RE: Maserati GT2 gets new 640hp Stradale road variant
RE: Maserati GT2 gets new 640hp Stradale road variant
Friday 16th August 2024

Maserati GT2 gets new 640hp Stradale road variant

Maser targets stripped out supercar elite with track ready, road legal MC20


The latest derivative of the Maserati MC20 has debuted at The Quail as part of Monterey Car Week. The 640hp GT2 Stradale promises ‘in-depth technology transfer of the purest performance, typical of a racing car, combined with the intrinsic qualities of the MC20.’ Which doesn’t sound half bad, given how good a standard car is. Encouragingly, too, Maserati suggests that the Stradale will be able to thrill on road as well as a circuit.

With a tad more power and 60kg less weight, the Stradale is said to reach 62mph in 2.8 seconds and do more than 200mph. Maserati also talks of ‘sophisticated aerodynamics and attractive design inherited from its racing sibling’, though doesn’t yet make any downforce claims or shout too loudly about lap times. This is Monterey Car Week, after all, far better to grab the attention with a purple supercar than suffocate with stats. And it would be fair to say that the Stradale does that - no more little meek MC20 here, with the vented carbon bonnet, centre-lock wheels and towering rear wing. Check out those seats, too - proper road racer.

The only limit to the Stradale’s appearance will be the imagination (and budget) of the customer, with a huge raft of options set to be available. As well as offering the potential of a ‘bolder aggressive aesthetic’ through Maserati’s Fuoriserie personalisation department, there will be packages and upgrades and packages dedicated to improving performance. It surely won’t have escaped Maserati’s attention how much can be charged for a Weissach Pack on a Porsche RS, an Assetto Fiorano on a Ferrari 296 GTB or a Clubsported McLaren Longtail and will be following suit. 

Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO, said: “Maserati GT2 Stradale is a unique product, bringing together as it does the brand's greatest sporting heritage, and at the same time representing evolution of one of Maserati's most iconic vehicles, the MC20 halo car.

He continued: "This model intended for everyday driving was created based on the desire to offer our customers more and more in terms of technical mastery, innovation, design and emotions in road driving: on the one hand, we find sophisticated solutions reserved for models designed for track use only, the epitome of Maserati's racing DNA; on the other, we can guarantee optimal comfort paired with all the most advanced driver assistance systems. Maserati GT2 Stradale is a product that can fulfill the requirements of the most discerning enthusiasts, a new creation that expresses the brand’s entire essence.”

The GT2 Stradale will be on display at Monterey alongside a 2004 MC12 Stradale and the MC20 Icona it has inspired. In addition, the first MC XTrema will be handed over to a customer on Sunday at Laguna Seca. Quite a show from Maserati then, with four mid-engined cars, only one of them a classic, and all with more than 600hp from combustion engines. Let’s hope the GT2 Stradale builds on the solid foundation established by the standard MC20. Can’t have too many track-focused supercars now, can you?


Author
Discussion

Kawasicki

Original Poster:

14,365 posts

264 months

Friday 16th August 2024
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Nice machine

GTRene

22,451 posts

253 months

Friday 16th August 2024
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not bad, although the doors open looks massive doors...



looks like a big Beetle setting it wings to fly of.


foxhounduk

703 posts

209 months

Friday 16th August 2024
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EASILY one of the best looking cars on sale today. The doors are the icing on the cake.

Doofus

34,356 posts

202 months

Friday 16th August 2024
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Isn't flip 'digital' paint a bit naff?

Crumpet

5,395 posts

209 months

Saturday 17th August 2024
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I was having a nose around one of the standard models recently. Think it had shed £100k in a year and a couple of thousand miles and was now at £150k or so!

They do look absolutely fantastic, though, and in a couple of years when they’re sub-£100k will be an absolute steal. Great looking things.

BigChiefmuffinAgain

1,741 posts

127 months

Saturday 17th August 2024
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Standard car seems in danger of becoming an also ran in this sector. Just seems a bit forgotten, rather like the R8 or NSX in their latter years...

Arsecati

2,780 posts

146 months

Sunday 18th August 2024
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I simply do not understand why the MC20 (or this version) gets anywhere near as much attention as it should - it is simply stunning, and apparently anybody who drives one, absolutely adores it. We seem to have a new 911 article every 12 hours, but I can't remember anything being said about the MC20 since it was even launched. I'd have one over ANY Ferrari, Porsche or McLaren at similar money, and would only probably pip for a Lamborghini, as I've always been a Lambo fanboy, and couldn't resist the V10. Such a pity.

Doofus

34,356 posts

202 months

Sunday 18th August 2024
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Arsecati said:
I simply do not understand why the MC20 (or this version) gets anywhere near as much attention as it should - it is simply stunning, and apparently anybody who drives one, absolutely adores it. We seem to have a new 911 article every 12 hours, but I can't remember anything being said about the MC20 since it was even launched. I'd have one over ANY Ferrari, Porsche or McLaren at similar money, and would only probably pip for a Lamborghini, as I've always been a Lambo fanboy, and couldn't resist the V10. Such a pity.
I'm the same, although I'd like somewhere to put my phone/smints/sunglasses.

CLK-GTR

1,756 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th August 2024
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Lovely looking thing. Maserati should be kicking themselves for not putting an extra pair of cylinders in it, they'd fly out the door if it had a V8.

Sway

35,088 posts

223 months

Sunday 18th August 2024
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Arsecati said:
I simply do not understand why the MC20 (or this version) gets anywhere near as much attention as it should - it is simply stunning, and apparently anybody who drives one, absolutely adores it. We seem to have a new 911 article every 12 hours, but I can't remember anything being said about the MC20 since it was even launched. I'd have one over ANY Ferrari, Porsche or McLaren at similar money, and would only probably pip for a Lamborghini, as I've always been a Lambo fanboy, and couldn't resist the V10. Such a pity.
I think there's a couple of reasons. Timing of original launch was rubbish and meant reviewers couldn't review it on release, so it missed the boat.

Then there's the price vs value in comparison with it's peers. It's a junior supercar priced to go up against some very big hitters but without the credentials to back it up.

Wheel Turned Out

2,368 posts

67 months

Sunday 18th August 2024
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I can never escape the feeling that I want to like it more than I actually do.

Skaben

365 posts

170 months

Tuesday 20th August 2024
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not that I’ll ever be buying one, but I think the standard one looks better

johnag007

268 posts

270 months

Thursday 22nd August 2024
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I hope it shed the weight basis Maserati’s quoted numbers and not the real world ones.

I very much like this car and want to like it even more.