Maserati MC12

Maserati MC12
Its basic carbon composite chassis and 65-degree V-12 drivetrain started life in the street-legal Ferrari Enzo. Maserati did an extreme makeover, transforming the Enzo into an FIA GT race car. Then, with another nip and tuck, it was morphed back into a street-legal vehicle for a production run of 25 cars to satisfy series homologation rules.

The transformation from Enzo to MC12 Versione Competizione is extensive. The wheelbase is extended 5.9 inches, and the nose and tail are stretched to add another 11.5 to the overall length in the name of optimized aerodynamics. This long, pointy shape, along with the wings, spoilers, and underbody venturis, provide enough downforce to change the static 41/59 front/rear weight distribution to 34/66 at speeds above 125 mph. .

The race car transformation is quite convincing in battle. Maserati fielded two MC12s in the last four races of the 2004 season, taking two wins, three seconds, and one third-place finish. The team is gunning heavily for the FIA GT championship this year, and there are plans to compete in all American Le Mans Series races in 2005. Maserati won't be eligible for driver or manufacturer points in ALMS, however, because the car is longer and wider than the Automobile Club de l'Ouest regulations allow.Recostuming the race car for Stradale duty went way beyond the bare minimum lighting, emissions, and safety requirements needed to certify the MC12 for legal road use. Because the 90-year-old company was determined to make a genuinely desirable halo supercar out of its FIA racer, it chose to add such touches as a removable roof panel--a bonus not offered on the quasi-gullwing Enzo. The lightweight removable roof panel unclips and lifts off as easily as a Corvette's, but can't be stored on board