Crossing the Blues
Showing posts with label Maserati. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maserati. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Maserati Quattroporte 2030: A 1970s Concept...from the Future


The Maserati Quattroporte 2030 Concept is Yaroslav Chumachenko's vision of where Maserati's large sedan could be design-wise should we end up in the world of Minority Report and Tom Cruise is knocking at your door for that crime you're about to commit.

Chumachenko, a 25-year old Ukrainian designer, drew inspiration from dinosaur skeletons, zeppelins, and the Maserati Birdcage to create a car that is futuristic and unique: its modular platform would allow engineers to replace the car's various systems as they evolve and the panels would be uniquely customizable for each customer (in theory).

Its curvaceous exterior body panels use "Stereolithography additive manufacturing technology", the benefits of which are a quick formation process and the ability to adapt to any customer's request, while the four doors - larger front units and smaller rears - can actually fuse magnetically to become two larger doors (or, conversely, simply open as smaller front doors and leave the rear doors in position).

Beneath its body panels, the Quattroporte 2030 has a backbone consisting of the engine and transmission (its "vertebrae"), around which is a rib cage that functions as structural reinforcement and protective bracing.

This is definitely a concept that would most definitely be welcome on the show circuit, hearkening back to the long overhang-wearing pods of the 70's. Something like this would be much more entertaining to view than these "concepts" companies release purely as a means of gauging public reaction to a production car.

By Phil Alex

Images: Yaroslav Chumachenko , Via: CBD


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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Paris Show: Maserati's 300+ km/h GranTurismo MC Stradale


As we told you in our previous post, the GranTurismo MC Stradale is a racier, sportier version of Maser's big coupe (think the GT3, but from Maserati). According to the Italian sports / luxury carmaker, the MC Stradale didn't budge an inch when it came to comprises in return for performance; it handles better without losing ride quality (that has yet to be tested), it's more powerful without sacrificing fuel economy, and it plants itself harder without adding any drag.

Under the hood is a Ferrari-sourced 4.7-liter V8 that develops 450 horsepower and 510 Nm / 376 lb ft of torque. The GT racer was also put on a diet, shedding 110 kilograms in the process (it now weigh 1,770 kg and keeps its 48/52 weight distribution).

According to the Italians, the MC Stradale is the first normal-production, road-going Maserati to break the 300km/h [186 mph] barrier.

The car routs power through an "electro-actuated" transmission that shifts in a scant 60 milliseconds; launched optimally, the car should hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds.

Inside, the car gets a "simplified" dash layout, loses the rear seats, and picks up some racing buckets (as well as an optional roll cage and 4-point harnesses). Also, besides having an "Auto" and "Sport" mode, there's the first-ever "Race" mode found in a road-going Maserati.

Back on the outside, there are a bunch of new little add-ons for performance, weight reduction, and just plain good looks. All-new parts included in the exterior modifications are: a new front splitter, front and rear bumpers, front guard panels, side sills, hood, and exhaust tips.

As long as you don't live in the US, Canada, or Korea, you might be able to spot one on the road after it goes on sale next February.

By Phil Alex

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Monday, September 27, 2010

2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale

The Italian automaker announced the 2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale, that it will debut the lightest and most powerful variation of the GranTurismo, at this year's 2010 Paris Motor Show. Maserati said the car will boast "razor-sharp handling and will break the 300km/h [187mph] barrier", adding that the reworked body also produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag.
2012 Maserati Sport Cars Gran Turismo MC Stradale looks sporty, the bumper and grille has been redesigned. The car also has a large diffuser to improve performance. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the two-seater 2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale that will debut at the Paris Auto Show. GranTurismo MC Stradale high-performance model and will be on sale next spring, with £ 105,000 prize.
2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale
2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale is in the GranTurismo S. The basis is seen in power, it features a 4.7L V8 engine, maximum power of 336kw. Corresponds to a 6-speed manual transmission with mechanical top speed to 300 km / h, the 0-100km / h acceleration of about 4.5 seconds.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires, incorporating the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati's three racing programs.
No other details were given on the car but the official photos show a raft of styling upgrades including the new front end with a lower spoiler and additional air ducts, chunkier side skirts, possibly larger front fenders with new air vents, a boot lid spoiler and a new rear bumper with a diffuser and twin central exhaust pipes plus unique alloy wheels.

2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale

The Italian automaker announced the 2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale, that it will debut the lightest and most powerful variation of the GranTurismo, at this year's 2010 Paris Motor Show. Maserati said the car will boast "razor-sharp handling and will break the 300km/h [187mph] barrier", adding that the reworked body also produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag.
2012 Maserati Sport Cars Gran Turismo MC Stradale looks sporty, the bumper and grille has been redesigned. The car also has a large diffuser to improve performance. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the two-seater 2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale that will debut at the Paris Auto Show. GranTurismo MC Stradale high-performance model and will be on sale next spring, with £ 105,000 prize.
2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale
2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale is in the GranTurismo S. The basis is seen in power, it features a 4.7L V8 engine, maximum power of 336kw. Corresponds to a 6-speed manual transmission with mechanical top speed to 300 km / h, the 0-100km / h acceleration of about 4.5 seconds.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires, incorporating the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati's three racing programs.
No other details were given on the car but the official photos show a raft of styling upgrades including the new front end with a lower spoiler and additional air ducts, chunkier side skirts, possibly larger front fenders with new air vents, a boot lid spoiler and a new rear bumper with a diffuser and twin central exhaust pipes plus unique alloy wheels.

2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale

The Italian automaker announced the 2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale, that it will debut the lightest and most powerful variation of the GranTurismo, at this year's 2010 Paris Motor Show. Maserati said the car will boast "razor-sharp handling and will break the 300km/h [187mph] barrier", adding that the reworked body also produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag.
2012 Maserati Sport Cars Gran Turismo MC Stradale looks sporty, the bumper and grille has been redesigned. The car also has a large diffuser to improve performance. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the two-seater 2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale that will debut at the Paris Auto Show. GranTurismo MC Stradale high-performance model and will be on sale next spring, with £ 105,000 prize.
2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale
2012 Maserati Sport Cars GranTurismo MC Stradale is in the GranTurismo S. The basis is seen in power, it features a 4.7L V8 engine, maximum power of 336kw. Corresponds to a 6-speed manual transmission with mechanical top speed to 300 km / h, the 0-100km / h acceleration of about 4.5 seconds.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires, incorporating the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati's three racing programs.
No other details were given on the car but the official photos show a raft of styling upgrades including the new front end with a lower spoiler and additional air ducts, chunkier side skirts, possibly larger front fenders with new air vents, a boot lid spoiler and a new rear bumper with a diffuser and twin central exhaust pipes plus unique alloy wheels.