New Maserati MC20 GT2 Stradale is 200 mph road-going racer

Boasting more power, less weight, and GT2-derived chassis technology, the latest Stradale epitomises the ‘racecar for the road’ adage. But can the new halo car help ease Maserati’s financial woes?

Crushing losses. Lacklustre sales. The end of the firm’s fabled V8. Maserati’s story of late has been one of doom and gloom – with a garnish of uncertainty sprinkled atop for good measure. However, while parent company Stellantis recently vowed not to cut ties with the struggling supercar maker, the axing of that iconic eight pot hasn’t been as easy for many fans to stomach.

It’s high time we had some positive news from the house of the trident, then. Luckily, the new MC20 GT2 Stradale has shown up swinging. Cutting through the bad press like a hot knife through butter, Maserati’s new flagship promises to ‘bring all the power of GT2 to the road’. Here’s what we know so far.

The Stradale’s tuned engine: Who needs a V8 anyway?

While the MC20’s Nettuno V6 can’t match the outgoing eight cylinder’s gravelly bark, for sheer firepower, the turbocharged engine is in a different league.

As standard the 3.0-litre twin-charged motor pumps out a vast 621 bhp, and we’ve already seen the varying degrees of savagery aftermarket tuners can extract from it — up to 750 bhp, in Mansory’s case. By comparison, the Stradale’s engine enhancements are less extreme: an 11 bhp increase results in a 632-bhp total. Still, a top speed knocking on the door of 200 mph and a fearsome 2.8 second 0-60 mph sprint prove performance is about more than raw horsepower.

What’s more, the Stradale has been engineered to deliver its newfound oomph with ruthless reliability thanks to modified turbochargers and exhaust manifolds, offering greater efficiency on ‘all tracks around the world’.

‘Unparalleled handling’: The Stradale’s race-bred chassis

Extra power never hurts, but the GT2 is more about what it loses: weight. Though it doesn’t sound like much, shedding 60kg from the kerb weight is the same as telling your passenger princess to take the bus – and it pays dividends when accelerating, braking, and cornering. 

As well as a slew of lightweight carbon componentry, the Stradale’s suspension is also a byproduct of the firm’s racing heritage. Using the same geometry as the GT2 track car, special UNIBAL® joints for maximum rigidity, and adjustable dampers for greater flexibility over rougher tracks and roads, the top-flight MC20 claims to be the most agile rear-drive supercar in its class.

Glued to the asphalt: The Stradale’s aerodynamic upgrades 

The dark art of downforce is one with which Maserati is firmly acquainted, and it’s clearly injected some of that know-how into the MC20 Stradale. New air-sculpting tools in the GT2’s arsenal include a racing-inspired bonnet, a boomerang-shaped rear wing, a new rear diffuser, and a brace of carbon-fibre flaps.  

In fact, despite the elegance of its lines, Maserati says the Stradale’s body prioritises function over form: ‘Nothing is included as an aesthetic enhancement alone. Everything is there for its own reason, to improve aerodynamics and therefore the car's performance.’ And it shows: the GT2 Stradale generates over 500kg downforce at 174 mph. 

At slightly less ballistic velocities, tyres play an equally pivotal role in keeping the Stradale in touch with the tarmac. Standard Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres are a commensurately hardcore option, providing astonishing adhesion on dry roads and racetracks whilst remaining road legal. 

Taming the monster: The Stradale’s new driving modes 

In days gone by, such adrenaline-pumping performance would have been accessible only to battle-hardened professional racers – or those fearless enough to grapple with recalcitrant, unassisted beasts. Now though, thanks to a suite of electronic wizardry, even novice drivers can approach the Maserati’s limits without fear of being spat into an Armco or careening through a gravel trap.  

As standard, the MC20 gets four distinct driving modes designed to tailor the car’s stability and traction aids to the conditions. This means drivers can customise the level of assistance provided by the stability and traction control, anti-lock braking system, and even the electronic limited slip diff, on the fly.  

However, those looking for a rawer experience should opt for the Performance Pack. As well as an E-diff and carbon ceramic brakes, this upgrade unlocks a racier fifth mode entitled Corsa Evo. According to Maserati, this final die-hard setting has been lifted directly from its motorsport machines and dials the safety aids back to new extremes. Are you brave enough to flick the switch? 

Incongruous infotainment: The Stradale’s tech-laden interior 

Where historic lightweight track stars featured gutted interiors devoid of basic creature comforts, the Stradale is crammed with more gadgets than your local branch of Currys. 

From the twin screens to the in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, the GT2’s interior is in a different league to many similarly aggressive specials. However, while we can see the benefit of having crucial performance data at your fingertips — the Stradale’s technical gauges display everything from oil pressure to brake temperature — it’s harder to fathom the logic behind fitting a beefier 12-speaker, 696-watt Sonus Faber sound system. In such a highly focused machine where every kg counts, is the added heft of a louder stereo a worthwhile trade-off? Afterall, we’re not sure listening to Taylor Swift at deafening volumes is particularly conducive to setting the circuit record.  

How much is the new Maserati MC20 GT2 Stradale? 

No exact pricing for Maserati’s flagship MC20 has been announced though, amidst a financial crisis, the Italian marque will be keen to recoup its losses as quickly as possible. With the regular car coming in at over £220,000, a figure north of £300,000 wouldn’t be an unrealistic starting point for the new Stradale edition.  

Is Maserati’s latest road-going racer the answer to Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a future hardcore Ferrari 296 GTB? Let us know which track-focused supercar you dream of owning.

Hero image credit:  Maserati