Inside, the Maserati GranCabrio MC delivers redesigned seats up front, which offer more bolstering and can be hewn from carbon fiber for extra coin. And the new design helps the machine deliver a bit more rear legroom out back. The lump dumps 460 horsepower onto the rear tires via a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC Stradale at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and two years later, the company is bringing the MC Stradale package back, but it’s the GranCabrio that will benefit from its features.
The GranCabrio MC is 48 millimeters longer than the standard GranCabrio and will adopt a highly sporty and aggressive look. Its front end was inspired by the coupe version of the MC Stradale, while the rear gets a large spoiler, with the third brake light built into the luggage compartment inside the spoiler. The Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale will also utilize the Coupe’s 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 460 HP and a peak torque of 383 lbs-ft at 4,750 rpm. The engine is mated to an automatic six-speed ZF transmission and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 179 mph.
UPDATE 10/02/2012: Maserati has unveiled a cool trailer video for their latest GranCabrio MC. Enjoy! gallery: 2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale .
Exterior
The new GranCabrio MC exterior design was inspired by the Maserati Trofeo MC World Series and the GT4 version. It blends sportiness, dynamism, the search for aerodynamic perfection, elegance, and style.
The car is 48 millimeters longer than the standard GranCabrio and features design elements taken directly from the MC Stradale. The GranCabrio’s bonnet incorporates two generous air outlets at the center to optimize cooling of the V8 engine, while two additional air outlets added in the front wings are used to cool the brake discs. The car’s headlights feature LEDs for the daytime running light (DRL) function. At the rear, the car gets a large spoiler for greater negative lift at high speeds. The new GranCabrio MC is offered with standard 20" MC Design rims, available in glossy Titanio or matte Grafite.
Interior
The rear passengers will now enjoy 20 mm more legroom thanks to a redesigned frame for the front seats. The seats were also revised to provide more lateral containment to keep the driver firmly planted in place whilst whipping the GranCabrio MC through the twisties without impeding on comfort.
For those that desire a little extra sport, Maserati is also offering optional carbon-fiber seat frames. The steering wheel was also redesigned with the rim flattened at the top and bottom for greater maneuverability, also for sports and high-speed use. The model is also being offered with Trofeo-design steering wheel paddles as standard, with increased dimensions as seen on the GranTurismo Sport, and an aluminum pedal unit.
Engine and Transmission
It is the 4.7-liter V-8 engine that replaced the aging 4.2-liter Maserati engine.
This beast is tuned right next to Ferrari engines and boasts four valves per cylinder, two cams per bank – totaling four cams – and dual variable valve timing, allowing each bank to adjust its timing separately. On top of all of the technology, Maserati tore into the guts of this engine and performed a 5-point balancing to reduce its inertial rolling, so the engine is not only powerful at 460 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, but it revs up freely and quickly. This impressive engine links up to an equally impressive 6-speed ZF-built transmission.
This transmission can be used in Auto-Normal, Auto-Sport, Manual-Normal, Manual-Sport, and Ice modes. In Manual mode, gear changes are carried out directly by the driver through the steering wheel paddles, as with a truly manual gearbox. In Manual-Normal mode, the driver can change gear until the threshold value is reached, while in Manual-Sport mode the gear is maintained until the driver next changes gear, even if this may result in over-revving and the intervention of the limiter.
This combination of power and technology helps propel the GranCabrio MC to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.9 seconds.
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