Engine
Configuration 90º V 8
Location Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction aluminum silicon alloy block and head
Displacement 4.244 liter / 259 cu in
Bore / Stroke 92.0 mm (3.6 in) / 79.8 mm (3.1 in)
Compression 11.0:1
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Fuel injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Drivetrain
Gearbox 6 speed Automatic
Drive Rear wheel drive
Dimensions
Weight 1880 kilo / 4144.7 lbs
Length / Width / Height 4881 mm (192.2 in) / N/A / N/A
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r) 2942 mm (115.8 in) / N/A / N/A
Performance
Power 405 bhp / 302 KW @ 7100 rpm
Torque 460 Nm / 339 ft lbs @ 4250 rpm
BHP/Liter 95 bhp / liter
Power to weight 0.22 bhp / kg
Top Speed 285 km/h / 177 mph
0-60 mph 4.9 s
Granturismo S
Engine
Configuration 90º V 8
Location Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction aluminum alloy block and head
Displacement 4.691 liter / 286.3 cu in
Bore / Stroke 92.0 mm (3.6 in) / 88.2 mm (3.5 in)
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Fuel injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Drivetrain
Gearbox MC-Shift 6 speed Automatic
Drive Rear wheel drive
Dimensions
Weight 1880 kilo / 4144.7 lbs
Length / Width / Height 4881 mm (192.2 in) / N/A / N/A
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r) 2942 mm (115.8 in) / N/A / N/A
Performance
Power 440 bhp / 328 KW
BHP/Liter 94 bhp / liter
Power to weight 0.23 bhp / kg
Granturismo MC
Engine
Configuration 90º V 8
Location Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction aluminum block and head
Displacement 4.691 liter / 286.3 cu in
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Fuel injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Drivetrain
Gearbox 6 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive
Dimensions
Weight 1400 kilo / 3086.5 lbs
Performance
Power 450 bhp / 336 KW
Torque 510 Nm / 376 ft lbs @ 4750 rpm
BHP/Liter 96 bhp / liter
Power to weight 0.32 bhp / kg
Earlier this decade Maserati returned to their roots by producing new customer racing cars. Especially the MC12 GT1 racing car has been very successful, dominating the FIA GT championship for several seasons. At the Paris Motor Show the Italian manufacturer will launch a brand new racing car; the GranTurismo MC (Maserati Corse).
Although dubbed a concept car, there is little doubt that the new competition car is aimed at the hugely popular GT3 class. This latest addition to the racing scene forms the basis for several national and international racing series. By balancing the peformance of the production based cars, the GT3 class is hugely competitive and packed with a wide variety of machinery ranging from Porsches and Ferraris to the Mustang GT500.
Maserati used the highly acclaimed GranTurismo S model as a basis for the new racing car. The potent V8 engine was modified to produce a hefty 450 bhp. The coupe's interior was fully stripped and equipped with an FIA specification rollcage. This has brought the weight well down while adding rigidity. The biggest changes on the outside are the two dramatic radiator intakes. In addition almost every panel is modified in detail to suit the machine's racing purposes.
At the time of writing Maserati has not confirmed the introduction of a production version of the GranTurismo MC Concept. It would however greatly surprise us if the GT3 fields will not sport some brand new Maseratis in 2009.
