The Maserati MC20’s 2020 debut shifted Maserati’s trajectory as a luxurious automaker. For the primary time for the reason that one-of-62 MC12 went out of manufacturing, the Trident once more had a correct mid-engined supercar to supply lovers. Nevertheless, the Italian carmaker unveiled the MC20’s third evolution throughout Monterey Automotive Week. What started as a coupe, then grew into an open-top two-seater, now has its sights set on the world’s race tracks.
Identified merely because the Maserati GT2 Stradale, the place “stradale” its identify interprets to “STREET LEGAL,” giving us a glimpse of its driving philosophy. Whereas it incorporates important aerodynamic enhancements, permitting it to generate as much as 1,102 kilos of downforce at 174 mph, the GT2 STRADALE is meant to be track-capable and road-usable. Energy from its twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6 swells to 631 hp, whereas centered weight reductions permit it to hit 62 mph in underneath 2.8 seconds. Flat out, it’ll break the 200-mph barrier.
Constructing a automobile as bold because the Maserati GT2 Stradale isn’t any simple feat, particularly for such a design-focused model as Maserati. Operate over kind merely gained’t do. The Trident asks that kind and performance transfer in unison. To grasp how this relationship between design and engineering creates a automotive just like the GT2 Stradale, we sat down with Klaus Busse, Maserati’s Head of Design, to speak about his particular automotive’s improvement and driving spirit.
Some responses have been edited for readability.
dR: Let’s begin with the MC20. How did it first evolve into the GT2 race automotive and now the GT2 Stradale?
KB: We knew it was a really succesful automotive, so going racing was logical. What was lovely to see was what a unbelievable job our engineers and the race workforce did with that automotive. We simply accomplished our first full season, and we gained the championship. That isn’t one thing that occurs day-after-day…So we mentioned, “Okay, we’ve acquired to present as a lot of that as potential to our prospects.”
You can not put a race automotive immediately on the street, however we are able to create a bundle that brings the spirit and expertise of this tremendous profitable GT2 automotive to the street. Typically, you deliberate about new initiatives, all types of angles asking, “Is that this the correct product?” On this case, it was a no brainer.
dR: When you’ve determined to proceed, how does that relationship between the design and engineering groups work to create such a purposeful automotive?
KB: By efficiency. Our model stands on two two legs. One leg is efficiency, and one leg is design and magnificence. And simply as a few of us are right-handers and a few of us are left-handers, the dominant leg is efficiency as a result of, on the finish of the day, an exquisite automotive that doesn’t carry out is extra artwork than a Maserati.
I very a lot respect our engineering workforce, and fortunately, in addition they respect what we do, however it’s very clear. Once we come to some extent the place there’s no answer to repair it on their facet, we at all times go together with their proposal with regards to efficiency. It’s not a spoken rule, however the good factor is, in return, they’re so collaborative with us that they offer us extremely revolutionary concepts on methods to translate our design.
dR: When it got here time to show the race automotive right into a street automotive, how did the assorted groups determine which parts to borrow from the GT2 racer?
KB: If we begin with the three aims that you’ve with any race automotive, they’re to create downforce, scale back weight, and improve stopping energy. How can we create downforce? We labored on the entrance splitter; it’s rather more aggressive, and we added a wing on the again of the automotive.
The MC20 itself, the automotive is a wing. We have been in a position to keep away from a further wing. As an alternative, the automotive was perfected for its function. We’re a model that avoids utilizing cliche parts as a lot as potential, like air intakes, wings, and exhaust pipes that nobody wants. For the GT2 Stradale, we thought, “Properly, that wing actually higher ship.” It’s not for aesthetics. All the things is designed to ship on one in every of these three areas.
One of many design workforce’s biggest contributions was the inside. We eliminated a few kilos from the central console by placing in a carbon fiber plate with all of the controls. It’s not solely lighter, however it seems to be tremendous cool. Then there are the seats. These carbon fiber shells contributed fairly a bit to this automotive’s weight financial savings and efficiency when sitting in them.
dR: Had been there any design parts that didn’t make it onto the ultimate manufacturing automotive?
KB: For instance, once we design the wheels, even if you wish to save on weight, you normally sneak in a couple of grams right here and there for a selected fashion or our signature Trident form. Nevertheless, on this case, we determined there was no room for that. We wanted to take each gram potential. It was all about getting the burden decreased.
dR: Now that you simply’ve unveiled it on the world stage, what has the reception been, and was it what you anticipated?
KB: The suggestions we’ve been getting in regards to the automotive has been 100% constructive, which is tremendous uncommon, particularly with social media, the place everybody has an opinion. And it’s due to this lovely combine of getting this sculptural canvas of a automotive. You rigorously add parts that aren’t there to serve a cliche intuition, however are there to serve a efficiency facet.
The Maserati GT2 race automotive, of which the GT2 Stradale is derived, is Maserati’s satisfaction on the monitor and is an evolution of probably the most aggressive efficiency of the Maserati Nettuno engine.
The GT2 participated within the Fanatec GT2 European Sequence by Pirelli in 2024, successful the drivers’ title within the Am class with Philippe Prette. This season noticed the model obtain 16 pole positions, 12 victories, and a great deal of adrenaline, impressing lovers, followers, and insiders.
Though we anticipate to be taught finer particulars in regards to the Maserati GT2 Stradale and its efficiency over the approaching months, the Trident already presents a configurator on its web site, with the chance to inquire with native sellers. Pricing or availability for the US has but to be introduced.
