Read indepth magazine
Fastest Maserati Showcased in Shanghai
Amongst the automobiles on display at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show, which opens today, is what Italian manufacturer Maserati claims is its fastest, lightest and most powerful car to date.
First unveiled at the Paris Auto Show last month, the new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale boasts 450 horsepower, reaches top speeds of 301 km/h and has shed 110kg from its predecessor, the GranTurismo S.
The introduction of the MC Stradale to the Chinese market reflects China's growing importance to the Italian luxury brand. Maserati registered more than 400 sales in China last year, with the best-selling Quattroporte accounting for 60 percent of the total.
The Shanghai Motor Show is an important event on the automobile calendar, attracting some 700,000 visitors. World premieres at this year’s show include Volkswagen's new retro-styled Beetle, General Motors' new Chevrolet Malibu, Buick Envision and its China-only Baojun 630, and France's PSA Group introducing its Citroen DS5.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is due to go on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2011 with a U.S. launch soon after.