With the Paris Motor Show just a week away, we can expect a rush of sneak previews from the manufacturers – and one of the first is Maserati, preparing for the debut of the GranTurismo MC Stradale. When it goes on sale in early 2011, the new two-seater will be the ‘fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati range’.

It’s inspired, we’re told, by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models. The aim is to offer ‘razor-sharp handling’ and (the norm for today’s high-performance models) it will break the 300km/h barrier.

The new sports car produces more aerodynamic downforce without, says Maserati, producing more aerodynamic drag. Meanwhile, it promises more power – 450HP – without using more fuel, and more agile handling without sacrificing the ride quality of the GranTurismo S. It certainly sounds like a promising package.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photo: Maserati