Paris 2010: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is not an Italian DJ, but is an upgraded super coupe

Maserati can produce some gorgeous automobiles. The Maserati GranTurismo is no exception, in fact we'd place it in the give-up-your-first-born-to-own-one category of beautiful. In addition to its looks, the GranTurismo is a powerful and luxurious grand touring machine that causes both eyes and ears to strain for more as it goes by. The 430-horsepower GranTurismo S was the king of the trident-wearing coupes, until today. Taking the stage at the 2010 Paris Motor Show is the all-new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale.

The GranTurismo MC Stradale ratchets up the excitement by pushing power output to 450 horsepower. The chassis has been tweaked and the body slightly updated for increased aerodynamics. The MC Stradale manages to increase the levels of downforce without causing a noticeable increase in drag. The result is an elegant two-door that's begging for track time.

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

There are pros and cons to two erstwhile rivals sharing the same roof. On the one hand, they can share resources, but on the other, they have to be careful not to step on each-other's toes. Sharing corporate space with Aston Martin meant that Jaguar had to clip its own wings when it came to the XKR for years, as evidenced by the more powerful versions that have come out since the two split.

There's no doubt that Maserati has benefited tremendously from its association with Ferrari, but that has consequently meant that the Trident marque has had to adopt a different approach, catering to a more luxury-oriented market than the raw performance of its big brother on the Prancing Horse. But that doesn't mean they can't push the envelop just a little, and that's what you're looking at here.

Called the MC Stradale, this ultimate version of the GranTurismo bridges the gap between road and race models in the same way the revolutionary Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale did in its day – and as the all-conquering 430 Scuderia did subsequently. To get there, Maserati's tuned the chassis, aero and engine to more closely resemble the levels attained on racing versions like the MC Trofeo spec racer and the GT4 competition model.

Modena claims increased downforce without a commensurate increase in drag, while the engine has been boosted to 450 horsepower as compared to the 430 in the existing GranTurismo S. That's about all the Italians have released at this point, but you're cordially invited to read the brief press release after the jump and check out the images in the gallery below as Maserati prepares the GranTurismo MC Stradale for its debut at the Paris Motor Show next week.

[Source: Maserati]

Maserati Quattroporte gets served up Novitec Style.

Anytime German auto tuner Novitec gets its hands on an exotic car you know that good things will happen. They’ve done multiple Ferrari’s, Audi’s, Porsche’s and BMW’s along with just about every other high-end manufacturer out there, and with this they’ve managed to build a reputation as one of the best exotic car tuning companies in the business. It now seems Novitec has gotten the bug to play with Maserati’s as it has just released a complete package for the Quattroporte S and Sport GTS.

By supercharging the engine from the Maserati GTS Novitec has managed to increase power from a base of 440 hp to a whopping 600 hp. This means 0-60 times of just 4.5 seconds and a top speed of around 195 mph. Also keep in mind that this is still a big 4 passenger grand touring car. For $36,000 you get one supercharger, water-cooled inter-coolers, reinforced V-ribbed belts, fuel injectors and everything else you’ll need to make your once fast Maserati a whole hell of a lot faster.

Source: Motorator.com

Ugur Sahin dreams up Aston Martin Gauntlet concept

Some of you might remember Ugur Sahin. He's a designer, specializing in grand touring cars that make our mouths water. Starting with already beautiful designs, he somehow manages to make shapely Chevrolet Corvettes and Ferraris look even better. From the Corvette Z03 to the Ferrari Dino and Ferrari-599-based USD GT-S Passionata, he's created some of the most exotic and graceful shapes we've ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on.

The latest automaker to earn Sahin's attention is Aston Martin. His latest design, the Gauntlet, blends some of our favorite design cues into a wholly unique package that's simultaneously sensual and brutal. Study the images and you might see a bit of One-77 in the mix, along with a dash of DB AR1, or perhaps you are carried back to the old DB3S, a car that Ugur mentions specifically as inspiration for the Gauntlet.

There's also some Maserati GranTurismo mixed with a little Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione as well, but we're definitely not complaining. It's a terrific design that has us wishing that Aston is looking at Sahin's designs for the next DBS and V12 Vantage. For those who still lament the loss of the Vanquish, with its broad shoulders and studly swagger, this might be the car for you. It's definitely earned a spot in our dream car garage.

Russian designer pens Maserati Kuba concept

It was only a few years ago, but how quickly we forget. Maserati actually toyed with the idea of building a crossover back in 2003, even going so far as to unveil a concept for the project called the Kubang GT Wagon at the Detroit Auto Show. The shape was penned by Giugiaro's ItalDesign, but project was scrapped, preserving the Trident marque's chastity in the eyes of many a purist. Now, an ambitious designer out of Russia has revived the idea with a concept he calls the Kuba. Sound familiar?

The brainchild of Andrey Trofimchuk Simeonych, the Maserati Kuba design study is, well...an intriguing take on what a Maserati crossover could look like. Only it doesn't share any design themes with any Masers we can think of. Nor does it have any theoretical specifications attached, though surely a platform and powertrain could be found from the growing Fiat/Chrysler automotive empire.

To our eye, it would look more suitable as a vision for what a future aircraft-engined Veritas sport-ute could look like, or maybe even a weird Citroën concept of some sort (is there any other kind?). Then again, maybe not. It's a love-it-or-hate-it affair, so have a look for yourself in the high-res image gallery below and share your impressions in our comments section.

[Source: CarDesign.ru]

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Maserati GranCabrio

There are a few things Maserati could do to make the GranTurismo look better than it does, but not many. One option is to surround it with unspeakably beautiful women. Another is to remove the roof. Thankfully, they opted for both here in Frankfurt, where the Trident marque took the wraps off the new GranCabrio.

The girls are a regular fixture for Maserati. But the convertible version of the GranTurismo coupe has been a long time coming. Details and the first batch of photos broke a few weeks ago, and we just got our first up-close-and-personal with what is, believe it or not, the only proper four-seat cabriolet currently on offer from Italy.


PRESS RELEASE:

The new Maserati GranCabrio

The introduction of the GranCabrio – the Trident's third prong – completes Maserati's product line-up that now consists of three different families of models: Quattroporte, GranTurismo, GranCabrio.

The GranCabrio represents the very essence of Maserati in terms of open-top cars. It's a Maserati in the purest sense of the word: from the unmistakable style by Pininfarina to the spacious interior, from the craftsmanship of each detail to the driving pleasure and performance. The Maserati GranCabrio enriches all five senses in a shared open-air experience, without sacrificing comfort and performance. A dream car designed and built for men and women who love to live life in an understated – though sophisticated - manner. Like all the made in Maserati open-top convertibles: special cars aimed at refined connoisseurs.

The GranCabrio is continuing the Maserati tradition in open-top fine automobiles, beginning with the 1950 A6G Frua Spyder, and continuing through a long list of significant and thrilling open air models. However, in adding to this tradition, the GranCabrio opens a new chapter, because never before have four-seater top-down models ever been produced at the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory in Modena. Four proper seats are provided, so that the rear passengers are not merely supporting actors, but co-stars of the journey.

The GranCabrio is powered by a 4.7 liter V8, 323 kW engine and is the convertible with the longest wheelbase on the market (versus its direct competitors). The GranCabrio's roof is strictly canvas-made, emphasizing the link with the Maserati tradition.

The Maserati GranCabrio will be marketed starting next winter, and experienced by customers the world over from the following spring.

Technical specifications

Body

High-strength steel bearing monocoque with box-section panels and structure constructed in sheet galvanized, two-door cabriolet, four seats, longitudinal centre-front engine (between the two axles), rear wheel drive.

Cx 0.35 with car closed and 0.39 with car open.

Monocoque

Multi-material bearing monocoque, passive safety performance conforming to "worldwide" regulations, integration of various design technologies for weight/performance optimization: steel structural part, aluminum bonnet and bumper front reinforcement cross member, boot lid in thermosetting composite material.

Frame

Derived from the Quattroporte structure, with reduced wheelbase and rear overhang, designed to satisfy the most stringent American crash standards (FMVSS208, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard), front structure compliant with ACEA1 "pedestrian impact" standards.
Constructed in high-strength steel boxed sections; it integrates a tubular structure in the rear part to support suspensions and differential; front serves to support the suspensions and engine.
Aluminum sub-floor structural reinforcements.

Suspension

Standard Skyhook system.
Front: quadrilateral with forged aluminum hub carriers and struts, basic aluminum gas dampers with continuous damping variation and acceleration sensors on each wheel (Skyhook), coaxial helical springs.
Rear: with quadrilaterals with forged aluminum hub carriers and struts, additional radius bar for toe-in control; basic aluminum dampers with continuous damping variation and acceleration sensors on each wheel (Skyhook).
Front and rear suspension fitted with hollow bars that reduce roll and mass, and increase driving comfort.

Steering

Hydraulic steering box with tacho-sensitive servo assistance with on road steering ratio 64 mm/rev.
Steering diameter (from pavement to pavement): 10.7 m.

Transmission

Architecture with front transmission in unit with the engine, drive shaft, rear differential. 6-speed hydraulic torque converter gearbox (ZF 6HP26).

Transmission gear ratios: 1st gear 4,171; 2nd gear 2,340; 3rd gear 1,521; 4th gear 1,143; 5th gear 0,867; 6th gear 0,691; R 3,403.
Asymmetric limited slip differential (25% in traction, 45% in release) with bevel drive with final ratio 3.73 (15/56).

Steel drive shaft, 69 mm diameter, articulated in two pieces with three constant-velocity joints, and supported at the centre with a bearing which is integral with a support cross member tightened to the chassis, with an interposed rubber ring.

Traction control and Maserati Stability Program (MSP) incorporating the traction control (ASR), release torque (MSR), anti-lock braking (ABS), and electronic brake distribution (EBD) systems.

Engine

8 cylinders in 90 degree V, total displacement 4,691 cm3. Crankcase and cylinder heads in hardened and tempered aluminum alloy, crankshaft in hardened and tempered steel, balanced individually on 5 main bearings.
The timing system features double chain-driven overhead camshaft per bank; four valves per cylinder driven by hydraulic cups.
Continuous phase variator on intake camshafts.
Increased-diameter Nikasil-coated thin steel cylinder liners.
Wet sump lubrication, oil sump integral with crankcase, single oil bath pump.
Bosch integrated ignition and injection systems, and drive-by-wire accelerator.

Displacement: 4,691 cm3
Bore: 94 mm
Stroke: 84.5 mm
Compression ratio: 11.25:1
Maximum power output: 323 kW (440 CV)
Engine speed at maximum power output: 7,000 rpm
Peak torque: 490 Nm (50 kgm)
Engine speed at peak torque: 4,750 rpm
Maximum engine speed: 7,200 rpm

Dimensions and weight

Length: 4,881 mm
Width (without mirrors): 1,915 mm
Width (with mirrors): 2,056 mm
Height: 1,353 mm
Wheelbase: 2,942 mm
Front track: 1,586 mm
Rear track: 1,590 mm
Front overhang: 873 mm
Rear overhang: 1,066 mm
Trunk capacity: 173 l
Fuel tank capacity: 75 l
Dry weight (UE version): 1,887 kg
Kerb weight (UE version): 1,980 kg
Weight distribution: 49% front; 51% rear with car closed;
48% front; 52% rear with car open

Performance
Top speed: 283 km/h with car closed
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 5,4 s
Pick-up 80 -120 km/h: 4.2 s
Stopping distance from 100 Km/h – 0: 35 m

Maserati Quattroporte limousine

While running around from merger to acquisition, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has been riding in style in a Maserati Quattroporte. And why shouldn't he? The luxurious sport-sedan is miles ahead of the Alfa Romeo 167 which Fiat executives were chauffeured around in beforehand, and better than anything Opel or Chrysler has got to show off, too. But one limousine company in Florida has what it figures is the next step up: a stretched Quattroporte with seating for ten.

Based on the previous incarnation of the Trident-emblazoned four-door – the horizontal slats in the grille are a dead giveaway over the vertical bars on the newer model – the Padilla Car Collection claims it's the only stretched Quattroporte in the world. And we certainly hope so. The company's also got stretches Hummers, Bentleys, Escalades, Mercedes S550s and a custom Chrysler 300 should you, your pals and your prom dates be looking for something a little more, um... reserved. For our part, we don't even want to know what the extra yardage has done for the QPorte's handling, with which we fell in love on the back streets of Salzburg, Austria, and we're quite sure Signore Marchionne doesn't, either.

[Source: Padilla Car Collection via CarScoop]