Maserati is not yet allowed to produce a car with 500hp or more. So every new model is added +10hp or so to differentiate from the previous model. The MC Stradale is not just about power, it has the MC-Shift gearbox, different engine management (a bit more aggressive), lower weight and more cosmetic things (carbon, etc). Well, unless you have a US version, which only has the cosmetic things! Unfortunately, your only option is to get an expensive upgrade (around 30,000 euros) and get your car to 630hp. That will make it as powerful as it should have been in the first place.
This all may be the case. I concede above that the new car may have every different characteristics beyond pure bhp. But I guess as an owner my frustration would be -the time period that has elapsed since the MC was launched is ridiculously short -dealers have absolutely no clue what the strategy around these models is -I get the sense I am flattering Maserati by actually suggesting there is a strategy at all It just seems like a uncoordinated succession of random decisions.
All valid points. I think FIAT management wanted an updated version of the GranTurismo, thus they forced Maserati to produce the "Sport". I think they did that because the GT range of cars is getting rather old-ish and there are no plants to create a replacement, because all resources are working on the new crap SUV and mini-QP The only good news, is that the 2014 GranSport will be based on the 458 Italia
G., Ferrari is acting the same way. At the end of the production of the big V12 GTB`s they produce a new cabriolet-version with the intention to get rid of the last chassis and engines! Upon that they launch the new model. They did it this way with the 550GTB, 575GTB and 599. In Germany we say: The customer is King! After signing a contract with Ferrari and Maserati the King is only a customer....
Lets be clear This is a render from EVO & nothing official from Masa Construde from a discussion with the big cheese Great IF it does come to pass
I would be *amazed* if Ferrari allowed this to happen. Can you imagine the outcry if a Maser out-performed a Ferrari? Maserati should be allowed to produce a Porsche Boxster competing car though, absolutely.
You can be sure that the engine will be downsized from the 458-figures. Ferrari has not just the sovereignty to live with Maserati on the same level!
Yup, unofficial but Mr CEO mentioned it himself. Maybe they realised the outcry of the general public about the future crap that Maserati is building (SUV, mini-QP) and they plan on making a real car? Who said anything about performance? If it becomes a reality, it will be the same PLATFORM and not engine. Maserati will be allowed to install the usual V8 that we already have. They will never be allowed to match the power of the 458 Italia (or whatever replacement Ferrari has by then).
