16^th July, 2001

Assetto Corsa - no compromises

With its ideal mix of sports car handling and refined grand touring capabilities, Maserati has always represented a unique and uncompromising driving experience.

The new 3200GT Assetto Corsa limited edition, unveiled at this years’ Melbourne Motorshow, takes that exclusive combination to an even higher plane, providing a more extreme performance without compromising the standard car’s distinctive class and practicality.

Assetto Corsa’s iconic appeal is guaranteed by careful finetuning of the 3200GT’s performance characteristics, lowering and stiffening the suspension all round, modifying the brakes and steering, providing the electronic suspension system as standard and fitting soft-compound Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres.

The result is a sports car with even higher levels of road holding and even greater stopping power. This together with the marque’s intrinsic nobility and the car’s new sporty interior finish, makes the 3200GT Assetto Corsa a truly unique thoroughbred in the finest Italian tradition.

Race track ready suspension
For the automotive aficionado seeking extreme performance without renouncing the classy stylishness of the Giugiaro lines, Maserati engineers have devised a handling package that exalts the appeal of the 3200GT coupé.

The Assetto Corsa comes standard with an electronic damping system. This intelligent suspension system allows the automatic adjustment of each individual gas damper depending on the level of vertical and lateral acceleration. Processing data from a set of sensors, the suspension automatically adjusts up to 14 different ways.

Also used by stablemate Ferrari, this technology sees the traction control system adjust according to the drivers demands. If maximum performance is required, the traction control activates at much higher load ratings, all at the touch of a button. In true super-car fashion, the traction control can also be turned off.

The software controlling the Bilstein shock absorbers’ adaptive damping has been reprogrammed to ensure that ride quality is unimpaired. This almost guarantees the complete absence of squat and dive, even under fierce acceleration and braking.

Assetto Corsa’s handling has been sharpened further by lowering the ride height by around 10mm at the front and 8mm at the rear, and by fitting stiffer springs and shock absorbers. This results in a lower centre of gravity and improved aerodynamics that, in turn, ensure even greater stability both in cornering and at high cruising speeds.

The stiffer springs reduce roll to a minimum, helped by an increase in the diameter of the front anti roll bar from 22 to 23mm.

A modified steering rack provides more resistance at the helm and even more precise steering feel. Maserati’s engineers also increased the rear axle’s camber angle by some 50% to make the most of the extremely high levels of grip offered by the Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres. Using compounds more usually employed in track usage, they result in a car that is almost literally glued to the road.

With stopping power to match
To ensure that the Assetto Corsa’s braking can match the increased levels of performance, Maserati’s engineers opted to fit racing specification Pagid RS421 high attrition brake pads for even faster retardation under fierce braking.

Initial `bite’ when first applying pressure to the brake pedal is claimed to be over 40% higher with these pads and overall, they improve brake response by an amazing 15%.

The four big cross-drilled ventilated discs (330 x 32 mm at front, 310 x 28mm at rear) remain unchanged as do the four spot aluminium calipers fitted with ceramic insulators. In true Italian tradition, the brake calipers are featured in bright red paint.

All this elevated braking power is backed up by more efficient cooling via carbon fibre brake ducts. The brake servo has also been modified to ensure faster deceleration in emergency braking situations, greater resistance to fade and better pedal response.

And a touch of class (of course)
Apart from the more aggressive stance imparted by the lowered suspension, the Assetto Corsa is instantly recognisable by its distinctive, dark grey 15 spoke alloy wheels. The attractive new BBS alloy wheels (7J x 18"at the front and 9J x 18"at the rear) match perfectly with the exclusive Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres.

A feature of Maserati has long been the flawless luxury of the hand crafted Connelly leather interior, and the Assetto Corsa is no exception. However, the interior is given an extra touch of sportiness with the Connelly hide of the seat now being perforated.

Drilled aluminium pedals and the sill kick-panels engraved with Assetto Corsa wording also give an extra touch of individuality.