Maserati unveils GranTurismo MC Sport Line at Bologna

Bologna, Italy's late-season car show, has played host to a surprising number of new models this year. The latest, Maserati's MC Sport Line, is an option package designed to give the company's cars a decidedly motorsports-inspired look and handling treatment.

Not that Maserati is by any means unfamiliar with the race track - quite the contrary - but its road-going vehicles tend to err on the comfortably luxurious side of the performance spectrum, making the MC Sport Line a standout package. The car on show at Bologna is the already very capable GranTurismo S, and once treated with the MC Sport Line package, the car's styling truly matches its performance.

Extensive use of carbon fiber, the standard material of high-end race cars, is one of the package's hallmarks. The high-contrast monochromatic styling also mimics the high-performance MC Corse racing concept shown at Paris in October. With upgraded, track-tested aerodynamics thanks to new carbon fiber front and rear spoilers, the GranTurismo MC Sport Line Concept optimizes down force for high-speed driving.

New side skirts and a central panel finished in matte black give the car a more aggressive look from the side, as do carbon fiber mirror housings and door handles. Black 20in wheels complete the track-day look, while inside the carbon fiber theme is carried forward via the door sills, which bear the MC Sport Line logo. The steering wheel rim, door panels, dashboard and center stack are also all finished in carbon fiber.

The package isn't solely about looks, however, with upgraded, stiffer springs, shocks and anti-roll bars all around. A 10mm lower ride height lowers the roll center and center of gravity for further improved handling, and the new suspension is synchronized with Maserati's unique Stability Program software, allowing more freedom to the driver.

All of these features can be had together or separately, as suits the taste of the individual Maserati owner.

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Elite Carbon works over the Maserati GranTurismo

American auto accessory firm Elite Carbon has just released a full carbon-fiber bodykit for the Maserati GranTurismo, giving the car a much more aggressive look and increased aerodynamic performance. On top of this, some power modifications will also be available to make stunning GT more capable on the road.

The bodykit itself features a new front bumper with a clear-painted exposed carbon lip and brake intake surrounds. The kit also consists of new side skirts with an exposed carbon-fiber lip and lower sections. At the back, Elite Carbon adds a new rear deck spoiler, and a new rear diffuser and exhaust surround.

Other optional modifications include a set of 21in alloys, an upgraded exhaust system, high performance headers, an upgraded braking system and a carbon-fiber interior package.

Pricing for the Maserati GranTurismo bodykit is yet to be announced however it won’t be cheap. Previously we reported on a similar kit manufactured for the Lamborghini Gallardo, for which a standalone rear diffuser was listed at $4,500, and a pair of carbon-fiber side mirrors featured a $3,000 price tag.

The kit is expected to become available around the middle of next year.

Maserati news at Elite Carbon works over the Maserati GranTurismo

Maserati may launch road-going GranTurismo MC Corse

In late 2006 Maserati took the wraps off a new race-inspired version of its MC12 supercar, a model that was developed purely to homologate the MC12 GT1 race car for the FIA GT-championship. Now, less than two years later, Maserati has introduced a new concept race car based around its stunning GranTurismo, and there is speculation rising that a road-going version of the show car will be launched.

The GranTurismo MC Corse was unveiled at last month’s Paris Motor Show and although it is being called a concept the vehicle is expected to be used for competition in an FIA sanctioned motorsport event.

According to EVO, Maserati, buoyed by strong sales of the standard GranTurismo, is considering launching the MC Corse as a road-going ‘halo’ model that could compete with the likes of the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, Lamborghini LP560-4, and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

The car would feature the same 450hp (335kW) 4.7L V8 engine from the concept but the car’s kerb weight will likely rise with the addition of mandatory safety features and comfort ancillaries. Even with the added features, a road-going MC Corse would still only tip the scales at around 1,400kg – substantially lower than the 1,880kg kerb weight of the standard GranTurismo.

Maserati news at Maserati may launch road-going GranTurismo MC Corse

Maserati on target for new sales record

Despite the dire state of most of the industry, there have been a few consistent bright spots, and Maserati is now set to join them. The builder of luxury sports cars has already sold 40% more vehicles than it did last year, and that figure could still be going up.

Through August, Maserati has sold over 8,000 cars, an increase of 40% over last year's number of 5,900, reports Auto Motor & Sport. That figure has been driven primarily by the Quattroporte's sales, of which the company plans to build over 7,300 copies by the year's end.

The future at Maserati looks bright as well, with an updated 2009 model-year lineup and new high-performance 'S' models of both the GranTurismo and Quattroporte on deck. Future developments at the company, including a possible new smaller coupe/sedan pair below the current duo, could see the company climb to even greater volumes - despite industry predictions that sales in 2009 will be no better than 2008.

Maserati news at Maserati on target for new sales record

Report: Maserati may expand lineup with new sedan and coupe

This year Maserati will step up its sport offerings with larger, more powerful engine options, adding a new dimension of speed to its grand touring sedan and coupe. Other models in the pipeline could include smaller, nimbler variants and even new convertible offerings.

Both of the updated GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte S models are due to arrive in the U.S. within a month, along with their standard variants. Future developments are expected to include a new, smaller sedan and coupe pair to match, due around 2011.

The new cars would be based around a cooperative venture with Alfa Romeo, with whom Maserati already has an alliance to share technology and platforms in the future. Provided that Alfa adopts a new RWD platform, that could provide the basis for a smaller coupe and sedan for Maserati, though current development timetables mean it will be 2011 or 2012 before the cars come to fruition, reports Automotive News.

A potential new coupe/convertible is also in the works, as our spy photographs prove. The running gear is expected to be based on the GranTurismo, but the car itself could be based on the same platform as the Ferrari California. The car could appear as soon as late 2009 or early 2010, and will likely share engines with the Quattroporte and GranTurismo lines.

As has already been revealed, the Quattroporte S and GranTurismo S will share the same 430hp (320kW) 4.7L V8 engine. The standard Quattroporte, meanwhile, sticks with the familiar 400hp (298kW) 4.2L V8 engine from the previous car. Both engines are mated to a ZF six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift operated manual modes

Rumors of a potential 'shooting brake' or wagon, like the Bellagio Fastback custom coach-built vehicle, making it to production appear to be just that, and will not see the light of day.

Maserati news at Report: Maserati may expand lineup with new sedan and coupe

Maserati reveals new GranTurismo MC Corse Concept

In late 2006 Maserati took the wraps off a new race-inspired version of its MC12, a car that was developed purely to homologate the MC12 GT1 race car for the FIA GT-championship. Now, just a week out from the Paris Motor Show, Maserati has unveiled another race bred vehicle, this time based on the GranTursimo coupe.

The latest car is called the GranTurismo MC Corse, and although it is still being called a concept the vehicle will eventually be used for competition in an FIA sanctioned motorsport event.

It is based around the recently revealed 430hp GranTurismo S, but its interior has been stripped out and instead replaced with a FIA-approved rollcage. The engine has also been modified with a new intake system, high-flow catalytic converters and new mufflers. The end result is a final output of about 450hp, although exact specifications are yet to be announced.

The car’s body has also been modified, with a wider track, a new front splitter and side skirts, plus an aggressive rear wing improving on the aerodynamics of the standard model. Other changes include stiffer suspension, forged 18in alloys, and uprated brakes with monobloc racing calipers.

Earlier this week Maserati announced that it has a surprise planned for next week’s Paris event but it is unlikely to be this new GranTurismo MC Corse. Instead, we’re likely to see the unveiling of a convertible version of the GranTurismo or possibly an all-new model tipped to be a small coupe-cabrio.


Maserati news at Maserati reveals new GranTurismo MC Corse Concept

Maserati planning Paris Motor Show surprise

Maserati has confirmed via its official website (www.Maserati.com) that it will make a surprise announcement or presentation on October 2 at the Paris Motor Show. No other details have been revealed but there is a poll active on the site that asks visitors to guess what the surprise could be.

The list of options include a new car, advertising campaign, website, concept store, new headquarters, a revised trident design, a new testimonial or a new logo.

Most of the votes thus far have been for the new car, which is not without reason as the Italian carmaker is working on two new models seen testing in prototype form over the past several months.

The more likely of the two to be unveiled next month is a convertible version of the current GranTurismo coupe. Maserati officials have confirmed the car will arrive in showrooms by March of next year and recent spy shots have revealed a prototype GranTurismo with a folding hardtop roof.

The other option is a second coupe model positioned below the GranTurismo. This smaller Maserati is expected to feature a coupe-cabrio body and is tipped be based on the same platform as Ferrari’s new California.

Of course, this is all speculation, which means we won’t really know what Maserati has planned until next week.

Maserati news at Maserati planning Paris Motor Show surprise

Spy Shots: Maserati GrandTurismo Spyder folding hard-top

Maserati officials have confirmed the convertible version of the GranTurismo coupe will arrive in showrooms by March of next year and these latest spy shots reveal the car’s folding hard-top roof for the first time. The introduction of the new model will help Maserati meet its ambitious goal of selling 12,000 cars per year by 2011 as well as continue the carmaker’s recent return to profitability.

Maserati is yet to reveal if the car will sport a traditional canvas roof or a new hard-top, but the spy shots of a GranTurismo convertible prototype suggest that it will feature a metal folding roof. Otherwise, the convertible should feature the same mechanical package as the coupe, although in fitting with its premium status the car could come standard with the new 434hp 4.7L V8 engine from the recently revealed GranTurismo S. This means it will likely get Maserati’s updated automated manual gearbox and Brembo brake package as standard.

Performance will likely be down on its coupe sibling as the convertible will require extra reinforcements due to its missing roof. Remember, the coupe already weighs in excess of 1,800kg so the extra weight of this reinforcement plus the complicated folding mechanism of the roof system could easily push the drop-top past the two ton barrier.

The renderings below give us a good indication as to what the final styling may look like with the top down. Head over to our friends at AutoGespot to check out the spy shots in full. Expect to see it make its world debut at October’s Paris Motor Show before going on sale early next year.

Maserati news at Spy Shots: Maserati GrandTurismo Spyder folding hard-top

First road-legal Maserati MC12 Versione Corse on sale

The Versione Corse is the mandatory production version for the homologation of Maserati’s MC12 GT1 race car from the FIA GT-championship – the same car that won the Manufacturers’ Championship back in 2005. Under the rulings, twelve cars must be manufactured and sold to the public and the first of these race-cars built for the road is now up for sale. The car is being sold in auction in Germany and bidding has already reached €1.45 million (approximately $2.25 million).

The Versione Corse features a modified version of the 6.0L V12 shared by Ferrari’s FXX supercar and develops a full 755hp (563kW) - up from 630hp (470kW) in the standard model - at 8,000rpm with maximum torque of 524lb-ft (710Nm) coming in at 6,000rpm. Accelerating to 100km/h takes just 3.8 seconds, while maximum speed is a lofty 326km/h. Drive is sent through a heavily revised version of the six-speed Cambiocorsa gearbox, which has been designed to offer faster gear changes.

This particular example features a build-plate signifying that it is in fact the first car in the limited production series, and anyone buying the car will be treated with special track days run by Maserati.

Other features of the car include an electronically controlled exhaust system, a data logging system, 19in alloys with modified fenders, an automatic air-jack, Alcantara trim, Brembo brakes and a central locking system.








Maserati news at First road-legal Maserati MC12 Versione Corse on sale

Spy Shots: Maserati’s new small coupe-cabrio

Prototypes for Maserati’s next model, a new coupe-cabrio based on the same platform as the Ferrari California, were first seen testing more than a year ago but soon disappeared once engineers started focusing on completing the car with the prancing horse badge. The last we saw of the Maserati prototypes was back in February when a mysterious GranTurismo with ill-fitting body panels was spotted in Italy.

Heavily disguised cars have now been spotted testing in and around the Nurburgring in Germany, confirming that the smaller Maserati model is still in the works. Both the recently revealed California and this new Maserati model are based on a shortened GranTurismo platform, and both will feature the same folding hard-top.

The new coupe-cabrio will feature the same running gear as the GranTurismo, which means a 405hp (302kW) 4.2L V8 engine and six-speed ZF automatic transmission will feature. Maserati is likely to follow up with a performance ‘S’ addition, which should get the same 440hp (327kW) 4.7L V8 engine as its GranTurismo cousin.

Styling of both cars will be similar as this rendering suggests (the key difference being a significantly shorter wheelbase), and the first production model should appear late next year or in early 2010. Before then, Maserati is expected to launch the convertible version of the current GranTurismo.


Maserati news at Spy Shots: Maserati’s new small coupe-cabrio