MC Victory vs Gransport

Tallman

Tallman

Member
Messages
1,833
This seems to be the most specific comment about the mechanicals for the MCV - so it seems no changes to the engine/gearbox, but it does mention a different steering rack:



INSIDE TRACK: THE GRANSPORT BOSS SPEAKS OUT. WELL, KIND OF…

We spoke to Omar Barbieri, currently Vehicle Technical Responsible, Maserati SpA. He was the Development Manager on the GranSport project. Could he shed any light on the ‘extra tweaks’ rumours? Hmm…

Drive-My: How long did it take for The MC Victory project?

Omar: The GranSport was developed in 15months. Six months were dedicated to MC Victory development.

Drive-My: What were the project’s biggest challenges?

Omar: The MCV is a limited series of the GranSport, which was in turn derived from the Coupè, with an important series of variants and performance increases. The biggest challenge was to emphasise some of these characteristics on the MCV without losing any respect to the GranSport.

Drive-My: Was the steering rack a bespoke product, or was it sourced from another car?

Omar: The MCV rack was a specific component produced by TRW. Inside, there are some components taken from the TRW shelf, such as the nine-slot hydraulic valve.

Drive-My: What changes were made to the engine internals over the original Coupe?

Omar: The engine of the GranSport and the MCV has 401hp, an increase of 11hp compared to the Coupè, obtained by the reduction of back pressure for exhaust and intake. The shortening of the 6th ratio gave sportier performance.

Drive-My: Was a manual gearbox considered for the MCV?

Omar: The version of the electro-actuated gearbox (Maserati Cambiocorsa) guaranteed, especially in sports use, shorter shift times, greater performance and driving fun.

Drive-My: What would you have done differently?

Omar: The project has achieved all the objectives set and all the cars were sold before going into production. I would not change anything from this point of view. On the other hand, whenever a model can be rethought, it could be redone differently.

Drive-My: What’s the best bit about the MCV?

Omar: With the adoption of MC12 seats the pleasure in sporty driving became exhilarating and combined well with the details that made the model unique.
 
Guy

Guy

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2,127
so seats, steering rack, trim (carbon & alcantara) and badges plus production run of 180 vs ?
 
3hcp

3hcp

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248
urquattrogus said:
Brilliant - It all adds to the mystique!

I was talking to Matthew at Giallo and he said that when one came in with a broken spring it was a different spring compared to the standard GS one.

I haven't even picked my GS up yet, seems like the standard rack is relatively fast.

I changed for a quicker rack on my Z3M coupe and it was by far the best mod I ever did, went from not feeling confident in the car to like it was putty in my hands. Some of that was that the rack I fitted was not only quicker but also linear and direct in it's response, with the standard BMW rack being slower at the dead centre for straight line and high speed stability.

Love a quick rack on a car so it has already got me thinking....

Will get the geo checked on my GS first to make sure she's as she should be though :)
Click to expand...
Seems like you’re already on the upgrade route, I think you’ll find the standard rack plenty quick enough. Giallo have their own geometry setup which I’m sure will improve things so it’s worthwhile and was a decent improvement on mine . (Used SI settings) Formula Dynamics do a DBW upgrade which helps gearbox software someone on this site has one for sale @ £600 I believe but as I’ve got a manual I can’t comment on those. Good luck with your new toy.
H
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,521
Guy said:
so seats, steering rack, trim (carbon & alcantara) and badges plus production run of 180 vs ?
Click to expand...
I think also quicker CC gear-shifts (and/or different software).

Over 2400 Gransports made - someone will know how may RHD UK cars. Seems there are 14 UK RHD MC-Vs currently.
 
Nayf

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,750
Tallman said:
This seems to be the most specific comment about the mechanicals for the MCV - so it seems no changes to the engine/gearbox, but it does mention a different steering rack:



INSIDE TRACK: THE GRANSPORT BOSS SPEAKS OUT. WELL, KIND OF…

We spoke to Omar Barbieri, currently Vehicle Technical Responsible, Maserati SpA. He was the Development Manager on the GranSport project. Could he shed any light on the ‘extra tweaks’ rumours? Hmm…

Drive-My: How long did it take for The MC Victory project?

Omar: The GranSport was developed in 15months. Six months were dedicated to MC Victory development.

Drive-My: What were the project’s biggest challenges?

Omar: The MCV is a limited series of the GranSport, which was in turn derived from the Coupè, with an important series of variants and performance increases. The biggest challenge was to emphasise some of these characteristics on the MCV without losing any respect to the GranSport.

Drive-My: Was the steering rack a bespoke product, or was it sourced from another car?

Omar: The MCV rack was a specific component produced by TRW. Inside, there are some components taken from the TRW shelf, such as the nine-slot hydraulic valve.

Drive-My: What changes were made to the engine internals over the original Coupe?

Omar: The engine of the GranSport and the MCV has 401hp, an increase of 11hp compared to the Coupè, obtained by the reduction of back pressure for exhaust and intake. The shortening of the 6th ratio gave sportier performance.

Drive-My: Was a manual gearbox considered for the MCV?

Omar: The version of the electro-actuated gearbox (Maserati Cambiocorsa) guaranteed, especially in sports use, shorter shift times, greater performance and driving fun.

Drive-My: What would you have done differently?

Omar: The project has achieved all the objectives set and all the cars were sold before going into production. I would not change anything from this point of view. On the other hand, whenever a model can be rethought, it could be redone differently.

Drive-My: What’s the best bit about the MCV?

Omar: With the adoption of MC12 seats the pleasure in sporty driving became exhilarating and combined well with the details that made the model unique.
Click to expand...
Seeing as I wrote that and have been ripped off by Drive-By, I refer you to an earlier comment I made in this thread ;)
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,521
urquattrogus said:
But what about the Super Trofeo MC Hammer Victory version?
Click to expand...
That just added a cupholder attached to the passenger seat runner (a limited run as organised for the GS by @JonW of this parish as I recall - a special version of that was needed for MC-V of which I procured possibly the only one)
 
hashluck

hashluck

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Messages
1,521
Whilst I have my photo album open here are some of the specific MC-V bits.....
 

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urquattrogus

urquattrogus

Member
Messages
857
3hcp said:
Seems like you’re already on the upgrade route, I think you’ll find the standard rack plenty quick enough. Giallo have their own geometry setup which I’m sure will improve things so it’s worthwhile and was a decent improvement on mine . (Used SI settings) Formula Dynamics do a DBW upgrade which helps gearbox software someone on this site has one for sale @ £600 I believe but as I’ve got a manual I can’t comment on those. Good luck with your new toy.
H
Click to expand...
Thanks, having picked up my car today can't complain about the steering. Looking through the Folder I think it might be on the Giallo settings, also a smidge lower than stock. Really impressed with how it handles on a backroad :)
 
C

cheshiremaserati

Member
Messages
1,121
Guy said:
I have only done about 300 miles in mine so far and I am enjoying the speed of the rack, it is certainly quicker than the GTS/QPV. You are correct to ensure everything is as it should be. I have used Centre of Gravity in the Midlands before and a properly set up alignment makes a huge difference. Ash at SportsItalia did this on my last QPV and it was transformational.
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Chris Franklin and Pete at Center Gravity (yes they yse the US spelling for 'center') are highly recommended. They set up my 996 Turbo for 'fast road use' and the car handles superbly.

I have also used Wheelis in Motion in Buckinghamshire for the Mercedes W211. They are superb also.
 
Evo Cymru

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Having just seen this thread it may be worth checking the part number on a late Gransport's steering rack as it may be the same as the MC's - there was a thread on this some years ago and I posted up the number on mine which seemed to match the later ones - always seemed more than quick enough to me although I have not driven a MC to compare...
 
G

gemini

Member
Messages
145
I compared the part number of my gransport MCV with the one monted on the gransport 10th anniversary (japanese special edition made for Cornes, a lot of them are in Europe now).
The 10th anniversary is probably one of the last -if not the last- gransport made (it was released on April 2007).
The part number is the same. I have pictures somewhere, pretty sure I posted it here.

I didn't drove the 10th anniversary enough (it was immediately sold to a friend, the car not yet out of the boat from Japan, I was just interested in the blue carbon steering wheel -the 10th anniversary has the same blue carbon fiber than the MCV) to have an exact comparaison of the feeling, but the driving was quite different, but maybe it's mainly due to the seats (there is zero lateral movement of your body in the MCV seats).
There is definitively a greater sense of occasion when you drive the MC, it looks and feels more exotic, to me at least, and I'm sure it's part of the mystique too.

If you don't know the 10th anniversary edition, you can check this one : https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2007-maserati-gransport
Italian flag on the aisles, blue carbon, honey leather, beige alcantara. Really a nice spec.
 
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