When the Maserati GranTurismo was launched, Tony Blair was in 10 Downing Street, Jade Goody was in the Big Brother house and the iPhone remained a twinkle in Steve Jobs eye. Now, as this Italian stallion nears retirement age, Maserati has given it one last update to take on the ever-growing ranks of six-figure sports cars. Meet the GranTurismo MC.
The £109,990 MC sits above the £94,355 Sport in a slimmed-down GranTurismo range. Its 4.7-litre V8 produces 460hp at a heady 7,000rpm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic box. Those initials stand for Maserati Corse – the latter means racing in Italian – but the MC shouldnt be confused with the now-discontinued MC Stradale. That car was a hardcore road-racer, this one is very much a luxurious GT.
Its a handsome beast, too: low, louche and oozing latent aggression. The makeover includes new bumpers and Maseratis ferocious front grille, while the MC gains 20-inch forged alloy wheels, titanium brake calipers and a carbon fibre rear spoiler. Its bonnet is carbon, too: painted on top, with naked composite weave on show underneath.
The GranTurismos F136 engine is built by Ferrari and has served in many of Maranellos recent (and not so recent) road cars – F430, California and 458 Italia included. In the MC, it exhales through a new, switchable exhaust thats surprisingly sedate… until you select Sport mode. Then, the snarling Scooby-Doo villain is duly unmasked, the twin tailpipes erupting with a high-pitched yowl thats the antithesis of a sturm-und-drang AMG V8. Even in traffic, it sounds utterly enthralling.
With a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds, the GranTurismo is around a second off the pace versus its key rivals. However, what it lacks in mid-range, turbocharged punch, it makes up with sonorous, high-rev hysteria. Theres something uniquely wonderful about a naturally-aspirated V8, even if sub-20mpg fuel economy (I managed 14mpg on a cross-London commute) is a sobering return to reality.
Engine aside, the MC is a car of contrasts. Its hydraulic power steering is chattier than the electric set-ups favoured today, and its chassis feels composed and confidence-inspiring at speed. The torque converter gearbox also suits the car, being smooth when cruising but sufficiently snappy in Sport. On the minus side, the ride is rather jittery for a long-legged GT and the brakes dont bite with the tenacity youd hope for.
The interior is a similarly mixed bag: sumptuously trimmed in leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre, yet scattered with Fiat-Chrysler switchgear. Still, the latest touchscreen media system is straightforward (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity), the trademark Maserati clock is present and correct, and, lest we forget, the GranTurismo is a proper four-seater, with room for actual adults in the back. Take that, Porsche 911.
Read any classic car magazine and youll find that flaws are habitually dismissed – even embraced – as part of a cars character. The Maserati, fast-approaching classic status in itself, pulls off a similar trick, masking its foibles with winsome charm. I simply couldnt help enjoying it. Youd have to be eccentric to buy one over, say, a Mercedes-AMG GT, but Id gladly applaud you for doing so. Just get in there quick.
The MCs days are numbered and its doubtful well see its like again. Maserati has just announced its 2014 Alfieri sports car concept will enter production, albeit without its V8 engine and – oh yes – plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains instead. Performance will doubtless be startling (less than two seconds to 62mph is mooted), but will it tug at the heartstrings like a GranTurismo MC? Well know the answer by 2022.
Tim Pitt works for motoringresearch.com
