The Maserati MC20’s 2020 debut shifted Maserati’s trajectory as a luxurious automaker. For the primary time because the one-of-62 MC12 went out of manufacturing, the Trident once more had a correct mid-engined supercar to supply fans. Nonetheless, 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 enable it to hit 62 mph in beneath 2.8 seconds. Flat out, it’ll break the 200-mph barrier.
Constructing a car as formidable because the Maserati GT2 Stradale is not any straightforward feat, particularly for such a design-focused model as Maserati. Perform over type merely received’t do. The Trident asks that type and performance transfer in unison. To grasp how this relationship between design and engineering creates a automobile just like the GT2 Stradale, we sat down with Klaus Busse, Maserati’s Head of Design, to talk about his particular automobile’s growth 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 automobile and now the GT2 Stradale?
KB: We knew it was a really succesful automobile, so going racing was logical. What was stunning to see was what a unbelievable job our engineers and the race workforce did with that automobile. We simply accomplished our first full season, and we received the championship. That’s not one thing that occurs each day…So we mentioned, “Okay, we’ve acquired to offer as a lot of that as potential to our prospects.”
You can not put a race automobile instantly on the street, however we will create a bundle that brings the spirit and expertise of this tremendous profitable GT2 automobile to the street. Typically, you deliberate about new initiatives, taking a look at every kind of angles asking, “Is that this the precise 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 automobile?
KB: By efficiency. Our model stands on two two legs. One leg is efficiency, and one leg is design and elegance. 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, a wonderful automobile that doesn’t carry out is extra artwork than a Maserati.
I very a lot respect our engineering workforce, and fortunately, in addition they admire what we do, however it’s very clear. Once we come to a degree the place there’s no answer to repair it on their aspect, we at all times go together with their proposal in terms of 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 the right way to translate our design.
dR: When it got here time to show the race automobile right into a street automobile, how did the assorted groups resolve which components to borrow from the GT2 racer?
KB: If we begin with the three targets that you’ve got with any race automobile, they’re to create downforce, cut back weight, and improve stopping energy. How can we create downforce? We labored on the entrance splitter; it’s far more aggressive, and we added a wing on the again of the automobile.
The MC20 itself, the automobile is a wing. We have been in a position to keep away from a further wing. As a substitute, the automobile was perfected for its function. We’re a model that avoids utilizing cliche components as a lot as potential, like air intakes, wings, and exhaust pipes that nobody wants. For the GT2 Stradale, we thought, “Nicely, that wing actually higher ship.” It’s not for aesthetics. The whole lot 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 automobile’s weight financial savings and efficiency when sitting in them.
dR: Had been there any design components that didn’t make it onto the ultimate manufacturing automobile?
KB: For instance, once we design the wheels, even if you wish to save on weight, you normally sneak in just a few grams right here and there for a selected type or our signature Trident form. Nonetheless, 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 diminished.
dR: Now that you just’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 concerning the automobile has been 100% constructive, which is tremendous uncommon, particularly with social media, the place everybody has an opinion. And it’s due to this stunning combine of getting this sculptural canvas of a automobile. You rigorously add components that aren’t there to serve a cliche intuition, however are there to serve a efficiency side.
The Maserati GT2 race automobile, of which the GT2 Stradale is derived, is Maserati’s satisfaction on the observe and is an evolution of essentially 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 fans, followers, and insiders.
Though we anticipate to be taught finer particulars concerning the Maserati GT2 Stradale and its efficiency over the approaching months, the Trident already provides a configurator on its website, with the chance to inquire with native sellers. Pricing or availability for the US has but to be introduced.
