2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro – Rare at Only Five of a Kind!
Maserati has been around for over a century. During these years the identity of the company has undergone some drastic changes. They have been a racing team, a sports car manufacturer, and are now luxury carmakers. Despite the tumultuous change in character, the brand has retained one aspect of its identity, its legacy.
Anytime you see a Maserati on the road, you will instantly be drawn to it. The car brand has succeeded in establishing itself as rare and exclusive. They make vehicles that are stunning to look at and more importantly sound good to the ears. Maserati’s are enamored by people from all over the world and they come with a hefty price tag. Once you own a Maserati, it instantly becomes a status symbol.
So, what does a brand that has such a persona do to celebrate 100 years of existence? Make a limited edition car, of course. Enter the Maserati Mostro Zagato, a car built by Zagato an independent coachbuilding establishment in Milan. The Zagato brand builds exclusive hand-made coaches for brands to commemorate important dates.
Zagato is a brand that has already been associated with Maserati. They were responsible for building the legendary Maserati 450S Coupe Zagato, which was made on the behest of Sir Stirling Moss. So, what makes the Zagato Maserati Mostro unique? Let’s take a closer look.
Tribute to Maserati
On the cusp of its centenary, Maserati was gifted with a special car from Zagato. The legendary coachbuilder from Milan decided to make this special car and limit it to 5 pieces. Like every single Maserati out there, the design is bold, to say the least. Zagato wanted it to remind us of the legendary Maserati 450S Coupe Zagato from 1957. So, what is the 2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro all about?
The 2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro
The 2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro is a one-off re-imagination of what is perhaps the most interesting blend of a race car and a road car. Taking inspiration from a legendary car created for Sir Stirling Moss, the Zagato Maserati Mostro is so awe-inspiring we have no words for it. To help you the reader learn more about this beautiful car and the legacy it aims to build, we shall dissect the important elements and take a deep dive.
The Maserati Mostro’s Jaw-Dropping Design
The car simply looks like something out of a sci-fi novel. It is so futuristic. The curves and the sharp lines combine well to give the car a modern look with retro elements. The idea behind the design is not to evoke nostalgia but to invoke the iconic feel of a Maserati. With the big bonnet, the rounded tail, and the singular design, the 2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro will not only turn heads but will leave onlookers gasping for air.
The door also opens upwards, which is unlike any Maserati. The front of the car is pointed and as it swoops to the rear, the design language does not falter one bit. This is a notable feature in every Zagato car made from the early 2000s. They have made various bespoke cars for multiple manufacturers and all of them follow the same design language. The Zagato features cues from British aerodynamicist Frank Costin. The streamlined design reminds us that not every car has to be angular and mean.
Zagato Maserati Carbon Fiber Everywhere
The original inspiration for this car is the car that won the 24 hours of Le Mans. At the time it was the only closed bodywork car that could compete in the category. The modern-day Zagato Maserati Mostro has been created with the same intention, to be an all-out track car. While the car is road legal, it is much more suited to being pushed to its limits on the track. For that reason, the car has been constructed rather uniquely.
The car is composed of a mono-cell carbon fiber chassis. There is also some necessary steel tubing that helps accommodate the subframe and cabin. The bodywork is almost entirely made out of carbon fiber, making the car light and nimble. The car also has a double-wishbone setup along with a pushrod spring and shock setup. While the car might have design cues from the 50s, it is absolutely 21st century in terms of bodywork.
Race Inspired Inside
As the inspiration of this car comes from a great 24 hour Le Mans winning race car, race elements are apparent throughout the design. Not only with the low-slung race like exterior, but also the barebones, focused and aggressive interior.
Unexpectedly, this car is fairly stripped out, with only the essentials in place here for what the driver needs. A far cry from the plush interiors you usually see in most Maserati’s. You can clearly see exposed carbon, race bucket seats and a very minimal dashboard/interface for the driver. This keeps the driver acutely focused on the task at hand which is pure driving.
The key advantage here of Zagato staying so focused on their design aesthetic of this car, is that it keeps the car lightweight. It weighs in at just 2000 lbs making the Maserati Mostro Zagato specs very compelling for an exhilarating power to weight ratio that I’m sure would feel impeccable.
If you look closely to the branding throughout the cabin, you can see for the Maserati Mostro Zagato had partnered with OMP to develop some uniquely branded seats and utilise one of their simplistic racing steering wheels. If you look even closer, you’ll notice a MoTeC racing display, feeding the driver all the crucial data they need. This makes me believe it would be highly likely that they’re also using a MoTeC ECU to fine tune and control this V8 beast.
Naturally Aspirated Maserati V8
Maserati does not like to skimp on engines. They have always made some of the fastest and the best-sounding cars. Zagato is keenly aware of this and has stuffed in a naturally aspirated V8 engine sourced from Maserati. It is a 4.2-liter V8 that has a customizable engine management system. The idea is to offer an engine map that is specific to tracks and gives you the freedom to customize the mapping itself!
The output has not been disclosed, but we can ballpark the figure around 460 bhp. There is a six-speed semi-automatic transmission and a rear transaxle for optimal weight distribution. The car sounds like what you would expect from a Maserati. The low gurgling rip is present from the moment you step on the throttle. As you step on the throttle, you can hear it grunt and bellow. The Maserati Mostro Zagato specs are nothing too fancy. It is not a car that should ever be looked at from a specs standpoint.
Only Five Zagato Mostro Models
The car is special and has only been limited to 5 units all of which have been handed out to Zagato customers. There is no price tag on the car. There was even an official statement that said that the 2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro price will not exceed $1 million.
However, one model showed up at a recent Bonham’s auction for an asking price between a whopping 500,000-700,000 Pounds. It is the only one that has ever been seen at an auction.
Final Thoughts
The Maserati Mostro Zagato is a car designed to commemorate the storied success Maserati has achieved on the track and off it as well. The car represents the unique philosophy that Maserati follows, use radical designs without compromising the performance. While the 2015 Zagato Maserati Mostro might look and feel ancient, believe us it is anything but that. The insides are quite modern and do not feel outdated. It is simply an extraordinary car, meant to signify an extraordinary brand.
