The Maserati MC12 is a two-seater long-tail coupe-spider with a long wheel base (2800 mm). It has a typical racing/sporty set-up with a removable hard top. It is also powered by a naturally aspirated 12-cylinder 65░ V engine that displaces 5998 cc and punches out 465 kW (630hp) at 7500 rpm. Highly advanced composites and alloys have enhanced its structural rigidity and kept its overall weight down. The MC12's bodywork is entirely carbon fiber, while its stress-bearing chassis is made from a carbon fiber and Nomex honeycomb sandwich.

The FIA GT MC12 will probable have a little more power, a racing setup (no leather trim) and all the usual protection and gizmos found in a modern GT racer.

The MC12 slotcar is the Scalextric 2005 Catalog cover car and holds the brand's flag for the moment at least. It was show at the 2005 British Toy Fair at Excel. First impressions are very good - the car is well made and just looks fast. It is low and sleek and the wet paintjob like the Lister storm of last year gives the impression that it will enhance the speed. Also like the Lister Storm, it has a racing pod on the chassis allowing for quick changes of the motor, rear axel and wheels. Useful for endurance racing.
Notice the two mounting screws on the box (below). One goes into the car and one into the pod. I suppose this is to allow the pod to be set loose on the car, but still be held firm whilst in the box.

The Scalextric MC12 is modeled on the Maserati that was released towards the end of the 2004 FIA GT season.

The MC12 did well at Imola in September. Both MC12 achieved Podium finishes, coming 2nd and 3rd. Maserati raced to its first international race victory since 1967 when Mika Salo and Andrea Bertolini won the ninth round of the FIA GT Championship at Oschersleben. In October, Fabrizio De Simone and Johnny Herbert claimed second place in the FIA GT championship race run on the new circuit in Dubai. Then in November, with a spectacular one-two, the two Maserati MC12s fielded by AF Corse signed off the FIA GT championship for 2004.

This car looks like a serious contender for the 2005 FIA GT team championship.

I took a few photos first on the grass behind the pits to catch the last of the afternoon Sun. The MC12 looks good from all angles. The tampo work is top-notch and overall finish pretty much perfect. It has been mentioned recently that we are at a pinnacle of slotcar production. This car sure is at the top of the pile. Look at it closely and see how smooth the finish is; look at the perfect fit of the light covers to the body; look at the clarity of the windscreen; check out the vents, grills and ducts; marvel at the etched metal work under the front vents on the hood and on the rear between the lights; the rims fit and the disk brakes are there; the front and rear grills are in place; and all the fittings and hooks are there. I challenge other manufacturers to make their cars this good and keep their prices in the same range under ?30.

This car will look very good on the shelf. What could Scalextric do to make it better? Well apart from having an opening hood and engine compartment, a molded engine-bay and opening doors with a driver called Les, there's not much they can do.

It was fun getting the Maserati to the track. It was well prepared in the factory with white synthetic grease on the pinion and crown gears and oil on the bearings. I just had to straighten the braids a little and off it went. I left the magnet and set it off on a couple of laps to settle in. My RMS system timed the car on a series of 10-lap races. It got progressively better starting off at 6.63 seconds a lap and ending up at 5.16 seconds for it's best lap about 5 races later.

The tyres are quite good. The home racer who doesn't true his tyres will not have any problems as long as he keeps the track clean and regularly wipes down the rear wheels. If they pick up the slightest amount of dust, they loose all grip and even with the magnet, the car does the sideways thing.

The rear inline motor has got a nice feel. Racing the sidewinder Trofeo at the same time as the MC12 was interesting. The MC12 feels more rounded, deep and powerful - explain that to me please (where's the waco smiley), but I shouldn't be comparing these two cars - they are very different.

Scalextric have used white diodes to give a 'Xenon' lighting effect. It looks great, but unfortunately they still flicker on and off as the controller is pressed and released. I doubt the Scalextric will add a capacitor system now as the lights will stay on when using Sport Digital, and that's the route that they're pointing us in. Add-on kits available from Overdrive that keep the lights burning when you power-off. Get those if you're not going down the Digital road. The rear lights look good. There is no red-light-bleed due to the dark plastic and paint around the lights.

Here we see the pod (below). It shows the off-set motor. No need for that in this car, but I suppose Scalextric are using the pod from the Lister that has little internal space save for the bulge on the right of the car. This unbalances the MC12 laterally, but who is counting. You can whip out the magnet and add some lead, putting a little more on the left of the front-back centerline.

A note on the assembly of this model: There are 8 screws (4 different sizes) holding on the chassis to the body and one more for the guide flag. The chassis is in 3 parts and the recessed sides of the body are loose, attached to the chassis on assembly. Quite tricky - not for those with thick fingers.

For info, the 2005 Maserati FIA GT car differs from that used in 2004 as regards: the shortened nose to obtain the 4.990 mm maximum length, a reduction of the aerodynamic surface area, the fitting of an under tray between the wheels, the re-positioning of exhaust system, the use of carbon brakes and traction control and the removal of the minimum height clearance.

Here are the two new Scalextric Maseratis. The Trofeo, racing version of the Maserati CoupΘ Cambiocorsa (left) and the MC12 (right).