Highlight of Bangkok's
glamorous and exotic Supercar & Import Car Show
was the Thai debut of Maserati's latest sports car, the
track-inspired GranTurismo MC Stradale which is faster,
more powerful and more aerodynamically honed.
The Supercar & Import Car Show, organized by
Evo magazine and Union Pan, took place at the vast
Impact Exhibition Center in the Muang Thong Thani,
district on the outskirts of Bangkok and featured a
string of high performance and luxury cars on stands
ranging from the official concessionaires to gray
importers as well as a cluster of trade booths.
Highlights included the Thai debut of the Lamborghini
Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante while Ferrari's 458
Italia and California were both at the centre of
visitor's attention.
Maserati's official Thai importer, Empire Motor Sport
Co., brought three Trident models to the show, headlined
by the latest addition to the range, the GranTurismo MC
Stradale which received its world première at the
Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris last autumn before it's
spring worldwide roll-out. Flanking the white sports car
on the Maserati-blue carpet was the GranCabrio and
Quattroporte.
The GranTurismo MC Stradale is the most extreme version
yet of the GranTurismo and is inspired by the dual
racing programmes focused around this coupé which is
spun off the Quattroporte's architecture: the GT4
category racer and the Trident's own in-house 'Trofeo'
one-maker. The fastest production Maserati since the
MC12, the MC Stradale just breaks through the 300 km/h
barrier.
Compared to the GranTurismo S, the new MC Stradale has
an extra 10 hp to take it to 450 hp squeezed from the
4.7 litre V8 without, all without affecting fuel
consumption, while peak torque climbs by 20 Nm to 510
Nm. The improved engine is mated up to the Cambiocorsa
transmission (now renamed as "MC Shift" to try to ditch
the stigma attached to that tag) with shifting time
reduced to just 60 milliseconds, meaning the 0-100 km/h
dash is cut down to 4.6 seconds. For the first time a
Maserati model features a dashboard 'race' mode switch
to join the 'auto' and 'sport' functions, the latter two
having been recalibrated for this new application.
The GranTurismo MC Stradale has meanwhile has also been
on a diet shaving off 110 kg to take its weight to 1770
kg while the ideal weight distribution remains unchanged
at 48:52.
Visually the GranTurismo MC Stradale features many
detailed body changes, most notable being the new front
spoiler with contains outwards- and upwards-sweeping
cutouts on either side, while a new bonnet and wings are
also incorporated. Along the car's flanks the aero
package is enhanced by new skirts and at the rear
revised diffuser incorporates revised exits for the new
exhaust system.
The visual appearance of the MC Stradale is further
enhanced by chunky Brembo calipers and carbon-ceramic
brake discs while the first example to arrive in
Thailand, on show at Impact, had stand-out polished
carbon fibre feature detailing including the external
door handles and boot lip spoiler which contrasted with
the white body colour.
The first GranTurismo MC Stradale to arrive in Thailand
was actually destined for Bangkok businessman
Dr Chettha Songthaveepol
who is in fact is the driving force behind the
Supercar & Import Car Show concept. After Miss
Pornsarin Maethivacharanondh, the Managing Director of
Empire Motor Sport Co., introduced the Modena brand
during the press conference, he was ceremonially was
handed the keys once the dramatic sports car had been
unveiled by Prof. Suphachai Phisitvanich and Mr. Suradej
Maethivacharanondh, Honorary Adviser to Empire Motor
Sport Co., Ltd., both of whom were chairpersons for the
event. For the duration of the show, Maserati Thailand
also announced a special "4-4-4-4" promotion on all its
models: 4 years 0% interest, 4 years warrantee, 4 years
maintenance and a 400,000 baht trip to Italy. by Edd
Ellison
ItaliaspeedTV:
Maserati
GranTurismo MC Stradale @ Supercar & Import Car Show,
Bangkok
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