-alone showroom in the prestigious TriBeCa area of New York, the GranTurismo MC is the fastest production car Maserati has ever sold in the US market.

With a top speed of 298km/h and a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of just 4.9 seconds, the GranTurismo MC is only 3km/h slower than the ultra-aggressive MC Stradale, even though it is aimed at a slightly more luxurious market.

The major difference between the MC Stradale and the GranTurismo MC is in the transmission. Where the MC Stradale boasts the fastest gearshift in the world, the GranTurismo MC has one of the fastest shifts of any full automatic transmission in production. Maserati has custom developed the GranTurismo MC to deliver US customers the increased power, intuitive handling and aerodynamic gains of the GranTurismo MC Stradale without challenging their tastes for automatic transmissions and four-seat practicality.

Powered by the latest development of the 4.7-litre all-alloy V8 engine, this engine delivers 331 kW at 7000rpm and, with 510Nm at 4750rpm, another 20Nm of torque compared to the GranTurismo S Automatic. Maserati has made the engine more responsive, more powerful and more economical, thanks to a comprehensive “friction reduction program” including Diamond-Like-Coating of high friction parts inside the valve train. The new exhaust system also plays a part in helping the GranTurismo MC to achieve its seemingly conflicting goals of a six percent improvement in fuel economy and even-better responsiveness.

With a shorter exhaust path, the lighter exhaust not only keeps the bypass valve that enriches and intensifies the engine note, but takes lessons from both the GranTurismo MC Stradale and the GranTurismo MC Trofeo race car by exiting through the centre of the rear bumper.

The GranTurismo MC offers tighter damping control and carries over the race-bred aerodynamics of the GranTurismo MC Stradale that generate increased aerodynamic efficiency to improve ride height at higher speed without increasing the drag.

MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC

A modern example of Maseratis rich history of cars which blend genuine racing pedigree,luxurious comfort for four and timeless style

GRANTURISMO MC: RACE INSPIRED LUXURY

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.

To automotive enthusiasts worldwide, Maserati Corse is also synonymous with competition, continuous development, and lasting victory. It is the heritage of Italian craftsmanship, attention to detail and technology tried and tested on the track for exceptional, accessible performance. This is the synergy that has given birth to Maserati’s most powerful and fastest production car: the GranTurismo MC is the first road car in the current Maserati range to brake the 185 mph barrier.

OUTSTANDING ROAD PERFORMANCE: THE GRANTURISMO RANGE

The unique style of Maserati’s newest car is inherited from the family to which it belongs: the GranTurismo range, four–seat cars of unparalleled elegance and performance, the ultimate marriage of luxury and sports. The GranTurismo MC takes the GranTurismo S to the next level; this sportier version of the coupe, designed by Pininfarina and powered by a 4.7L V8 engine, is emblematic of exclusivity and performance, making excitement part of each fortunate owner’s everyday experience. While the GranTurismo MC is the very epitome of the modern grand tourer, its inspiration owes much more to the track than the road.

EXCELLENCE ON THE TRACK: THE GRANTURISMO MC TROFEO

It’s on the track, on the best race circuits around the world, where Maserati fully develops the sporting potential of its cars. From the FIA GT 1 World Championships, where both Drivers’ and Teams’ titles fell to the mighty MC12, to the European series ?Trofeo Maserati GranTurismo MC? for discerning gentleman drivers, every competition in which Maserati Corse participates is an opportunity to set new standards, and the GranTurismo MC is the most recent product of this synchronicity between Maserati’s racing activities and its road cars.

This latest Maserati inherits its purposeful design from its racing sibling, the GranTurismo MC Trofeo. A car developed in response to the specific needs of racing with innovative solutions tested in the unforgiving environment of the track: nowhere but on the track can cars be pushed to their true limits. The GranTurismo MC is the reward of the hand-in-hand development of Maserati’s race and road cars: the symbol of synergy and the search for excellence.

SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE, SUPERMODEL LOOKS:

When Maserati combines the excellence of its road cars with the adrenaline of Maserati Corse, the result has to be the perfect mix of elegance and power, the epitome of beauty and sporting aggression: the new GranTurismo MC. Its form is the perfect solution to the combined demands of aerodynamics and style, while the interior, featuring prestigious materials like the finest Italian leather form Poltrona Frau and Alcantara®, perfectly weds the ultimate aesthetics of luxury and performance.

NEW BODYWORK STYLING:

Directly inspired by our racing department, Maserati Corse, the streamlined styling of the GranTurismo MC makes a positive statement expressing craftsmanship and high performance. The experience of racing and fluid dynamics have allowed Maserati to create an aerodynamic body with 25% more downforce at the front and 50% more at the rear than the GranTurismo S at 124 mph (200 km/h). In particular, the front spoiler, skirts and slots in the front fenders combine to press the front of the car down at high speeds, cool the brakes via the extraction of hot air from and deliver downforce over the entire car.

The side skirts have been integrated with the vents to channel airflow beneath the car, creating downforce to improve control at speed. The car’s highly sophisticated aerodynamics also include two slots on the hood to cool the engine compartment. The rear bumper has been redesigned for centrally located exhausts and combined with the diffuser profile to promote more efficient and directed air flow from under the body. These apertures further stabilize the air flow behind the car to improve aerodynamic efficiency, while the rear spoiler produces additional downforce at high speeds. The wheels are equally sophisticated: the 20’’ flow-formed rims of the GranTurismo MC are lighter, to reduce unsprung weight, and bear the renowned Trident symbol on their double spokes – another statement of Maserati tradition.

INTERIOR: High Speed Comfort for Four Adults

The cabin fully expresses the unique design of the new GranTurismo MC, with numerous details combining to create a special environment of comfort, purpose and excitement: the seats clad in fine Italian Poltrona Frau leather, the combination of leather and Alcantara® interior trim, redesigned instrument panel and a new dashboard layout. The front seats—with the world renown Maserati Trident embroidered on the headrests—offer excellent support in all driving conditions, and the rear seats allow this most high-performance Maserati to carry four adults in comfort at speed. The overall styling of the dashboard is very different from that of the GranTurismo S: in line with the car’s more sporting concept, the luxury oriented chrome detailing has been replaced with a racier aesthetic in black. Alcantara® covers the central console, the central armrest, the door panel armrests, handles and the dashboard binnacle hood.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL: Design for Grand Touring

In the GranTurismo MC both the driver and passengers will be able to enjoy the car’s exceptional comfort and attention to detail. The front seats are designed to provide outstanding comfort, as well as offering good lateral support in high speed cornering. They also ensure an ergonomic seating posture which prevents fatigue even during long drives. The evolution of the interior has also transformed the instrument panel, where Maserati’s traditional blue background has been replaced by purposeful black, with completely new white graphics.

ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE: Without Compromise

Having been developed from a race car, the GranTurismo MC is an unusually exciting and responsive road car. This is due to its engine, more powerful than that of the GranTurismo S, its improved aerodynamics and suspension, which makes the GranTurismo MC feel more agile and dynamic than ever.

ENGINE:

The heart of the GranTurismo MC is its 4.7L V8 engine, which puts out 444 hp (330 kW) at 7,000 rpm. Power, flexibility and exceptional response when cornering are all heightened by the torque of 376 lb-ft (510 Nm) at 4,750 rpm, with a steeper curve at lower revs.

Many of the improvements to the V8 engine are due to reduced friction, thanks to the redesigned oil sump fluid dynamics and DLC coating (Diamond-Like Coating) on the tappets and camshaft lobes. The result is a smoother and more powerful engine with reduced consumption and consequently lower emissions, which gives unbeatably fluid gear changes while responding to the accelerator with an aggressive thrust and roar, controlled by the pneumatic exhaust system valves.

Furthermore, just like on the GranTurismo S, the alloy engine with steel cylinder liners is exceptionally light and compact, especially along the car’s longitudinal axis. The optimized dynamics are also due to the single timing chain system which gives a lighter response, improved reliability and reduced consumption. Finally, in line with Maserati’s most recent philosophy, the engine features a wet sump lubrication system, reducing the number of oil recovery pumps and extraneous noise: all to the advantage of the perfect combination of comfort and sports performance.

TRANSMISSION:

All the power that the V8 engine produces is harnessed by the proven technology of a six-speed automatic transmission, commissioned from ZF. First introduced in 2007, the transmission has proved itself the ideal partner, as adept at handling power when cruising as it is at reacting instantly when the pace quickens.

For the GranTurismo MC, the programming of the transmission has been further enhanced. In Sport mode the MC Autoshift programming is activated to execute a perfect blip of the throttle on downshifts, and to hold each gear at the red line on acceleration until the driver selects the next one; this eliminates the possibility of an unexpected gear change when cornering. The acceleration mapping has been improved for even better throttle response, and the new instrument display incorporates a shift indicator.

OPTIMIZED WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION:

Throughout its long history of providing the best automobiles for competition and daily use, Maserati has paid special attention to optimizing weight distribution in the quest for ever better handling. Maserati engineers have achieved their objective by selecting all components with an obsessive attention to detail, including the special 20’’ MC-Design alloy rims, designed for an aggressive look and flowformed for even lower unsprung weight.

SUSPENSION:

For the highest performing car in the GranTurismo range, a 10 mm lower setup has been developed for optimal handling and driving pleasure. Its standard single-rate dampers are stiffer, and the GranTurismo MC includes larger-diameter roll bars which minimize lateral load shifts (roll angle: -20%); overall, the car’s rigidity is increased by 16% at the front and 32% at the rear. The new setup is combined with a special MSP (Maserati Stability Program) calibration, which gives the driver greater freedom of action. Maserati’s acclaimed Skyhook adaptive suspension system is available as an option.

EXHAUST AND BYPASS VALVE SYSTEM:

The acoustics of every Maserati receive special attention, and the GranTurismo MC is no exception. A Maserati like this, designed for the road but developed through racing, must have an intense, unmistakable sound: this has been achieved by perfectly matching the exhaust with the insulation and using lighter rear silencers for a richer, more satisfying sound. The exhaust is also equipped with a hinged silencer bypass valve to further enhance the GranTurismo MC’s sportiness. The valve is permanently open in Sport mode. The MC doesn’t just sound like a race car; just as they are on the GT 4 and MC Trofeo race cars, the exhausts are higher and more centrally located to further emphasizes the sharper character of the GranTurismo MC.

TIRES:

The GranTurismo MC is equipped with the latest generation of performance tires (255/35 ZR20 front and 295/35 ZR20 rear) developed by Pirelli, who also makes the tires for the GranTurismo MC Trofeo. Designed for optimal performance on both road and track, the 20’’ Pirelli PZero Corsa tires are slightly wider than those provided as standard equipment on the GranTurismo S and offer increased grip without compromising handling and comfort. Thanks to their design and the use of material conceived and refined by Pirelli for racing, they guarantee unbeatable grip and response, together with improved precision and constant efficiency even on the track. The rear tires feature an asymmetrical tread with large blocks on the outer shoulder for improved lateral grip, while the front tires have a directional tread for outstanding grip on both wet and dry surfaces.

ACTIVE SAFETY:

The new GranTurismo MC boasts exceptional control in all conditions, thanks to its advanced control logic, the MSP (Maserati Stability Program) system which is always active in the background, without depriving the driver of the sensation of total control at all times. Thanks to the ideal balance of 48.5% front and 51.5% rear weight distribution, obtained by setting the engine behind the front axle, road holding and grip under acceleration are also outstanding.

MASERATI STABILITY PROGRAM (MSP):

Developed exclusively by Maserati, the MSP encompasses a series of electronic systems that are designed to optimize the car’s dynamics and safety capabilities on the road. The system has a series of sensors that can detect anomalies in the dynamic behavior of the car and, by using the brakes and the engine the system automatically helps to stabilize the car.

The MSP system is designed to:

Recognize the onset of skidding and helps stabilize the car in milliseconds;
Help prevent the wheels from locking under braking (ABS);
Distribute the braking force between the front and rear axles to help maximize brake force (EBD);
To help prevent the drive wheels from spinning on low grip surfaces (ASR);
To help prevent the drive wheels from locking when down shifting on low-grip surfaces (MSR). When the Sport mode button is pressed, the action of the MSP is moderated to provide more sporty handling. The cut-in threshold is moved upwards and the system acts primarily on the brakes without affecting engine power delivery.

STANDARD LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL:

A standard Limited Slip Differential helps maximize available traction under power. It overcomes the tendency of a normal open differential to send all torque to one wheel with low grip, effectively locks the two rear wheels together and delivers power to each. The result is maximum acceleration, in both straightline driving as well as in cornering.

PASSIVE SAFETY:

The load-bearing body structure helps enhance the safety of the new Maserati GranTurismo MC; furthermore, the application of the latest design technologies makes it possible to optimize the weight balance and performance. The structural part of the body is made of steel, the hood and front strut of the bumper are made of aluminum, while the trunk lid, made using Sheet Molding Compound technology, helps keep the weight of the car down. The six airbag system on the Maserati GranTurismo MC has four individual sensors in the front and sides of the car and on a control unit located near the center console. The Maserati GranTurismo MC uses a new generation of dual stage airbags for the driver and front passenger. The latter is protected by airbags which adapt to the passenger’s size and stature.

Both the front and rear seat belts have electronically-controlled pretensioners and load limiters of the most modern type. The front and rear safety belts are electronically controlled and equipped with pyrotechnic pretensioners and load limiters. The system communicates with a sensor which evaluates the severity of a collision and, depending on its calculations, optimally inflates the airbags; it also takes into account the status (fastened/unfastened) of the seat belts. Finally, an inertial switch is designed to stop the fuel pumps and help prevent fire breaking out in case of violent collision.

ADAPTIVE LIGHT SYSTEM:

The Maserati GranTurismo MC features self-leveling Bi-Xenon gas discharge headlights for the brightest illumination. The Bi-Xenon headlights are enhanced further by the new Adaptive Light Control system, a mechanism that makes the headlights turn in the direction of the car when driving around curves improving illumination of the road and surrounding areas to optimize the driver’s view of the road ahead.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE ASSIST (HBA):

The Maserati Hydraulic Brake Assist system recognizes panic situations by analyzing a combination of parameters such as the power brake pressure gradient, the wheel speed and illumination of the third stop light. The system monitors these parameters and takes over from the driver in activating the brake system at full power to ensure that full braking force is used under these conditions.

A CUSTOM-MADE MASTERPIECE:

The unmistakable style of Maserati’s latest creation is made even more exclusive and personal with a range of details, colors, materials and optional features which can be combined to make a Maserati unique: extreme sports or elegance and style, every GranTurismo MC expresses the personality of its owner.

Technical Specifications:

Engine