It’s official, Maserati now has a new street-legal sports car flagship and it’s dubbed the MC20 GT2 Stradale. In essence, it’s a combination of the normal MC20 and the GT2 race car. As a result, it offers buyers the chance to pilot a highly-strung 640-horsepower track-focused supercar but with air conditioning and some extra sound deadening.
This also isn’t just a slightly quicker MC20 with some carbon-y aerodynamics which, frankly, is what you’d historically expect from Maserati. Instead, the Italian brand made some legit changes over the standard car. Let’s break them down a little.
Since the aero bits are the most obvious let’s get them out of the way. The giant spoiler at the back is far from the only addition, but it’s certainly the most noticeable. The MC20 GT2 Stradale also gets fender vents, new side intake pods, and additional vents in the hood. While these aren’t direct carryovers from the GT2 race car, they’re close.
Customers also will have the chance to customize the car further with additional aerodynamic accents, but Maserati hasn’t gone too in-depth about those just yet. There is little question that the GT2 Stradale will easily stand out compared to the almost tame-looking-by-comparison MC20. The cabin adds a lot of the comfort back that the race car takes away.
The seats are bespoke to the GT2 Stradale reports Motor1. Made of a double-shell carbon fiber design, they’re available in two sizes and only come with manual adjustments. The cabin sports more exposed carbon fiber all over and the steering wheel is a simplified version of that found in the normal MC20. Overall, this car is some 132 pounds (60 kg) lighter.
Lighter and more powerful you say? Yes, and it results in this car boasting a reported 2.8 second 0-60 time (0.4 faster than MC20) and a top speed in excess of 198 mph (320 km/h). Those are very respectable figures and no doubt, the top speed might be even higher without so many aerodynamic bits creating additional downforce and drag. Keep in mind that the base MC20 has a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h).
Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO said of the creation…
“Maserati GT2 Stradale is a unique product, bringing together as it does the brand’s greatest sporting heritage, and at the same time representing evolution of one of Maserati’s most iconic vehicles, the MC20 halo car. This model intended for everyday driving was created based on the desire to offer our customers more and more in terms of technical mastery, innovation, design and emotions in road driving: on the one hand, we find sophisticated solutions reserved for models designed for track use only, the epitome of Maserati’s racing DNA; on the other, we can guarantee optimal comfort paired with all the most advanced driver assistance systems. Maserati GT2 Stradale is a product that can fulfil the requirements of the most discerning enthusiasts, a new creation that expresses the brand’s entire essence.”
By all accounts, this is now the most powerful Maserati in the stable. How does the MC20 GT2 Stradale compare to its competition? It’s a bit tough to pin down since Maserati hasn’t released pricing, but the standard MC20 costs about $250,000 while the actual GT2 race car is north of $520,000. That said, this should do nicely against something like the Porsche GT3 RS.
It’s a bit more powerful, it’s a bit more aggressive, and while it might “technically” cost more, no one has paid MSRP for a 911 GT3 RS since John Forsyth was Secretary of State. Of course, then there’s the Ferrari 296 GTB, which will likely cost around the same amount as the MC20 GT2 Stradale. The difference is that Maserati will probably sell you one of these cars.
Overall, Maserati has made a bigger deal of its motorsports legacy lately and seems to be trying to slot in as the friendlier super sports car brand.
*checks wing delete box*
I really like that color. Its a very pretty car I will probably never see in real life. I definitely won’t ever be driving one.
The other difference to the Ferrari and the Porsche is that this will have depreciated at least 50% in the next few years while the Ferrari and Porsche probably won’t.
Pricing seems pretty much along the lines of the last Ford GTs, which were sorta the same thing (though with a fair amount of parts you could probably get on RockAuto).
I really dig the “PULL HERE” (?) door close straps.
Glad Maserati is at least acknowledging it’s got a racing heritage and isn’t just a hyper-luxury SUV and sedan firm.