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The undoubted
star in Sydney for the Trident is clearly the A$1.8 million MC-12, making its
Asia-Pacific debut.
This car has attracted a lot of attention in recent weeks as one of the biggest
attractions of the Australian International Motor Show, coming here off the back
of the racing version's victory at Oschersleben in only its second-ever race in the
hands of Mika Salo and Andrea Bertolini, not to mention the fact that it is the
most expensive car at the show which is listed for sale in Australia.
The fact that it cannot as yet be registered in Australia seems almost to be an
irrelevance, as at least one has been sold, and this number may well rise as a
presentation was held last week to show the car to potential customers.
As with all roadgoing MC-12s to be made, the Sydney show car is resplendent in
Maserati's traditional blue and white company colours. Pushrod suspension is
directly related to the race car, as is the naturally-aspirated 6-litre V12
which develops an astonishing 620bhp-plus - more than 100bhp per litre.
Having said that, although related in many ways to the race version, the
roadgoing MC-12 differs in some important ways, perhaps the most obvious of
which is the interior, which is some way from the rather sparse 'office' of the
race cars.
Although much of it consists of carbonfibre, the MC-12's interior also has
leather, 'high-grip' fabrics, and Maserati's traditional, enigmatic clock.
by Shant
Fabricatorian in Sydney
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