You're welcome, world. Clearly, having read TopGear's definitive verdict on the previous Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, the Italians have made a good car just that little bit better. By adding two rear seats.

It's got bags of character and is a great deal of fun

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale; not, as the name would suggest, a shady underground urban lyricist, but in fact, a gorgeous GranTurismo with a body shaped after the company's Trofeo racers.

Pretty thing, isn't it? It gets a new carbon fibre bonnet with a central air intake and two rear extractors, new forged 20in alloy wheels, a 460bhp, 4.7-litre V8 engine with a six-speed sequential manual gearbox and 510Nm of torque, a top speed of 302kph and of course, space for two more friends in the back.

It's still a plumper, mind, with weight standing on the wrong side of 1,700kg, but 0-100kph takes just 4.5 seconds, and, as we found out in its predecessor, it's got bags of character and is a great deal of fun.

Plus, just look at it. It'll make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week, alongside the brand new Quattroporte.

Tags: gran turismo, stradale, mc stradale, maserati, geneva 13, gt