The Hulk

Originally posted by Andrew WK:


So when are Maserati going to return to motorsport? No inside scoop for us this week?

Here you go…the scoop!

<img src="http://maseratinet.com/IMAGES/trofeo01_bc.jpg" alt=" - " />

The first step towards an official return to racing.

The Maserati Trofeo, the model with which the Modena-based Italian company will make its official return to motor racing in 2003, makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show.

Next year, the Trofeo will be the centrepiece of a single-brand championship of seven races, run on the most prestigious circuits in Italy, Great Britain, Germany, France and Spain. Two events, in Italy and Britain, will be held in conjunction with the local Formula 1 Grand Prix, and four will be mini-endurance events, combined with the FIA GT Championship. The last race will be held with the traditional "Finali Ferrari" racing days.

There will be 26 cars on the starting grid, and it will be possible to enter two drivers for mini-endurance events. The Trofeo race cars will all be prepared and run directly by Maserati to guarantee technical equality and similar performance.

Before being presented in Paris, the car was put through an intense test program beginning in June 2002. It made its debut at Fiorano with Luciano Burti, and the tests continued in Imola with Luca Badoer and Fabrizio Giovanardi. Luca Badoer took the wheel of the Trofeo again in Fiorano and Mugello, then Fabio Babini tested the car at Vallelunga. Even Michael Schumacher had a chance to try the car out on September 8 at the Nürburgring, and he announced that he was satisfied with the level of competitiveness achieved.

The Maserati Trofeo - Technical Specifications

ENGINE

Weight: 184 kg 404 lb
Capacity: 4244 cc
Bore / Stroke: 92 mm / 80 mm
Compression ratio: 11.1:1
Max. power output: 303 kW 413 bhp at 7,000 rpm
Peak torque: 460 Nm 340 lb ft at 4,500 rpm
Max. engine speed: 7600 rpm

DIMENSIONS

Length: 4523 mm
Width: 1822 mm
Height: 1305 mm
Wheelbase: 2660 mm
Front track: 1525 mm
Rear track: 1538 mm

MISCELLANEOUS

Front wheels: 9 x 18 in
Rear wheels: 10 x 18 in
Fuel tank capacity: 100 l
Dry weight: 1370 kg
Top speed: >285 km/h (177.2 mph) at 7600 rpm


SPEED IN GEARS (AT 7,600 RPM)

1st - 72 km/h 44.7 mph
2nd - 110 km/h 68.4 mph
3rd - 147 km/h 91.4 mph
4th - 187 km/h 116.2 mph
5th - 230 km/h 142.9 mph
6th - 285 km/h 177.2 mph

Man, that compression ratio is sweet.

Originally posted by mankie:
Compression ratio: 11.1:1

Yeah, I read a test drive of it. They made the driver keep the electronic aids on…..

What I really meant was real competition, up against other Marques. A Ferrari or Masserati at Le Mans would be pretty cool. Dont you think?

I'd like to see a Ferrari match up to that 11.1:1 Compression Ratio.

Well it is a Ferrari…..

Ferrari own Maserati and the engine is based on the same V8 they use in Ferraris.

So thirsty as you are so interested, what is the compression ration of the thirstymobile?

<img src="http://www.trub.com/images/paper.jpg" alt=" - " />

All I'm saying is the compression ratio of my auto is SO sweet that I literally lifted that truck up and was pushing it forward.

Originally posted by Andrew WK:
&lt;img src="http://www.trub.com/images/paper.jpg" alt=" - " /&gt;

Originally posted by Andrew WK:

What I really meant was real competition, up against other Marques. A Ferrari or Masserati at Le Mans would be pretty cool. Dont you think?

I'm sure they will but it will probably be a couple of years of R&D before they get to that point. Rome wasn't built in a day…or rather Modena!! ;)

It wouldnt be that hard, not when they already have all that F1 technology.

They could turn Maserati back into an amazing brand with a little bit of work….

I think Maserati will do something…it would be brilliant if Maserati ended up beating Ferrari after Ferrari had bought them out….like Bentley did to Audi at the 24hr Le Mans the other week.

but audi isnt a works team anymore, right? So its not really beating them. Besides Bentley and audi road cars are going to be sharing engines and chassis not just with each other, but also with the new small lamborgini.

I dont think you are going to see Maserati in F1 anytime soon, but they need to get into some other form of motorsport….

They would do well in the challenge and GT series. We're planting seeds for our own company to add a Maserati to their race fleet. We already have Ferraris in the Challenge series(which we won!), Vintage and GrandAm GT.

We move to our new facility over the weekend so when we're all settled in you'll have to come down and I'll give you a tour of the race shop. It's off site at the moment but will be in the same location as the new showroom.

Thanks for the offer, I will do my best to take you up on it. Maybe I should test drive some of your cars whilst I am there?

Originally posted by Andrew WK:


Maybe I should test drive some of your cars whilst I am there?

You need a valid US license ! :D

Originally posted by mankie:
[You need a valid US license ! :D

Sign me up!

valid UK license no good?

I have been putting off getting a US license as I will need to renew it when (if) I get my new visa anyhow…….

But its just a matter of going there and passing 20 multiple choice questions…… Sounds worth it to me.

That's about it. Twenty multiple choice questions and demonstrate that you can parallel park. It's really a parking license not a driving license over here. No wonder they're shite drivers round here is it?

In VA you need a license to sell cars. It was a tougher test getting a salesman's license than it was a driver's license….stupid really when you think about it.

In DC they take into account your foreign license so there would be no actual driving test for me, just a written test.

I dont know what a 5 line credit check is…. I have good credit, but nothing like the buying power for a maserati…. I could afford to lease a porsche boxster though….. do you think my wife would kill me if I did?

What is the lease on a maserati? $1000 a month with $10000 down?

Originally posted by Andrew WK:


What is the lease on a maserati? $2000 a month with $10000 down?

Yes, that's about right!

Nobody pays retail anymore. Why should you?

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