Wednesday 14th August 2024

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale | Spotted

Maserati's latest GT can be enjoyed in complete silence. This one not so much...

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For a company awash in motorsport heritage, Maserati isn’t exactly known for track specials. Most of its current lineup comprises SUVs, a GT that can be had in both V6 and EV form, and the mid-engined MC20 that was supposedly developed with GT3 racing in mind - yet here we are four years after its release and the closest thing we’ve got is a GT2 machine for gentleman racers. It’s better than nothing, but you won’t see Maserati competing at Le Mans with the MC20 any time soon. Sigh.

That being said, when the firm does feel the need to rummage around its motorsport nostalgia drawer, it usually comes out with something special. Just think of the MC12 from 20-odd years ago, a car built around the bones of the Ferrari Enzo for the FIA GT1 championship, which it dominated for several years. And while the MC20 doesn’t have that level of world-class racing pedigree under its belt (not yet, anyway), a more extreme version is set to debut at Monterey Car Week on Friday. If it’s anything like Maserati’s last track-honed offering, the GranTurismo MC Stradale like the one we have here, it should be worth the wait. 

Transforming a GT into a track car must be incredibly satisfying as an engineer, because there are so many areas where weight can be saved. For the MC Stradale, that meant chucking out the rear seats and fitting lighter, carbon buckets for the two occupants up front. Savings were also made by reducing the amount of sound deadening in the cabin, the fitment of lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels and a new titanium exhaust system, all of which contributed to a 120kg reduction over the standard GranTurismo. And it managed to do that without scrapping must-have GT creature comforts such as sat nav, climate control and a hi-fi system.

It didn’t stop there, either. The MC Stradale sits lower by 10mm and 12mm front and rear respectively, with eight per cent stiffer spring rates to keep the platform level. The aerodynamics were given a major overhaul, too, with a revised front bumper, sizeable rear diffuser and a small ducktail bolted to the boot bringing significant improvements in downforce. That, and they made the already stunning GranTurismo look even more pleasing to look at, particularly at the rear where the lightweight exhaust system protrudes above the diffuser like on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

On the engine front, the Ferrari-developed 4.7-litre, cross-plane crank V8 was dialled up to 450hp - 10hp more than the standard GranTurismo - with those gains coming from the freer flowing exhaust and the use of a special friction-reducing coating inside the engine. That came paired with a single-clutch paddle-shift gearbox that could shift cogs in as little as 60 milliseconds in the MC Stradale’s raciest mode. It sounds unforgiving, but Dan Trend found in 2013 found the opposite, saying the MC Stradale “can switch seamlessly between raffish GT and proper hooligan as and when the mood takes you, rather than according to some mode button on the dash.”

So yes, Maserati does know how to put a track special together when it puts its mind to it, and you can see for yourself by picking up this box-fresh 2012 example with only 3,945 miles on the clock. The original owner spent a pretty penny on spec, opting for carbon fibre exterior detailing and a distinct red Maserati trident on the roof. These were £110,000 back in the day, but this menacing example could be yours for just £74,990. A good chunk cheaper than a new V6-powered model, but one of the original V8s can be had for just over £20k. Just be sure to take a few brave pills before taking the plunge.

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SPECIFICATION | MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC STRADALE

Engine: 4,691cc V8
Transmission: six-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 376@4,750rpm
MPG: 20
CO2: 337g/km
Year registered: 2012
Recorded mileage: 3,945
Price new: £110,110
Yours for: £74,990

See the original advert here

[sidesauce]

Dated infotainment system notwithstanding, that's a tasty example!

[Motormouth88]

I’m sorry they want how much for that!!!

[cowboyengineer]

£74990

[NicoG]

Dan who....?

[spikyone]

Crazy money, at least £10k overpriced IMO and looks a bit daft. It's still far more GT than track car and the excessive carbon and silly roof decal do it no favours. Maserati Ascot have a less chav-spec 2019 MC Strad with 4k on the clock for £69k at the moment. That one's also a 4-seater; 2 seats was optional.
Or if you really want a GranTurismo track car, Richard Grace has a road legal Trofeo GT4 for £65k.

Fantastic sounding cars but they are typically supercar-fragile. Prone to frequent electrical wobbles and whilst the interior looks pretty it's not very hard-wearing. It also suffers the same sticky plastics as certain other Italian exotica. Some will say it comes with the territory; I now have a Lexus LC so will disagree.

[Slowlygettingit]

Tried to get Mrs SGI out of her m4 into one of these a few years back.
It didn’t go well - the interior looks good in pics. Not so much in real life. And these really are quite large.
So with the running costs of it being her daily we got another m4.

[fflump]

The Granturismo Sport can be got for half what us being asked for this and the difference is fairly negligible

[Andychomb75]

spikyone said:

Crazy money, at least £10k overpriced IMO and looks a bit daft. It's still far more GT than track car and the excessive carbon and silly roof decal do it no favours. Maserati Ascot have a less chav-spec 2019 MC Strad with 4k on the clock for £69k at the moment. That one's also a 4-seater; 2 seats was optional.
Or if you really want a GranTurismo track car, Richard Grace has a road legal Trofeo GT4 for £65k.

Fantastic sounding cars but they are typically supercar-fragile. Prone to frequent electrical wobbles and whilst the interior looks pretty it's not very hard-wearing. It also suffers the same sticky plastics as certain other Italian exotica. Some will say it comes with the territory; I now have a Lexus LC so will disagree.

Wrong on an are things. Later cars are badged MC but are not an MC Stradale, despite the fact that even Maserati Dealers desribe them as a Stradale. They have an gearbox instead of robotised manual, no carbon brakes, but yes better infotainment (not difficult!) and I think softer suspension set up

There are only 297 of the original 2 seat Stradales which with the same seats as the Enzo feel really special. Later Stradale versions (2013-16) het 4 seats but not as hardcore IMO

This is a very optimistic price I agree - maybe 65k if really box fresh

[Andychomb75]

spikyone said:

Crazy money, at least £10k overpriced IMO and looks a bit daft. It's still far more GT than track car and the excessive carbon and silly roof decal do it no favours. Maserati Ascot have a less chav-spec 2019 MC Strad with 4k on the clock for £69k at the moment. That one's also a 4-seater; 2 seats was optional.
Or if you really want a GranTurismo track car, Richard Grace has a road legal Trofeo GT4 for £65k.

Fantastic sounding cars but they are typically supercar-fragile. Prone to frequent electrical wobbles and whilst the interior looks pretty it's not very hard-wearing. It also suffers the same sticky plastics as certain other Italian exotica. Some will say it comes with the territory; I now have a Lexus LC so will disagree.

[Terminator X]

Er, wow

TX.

[fflump]

Andychomb75 said:

Wrong on an are things. Later cars are badged MC but are not an MC Stradale, despite the fact that even Maserati Dealers desribe them as a Stradale. They have an gearbox instead of robotised manual, no carbon brakes, but yes better infotainment (not difficult!) and I think softer suspension set up

There are only 297 of the original 2 seat Stradales which with the same seats as the Enzo feel really special. Later Stradale versions (2013-16) het 4 seats but not as hardcore IMO

This is a very optimistic price I agree - maybe 65k if really box fresh

Later Sport models had the option of robotized manual designated as MC Shift. There’s one on AT for 30k

[sjc]

fflump said:

Andychomb75 said:

Wrong on an are things. Later cars are badged MC but are not an MC Stradale, despite the fact that even Maserati Dealers desribe them as a Stradale. They have an gearbox instead of robotised manual, no carbon brakes, but yes better infotainment (not difficult!) and I think softer suspension set up

There are only 297 of the original 2 seat Stradales which with the same seats as the Enzo feel really special. Later Stradale versions (2013-16) het 4 seats but not as hardcore IMO

This is a very optimistic price I agree - maybe 65k if really box fresh

Later Sport models had the option of robotized manual designated as MC Shift. There’s one on AT for 30k

I think you’ll find the original MC-Shift robotised manual are the cars without the auto gear lever on the trans tunnel. (I think) anything other than that is a version of the ZF auto box,whether it’s designated Mc shift or not.

[CH80]

Very tempting.

[Skaben]

These are one of my favourite sounding cars, so good

[Geoffcapes]

Stunning cars. Still miss mine (after 6 years!).

Get a good one and they won't cost you other than servicing. Buy one that's not been looked after and it will cost you a fortune.

The infotainment, is quite frankly awful, but there are other options available these days.

[Malcolm Pearce]

I'm lucky enough to own a two seater stradale and the prices vary depending on condition and colour.

A good one is pretty depreciation proof and a great GT car with sufficient addional presence (plus carbon brakes etc.) to warrant the price diffence between the stradale and the regular car.

The price looks fine if the condition is as stated and a "real" stradale especially if the v6 replation doesn't appeal.

[Cerberadream]

I can confirm electric gremlins in the oh so short 5 days of owning one of the very last Stradales made (2017). Lots of flashing dash lights less than 30 mins of collection. But a reboot solved that.

Why just 5 days?

I pushed the 'Sport' button while on the M4 on a cold February evening. I hadn't read the manual and did not know Sport not just made exhaust flaps stay fully open, and sharpen gear change, but it turned down/off traction control!!!

It swapped ends so frightenly quickly and threw me into the central reservation barrier, then flung across to left barrier then stopped middle of the M4.

Had to kick doors open to escape, petrol everywhere. Absolutely terrifying.

Fortunately no-one ahead of me or behind / side to me.

That shut the M4 both sides around 7pm, made BBC news. Car couldn't be saved.

Made a sensational noise though!!

Edited by Cerberadream on Monday 19th August 06:54

Edited by Cerberadream on Monday 19th August 06:55

[The0bald]

Cerberadream said:

I can confirm electric gremlins in the oh so short 5 days of owning one of the very last Stradales made (2017). Lots of flashing dash lights less than 30 mins of collection. But a reboot solved that.

Why just 5 days?

I pushed the 'Sport' button while on the M4 on a cold February evening. I hadn't read the manual and did not know Sport not just made exhaust flaps stay fully open, and sharpen gear change, but it turned down/off traction control!!!

It swapped ends so frightenly quickly and threw me into the central reservation barrier, then flung across to left barrier then stopped middle of the M4.

Had to kick doors open to escape, petrol everywhere. Absolutely terrifying.

Fortunately no-one ahead of me or behind / side to me.

That shut the M4 both sides around 7pm, made BBC news. Car couldn't be saved.

Made a sensational noise though!!

Edited by Cerberadream on Monday 19th August 06:54

Edited by Cerberadream on Monday 19th August 06:55

Wow! I had one a few years ago now and always drove it in sport but never realised that!

[urquattroGus]

The Gransport MC Victory is more fun having driven both....