Kinsmart Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

I profiled the Bburago version of the Maserati GranTurismo last year and I was impressed by the level of details on this 1:43 Bburago casting.  Well not long after that report I found out Kinsmart had released their version and it was more spicier than the Bburago version: it was a MC Stradale.  So with the Bburago pushed aside its time to see what's different between the B' and the Kinsmart versions.

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In 2011 the GranTurismo received a mid-cycle makeover with revised front and rear styling and upgraded engine and transmissions.  In this mix Maserati decided to bring out the MC Stradale, a two-seater that was designed with more power and for the track while still bestowing its grand touring nature.  There's more and larger vents on the hood, carbon fiber accents, rear seat delete, suspension and brake upgrades, and an engine with reduce friction thanks to a diamond-like coating to the friction points derived from F1 racing.  The engine is still the same 4.7L DOHC V8 that now produces 444 horsepower through a new 6-speed automated manual transmission shared with the Ferrari 599 GTO.  This enhanced look and power gave the stylish GranTurismo a new lease on life as the competition starts to heat up.

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Sitting in this gorgeous maroon with the blacked-out accents this Kinsmart GranTruismo looks much more meaner than the sedate Bburago version.  The front has a large center grille with bowed in vertical bars and chrome Maserati trident badge.  It is wrapped around a lower grille smile that also feeds the brake cooling ducts.  Headlight beam layout is redesigned with a blacked-out housing and LED running lights, while the hood gains three scoops: one in the front and two in the back.  The sides continue the three port holes on the front fenders with lower fender vents, carbon fiber mirrors (a separate piece from the metal body), and those cool blacked-out double 5-spoke wheels.  The rear uses the same taillight design with LED brake lights as the Bburago, but adds more character with a carbon fiber rear spoiler and dual chrome exhaust in the lower bumper diffuser.  As with current Kinsmart products the base shows incorrect details and bothers no mention, while the pullback motor is naturally at the rear wheels.

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The doors open up to an interior that has more detail if a bit dark.  The front seats are supportive and have a nice ribbed texture; good thing the rear seat's missing since the pullback motor will take its space anyways.  The 3-spoke steering wheel has the correct controls, tach and speedo sit to the sides of the center information center, center stack with analog clock, navigation/radio system, and HVAC controls, detailed pedals, and note the lack of a shifter thanks to a new transmission design that only has buttons and paddle shifters to use.  The Bburago version is spared here because that one is based on the 2008 release and this one is the post-facelift MC Stradale version, and while both are nicely done I prefer the spiced-up look of the Kinsmart.

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