Maserati’s 4.7-litre V8 has one of the “highest” singing voices in Italian engine opera, even during an Arabian sandstorm.
Maserati has added an excellent new function to the transmission – a downshift mode whereby electronics automatically blip the V8 and skip to the correct gear when the driver pulls and holds the carbon fibre “ear-levers” located behind the carbon/leather, flat-bottomed steering wheel.
To activate this mode, simply stomp on the alloy brake pedal, then pull and hold the paddles. The big barks as the engine shifts down through the gears are intoxicating.
Best of all, it’s not only the driver who’ll enjoy said soundtrack, because the car’s newly introduced four-seater configuration means a bigger audience on board to appreciate the Maser’s mechanical music. Too bad those rear seats are small and rather cramped. The rest of the handcrafted cabin is businesslike and beautiful, with carbon fibre trim that extends to the seatbacks of the supportive front sports seats.
Compared to the original MC Stradale that we sampled back in 2011, the latest version exhibits even tighter body control, with no hint of squat during hard acceleration, or dive under hard deceleration. Deceleration duties are handled ably by 6-pot Brembo front callipers that clasp carbon-ceramic discs.
This coupe weighs 1700kg, so it isn’t light, but it masks the 1.7 tonnes well when changing direction dramatically. There’s ample grip from the 245/35 front and 295/30 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, wrapped around forged 20-inch alloy wheels, yet the low-speed ride on the streets of Dubai is surprisingly supple.
Circuit addicts who intend to bring this go-faster Maser to the track on a regular basis would be pleased to know that a limited-slip differential is standard equipment.
2014 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale 4.7 (A)
ENGINE 4691cc, 32-valves, V8
MAX POWER 460bhp at 7000rpm
MAX TORQUE 520Nm at 4750rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed automated manual
0-100KM/H 4.5 seconds
TOP SPEED 303km/h
CONSUMPTION 14.4km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 337g/km
Click here to read our Maserati Levante S review.
We reviewed the Maserati Ghibli and found it to be a BMW 5 Series killer dressed in a sharp Italian suit.
