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Maserati MC12 Stradale         


Photo by kind permission of Maserati SpA
MC12 'Stradale'
Year of construction 2004-2005
Two-door rear-engined roadster-type bodywork
with removable hard top
6-litre V12 @ 65°
Four overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder
Engine cubic capacity - 5998cc
Bore 92 mm x Stroke 75.2 mm
Compression ratio - 11.2:1
Induction by two IHI turbochargers via Weber electronic fuel injection
Power output - 630 bhp @ 7500 rpm
Weight - 1335 kg
Top speed - 330 kph
50 models constructed
No right-hand drive models produced
BACK

Maserati created a limited-run road-going Grand Tourer called the MC12, from which a competition version has also been developed. This was a long-tail two-seater with a long wheelbase (2800 mm), a removable hard top and a mid-rear engine. The MC12's bodywork was entirely carbon fibre while the stress-bearing chassis was made from carbon fibre and Nomex honeycomb sandwich. Designed for top flight road use, the MC12 boasted a top speed in excess of 206 mph and accelerated from 0 to 62 mph in a breathtaking 3.8 seconds. The MC12 performed brilliantly on the road offering easy, pleasant yet exhilarating driving. It handled sweetly and fluidly despite being an enormously powerful, highly tuned sports car.

The client-oriented road-going version of the MC12 was available exclusively in a white-blue livery, as blue is traditionally a signature Trident colour. In fact, blue and white were the colours of the American Camoradi (Casner Motor Racing Division) team which raced the famous Maserati Tipo 60/61 Birdcage at the start of the 1960s and had Stirling Moss as its number one driver.

Transmission was longitudinal rear-mounted gearbox rigidly connected to engine. Maserati Cambiocorsa mechanical gearbox with electronically controlled electro-hydraulic operation via paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

Carbon and Nomex honeycomb monocoque chassis with aluminium front and rear sub-chassis.

Bosch ASR traction control. Front suspension via double wishbones with push-rod design; progressive rate steel dampers and coaxial coils and springs and rear suspension via double wishbones with push-rod design; progressive rate steel dampers and coaxial coils and springs.

Brembo braking system with four cross-drilled ventilating discs. Six-piston callipers front, four-piston rear with differentiated diameters.