Grasp Maserati Driving Expertise held in Malaysia – first occasion exterior of Italy starring the MC20, Levante

Maserati is at present on a revival path that has seen the launch of a brand new halo automotive within the type of the gorgeous MC20, its first supercar in 15 years for the reason that MC12 went out of manufacturing in 2005. The MC20 is simply the beginning of a course of to rejuvenate the Italian carmaker’s line-up, with the Grecale in addition to an all-new GranTurismo and GranCabrio additionally concerned.

The trident model was first based on December 1, 1914, which means it would flip 108 years outdated come December. To make sure its continued survival, Maserati is reinventing itself with a subtly revised emblem and to evangelise the message that it has enticing new choices on the best way.

One strategy to attraction to a wider buyer base is to offer a hands-on encounter with the vehicles, which is exactly what the corporate is providing with its Grasp Maserati Driving Expertise. Historically, the occasion is held in Italy on the Varano De’ Melegari and Autodromo di Modena circuits, offering these attending with the chance to the drive essentially the most highly effective Maserati fashions.

Nevertheless, in a break from custom, the Sepang Worldwide Circuit (SIC) in Malaysia performed host to the Grasp Maserati Driving Expertise lately, marking the primary time the occasion is held exterior of Italy. We got the chance to attend the occasion to check out a collection of vehicles with chief teacher Andreas Fausti flying in from Italy to tame our internal Fangio.

The brainchild chargeable for bringing the Grasp Maserati Driving Expertise exterior of Italy is Takayuki Kimura, who was appointed managing director of Maserati’s Asia-Pacific area final July. The purpose was easy: to show the distinctive steadiness of efficiency of Maserati vehicles. For this, the star of the present was undoubtedly the MC20, with two items particularly introduced into Malaysia and joined by the Levante SUV.

The day started as most driving programs do, with Fausti explaining the fundamentals just like the significance of seating place, pedal management and methods to correctly take a nook on observe. Balaclava and helmet on, our first time on observe was within the MC20.

With 630 PS and 730 Nm of torque from a 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6, the MC20 is nothing wanting fast on the 2 primary straights of SIC. By means of the corners, it displayed spectacular steadiness and agility that impressed confidence, with the skilled teacher seated beside urging me to push on.

Lap after lap and with a relentless rotation of drivers, the pair of MC20s of their gorgeous shades of Blu Infinito and Giallo Genio remained composed and continued to ship on observe, leaving massive smiles on people who exited by means of the dramatic butterfly doorways.

The subsequent stint was within the Levante Trofeo, a giant SUV with a 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 churning out 598 PS and 730 Nm, which isn’t that far off from its modern stablemate. There’s definitely a distinction on observe with the Levante, but it surely nonetheless managed to carry its personal on observe and ship some surprises within the bends, disrupting what some may suppose an SUV is able to. The howling V8 provides to the theater of all of it, notably when barrelling down to show 15 and persevering with to show 1.

Whereas this isn’t a full-on observe day the place we got limitless laps, the brief however candy expertise left us (and possibly the shoppers that got here after our media session) wanting extra, which is exactly the aim of the Grasp Maserati Driving Expertise. The occasion serves as the right platform for would-be clients to audition vehicles earlier than committing to being a member of the Maserati household.

Based mostly on the Grasp Maserati Driving Expertise web site, entry charges vary from 900 to five,000 euros (RM4,200 to RM23,336). Our session is the GT degree that sits simply above the entry-level Engine Begin, whereas past that, you’re extra intense programs just like the Sport and MC20 Grasp, the final of which teaches members methods to deliver out essentially the most from the MC20, with and with out driver aids.

We had been advised that Maserati has extra of those actions deliberate for the long run, and with the line-up set to broaden within the coming months and years, there’s definitely lots to sit up for from the trident model in our a part of the world.