|
 |
The undoubted
star of the Australian International Motor Show for the Trident is clearly the A$1.8 million (GBP 720,000)
MC-12, making its Asia-Pacific debut.
This car has attracted a lot of attention in recent weeks as one of the biggest
attractions of the Australian International Motor Show, coming here off the back
of the racing version's victory at Oschersleben in only its second-ever race in the
hands of Mika Salo and Andrea Bertolini, not to mention the fact that it is the
most expensive car at the show which is listed for sale in Australia.
The fact that it cannot as yet be registered in Australia seems almost to be an
irrelevance, as at least one has been sold, and this number may well have risen
as a presentation last week showed the car to potential customers.
As with all roadgoing MC-12s to be made, the Sydney show car is resplendent in
Maserati's traditional blue and white company colours. Pushrod suspension is
directly related to the race car, as is the naturally-aspirated 6-litre V12
which develops an astonishing 620bhp-plus, more than 100bhp per litre.
Having said that, although related in many ways to the race version, the
roadgoing MC-12 differs in some important ways, perhaps the most obvious of
which is the interior, which is some way from the rather sparse 'office' of the
race cars. Although much of it consists of carbonfibre, the MC-12's interior
also has leather, 'high-grip' fabrics, and Maserati's traditional clock.
Maserati has brought five cars in total, with the MC-12 offset to one side.
Perhaps surprisingly, the centre of the stand is given over to the Coupe-based 'Gransport',
which is mounted on a revolving turntable.
Finished in a striking blue paint scheme, the Gransport features several special
alterations compared with the standard Coupe on which it is based.
Perhaps the
most obvious of these is a design of wheel adopted from the 'Trofeo' racing
class, 19-inch items with the spokes arranged in a way which forms a trident
pattern, but the changes also include a carbonfibre 'lip' spoiler protruding
from the bootlid, plus a deepened front spoiler, side skirts and a 10mm
reduction in ride height.
As well as improving aerodynamics, these changes help to usefully sharpen the
driving experience over the standard Coupe, and are aided in this respect by a
tweaked version of the naturally-aspirated 4.2 V8, which now develops an extra
10bhp, up to a grand total of 400 at 7000rpm - an enhancement attained thanks to
improvements in the design of the intake manifolds and valve seats, along with a
reduction in the level of internal friction.
Inside, too, the more overtly sporting overtone of the Gransport is reflected,
with the traditional leather of the standard car being joined by alloy and
carbonfibre.
Elsewhere on the stand, Maserati is exhibiting examples of the 2004 model Coupe
and Spyder 'Anniversary', a celebration of the marque's 90th birthday.
These are effectively quite similar to the standard Coupe and Spyder, with no
mechanical changes, the alterations being purely cosmetic.
These include a large
Trident badge on the car's front quarterpanels, individually-numbered plaques,
red-painted brake calipers, aluminium pedals, a carbonfibre steering wheel,
aluminium instrument cluster, a special chrome grille and 18-inch metallic grey
alloy wheels.
Australia will receive an allocation of 30 (20 Coupes and 10 Spyders). The two
on show depict two of the four colours available for this model - the Spyder is
painted 'Rosso Mondiale', while the Coupe's colour is a more discreet Grigio
Alfieri.
The other colours available for the model, incidentally, are Grigio
Touring (light metallic silver), and Nero Carbonio (metallic black).
Finally there is a single silver Quattroporte, which rounds out Maserati's
Australian range. Under Ferrari ownership the Trident marque has undoubtedly
flourished all over the world, with the old Biturbo-derived range slowly being
replaced by a range of all-new models, and Australia is no exception to this
trend, with the marque consistently one of Australia's fastest-growing over the
past few years.
From 22 sales in 1999, sales grew 150% to 55 cars in 2000 with the launch of the
3200GT, and have kept growing ever since with the launch of new models such as
the Spyder and Quattroporte.
With its reputation for quality and reliability improving all the time, and the
current trend in Australia towards favouring European products in market
segments such as this, the good news is that Maserati can look forward to
further growth in this market.
|
|
by Shant
Fabricatorian in Sydney
|
|
