15 April 2009 - 12:00
Maseracer
Magnificent yet magnificently daft news out of Switzerland: the Maserati Quattroporte is going racing.
The four-door V8 supercar is preparing to hit the track in the Italian ‘Superstars Series' touring car championship, duking it out with Audi RS4s and BMW M5s. It'll be entered by Swiss race outfit ‘Swiss Team' (tricky to know how they came up with that name, really) and driven by former F1 driver Andrea Chiesa.
It might even look a bit like it does in that picture, too. See, that's only a hastily cobbled together rendering from Swiss Team - they admit they haven't even finalised the car's livery yet - but the early signs are promising. We like.
The QP racer will retain Maserati's 4.2-litre V8 engine, which will put out about 450bhp to the rear wheels through a sequential racing box. We're told that it should weigh in at a non-handicapped 1,430kg, while the bodywork will remain near-stock. The QP is expected to debut on-track at Imola this weekend.
So what strange and unlikely metal would you like to see on the race track? How about the new Aston Rapide? Or, if we're going really left-field, a Rolls Phantom? Suggestions please...
Talking of racing Maseratis, watch Stig in the Ferrari Enzo-baiting MC12:
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Oh yes! Let's hope the final car is painted black so it looks like a Mafia car. How about a stripped down AMG Maybach racing?
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Does the body shape remind you of american muscle cars!? I dunno, maybe. But anyway I love this car!
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How about a Pagani Zonda F Roadster? Yes it's mad but it's strangely elegant and un-serious-like.
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The body shape doesn't remind me of american muscle cars, it reminds me of american NASCAR racing.
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It kinda reminds me of a Volvo 850 saloon that used to be raced with in the BTCC in the '90.
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^ Aah, but do you remember the V70 (estate) BTCC entries?
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How about a Jaguar XFR up against this QP, or perhaps as a DTM entry? What about a Lexus IS-F GT500 going toe-to-toe with GT-Rs and NSX's in Japan's Super GT series? Or a Land Rover Discovery LM GT1?! Stripped out and lowered, with a race-tuned V8, it could be the new Espace F1! Not the most aerodynamic choice that, actually... But still, it would be wonderous!
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Why not The Maserati Gran Turismo TCC?
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Lambo Reventon
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Tata Nano? No?
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I think we could start a new sport here of executive saloon racing, it might work out a bit more expensive than Hammond's motor home racing though! What about an S Class but with all the electrical gizmos left in?!
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Well why Not.. Raceing is Raceing what ever you prosived what raceing is.. it looks more like a Rally Car if anything and if it can reach speeds of 200 mph than you can say Nascar but needs more spoilers for the downforceing which i dont see up front which rised my eye brown.
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this looks sick but i dont think it will be a succesful racer
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Touring Car Smart anyone? A Rolls would be fantastic, however, how about this, purely for entertainment value, a Hummer in the BTCC. We could put Raymond Blanc into it and hope that he kills himself.
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The Quattroporte is a stunningly gorgeous car, but that paintjob does it no favours. Someone take the crayons away from the blind guy!
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ive heard about this event its been entered in and why not....i mean it can rival a m5 and merc amg in teh real world so why not try it on the track as for my suggestion im gonna be serious..........some one please enter a megane r32 into the btcc
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Hmm... could be pretty good... How about racing a Chrysler 300C? And when i say a 300C i mean an as new 300C
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Just for laughs I'd love to see the (1st generation) fiat multipla. You'd win as every other driver would be blinded by the car's ugliness.
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I think any cars under 150bhp should race. Fiat Pandas in race kit? would spice up the current variety of racing
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I would suggest an S-class... That would be "cool"... Or.. I know! How about Volkswagen Caravelle??
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Again why not go for the whole hog and do rolls royce rallye racing!
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or dodge nitro street racing! .....No!?.... well
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Take it even further, Understeer competitions, anyone?
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^ "And the Vectra VXR sets quite a significant benchmark, being a whole 2 metres off-line, but he'd better not get comfortable; up next is the reigning champion in his 147 GTA..." -- It could work, I suppose.
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The opening event could be held at the Hammerhead!
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If nothing else, I like the paint job.
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A car for racing? Wouldn't a Ssang yong Rodius be funny? Or a Perodua Kenari. Or maybe thats just ridiculous.
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Racers? We could check out how sporty "Sport Utility Vehicles" actually are.
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Mikeado commented on this article
15 April 2009
Hmmm, a DBRapide... Wha? Oh, this. I hope they do change the livery, that looks quite messy. But it makes sense for what's essentially a 4-Door Ferrari (Fezza V8) to go racing. I hope it does well. You don't see many Maserati Quattroportes around.
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