01 July 2022
In 2015 Zagato introduced the Mostro coupé at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, overlooking one of the most romantic lakes in the world, Lake Como.
In 2022, Zagato debuted the Barchetta roofless version of the limited-run supercar at the same venue. The first owner took delivery of the first production example at this year’s event, too. Only five Zagato Mostro Barchetta’s will be built, the same as the 2015 Zagato Mostro Coupé.
Norihiko Harada designed the Mostro Barchetta; he took inspiration from two previous Zagato designs, namely, the 1931 8C 2500 Sport Zagato and the 1957 450S Coupé Zagato.
Belgian sports car manufacturer Gillet supplied the carbon-fibre MonoCell chassis combined with an innovative composite structure for the windscreen frame and a rear steel subframe; Maserati, on the other hand, provided the engines. In addition to the well-known naturally aspirated 4.2 litre V8, there is also a new one, a V6 bi-turbo. Depending on the version, the engine power starts from 420hp to 630 hp. Both engines fit behind the front axle providing a 50-50 weight distribution. The Barchetta weighs in at only 1,200 kg.
The V6 is the 3.0 litre Maserati Nettuno 90° twin-turbocharged V6 used in the Maserati MC20 Supercar.
The car pays tribute to a unique Zagato race car designed for Maserati in the 1950s. Stirling Moss requested the car Known as ‘il Mostro’ (Italian for ‘the Monster’); the car raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; though it failed to finish, it remained the most powerful front-engined race car in the world until modern times.