Open-roof Zagato Maserati Mostro Barchetta debuts at Villa d’Este

Good things come to those who wait. Zagato introduced the Mostro coupe at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2015. At the same event in 2022, the brand debuted the Barchetta roofless version of the limited-run supercar. The owner took delivery of the first production example at this year's event, too.

Designer Norihiko Harada took inspiration from two classic Zagato-made Maserati models when creating the shape for the Mostro Barchetta. The general long-bonnet-short-deck proportions come from the 1931 8C 2500 Sport Zagato. The look of the 1957 450S Coupé Zagato makes a bigger contribution to the new model's styling like the smooth sculpting on the nose and tail. The side windows taper down for an appearance that evokes a speedboat.

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Mostro Barchetta buyers have a choice of two engines: a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 or a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. Zagato says outputs between 414 bhp (309 kilowatts) and 621 bhp (463 kW) are available. Borth powerplants sit behind the front axle under the bonnet, providing a 50-50 front-rear weight distribution. The power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential manual gearbox.

The Mostro Barchetta rides on a carbon fibre chassis with a steel rear subframe. The vehicle weighs as little as 1,200 kilograms (2,646 pounds). The suspension has a double-wishbone setup at both ends with pushrods acting on the adjustable coilovers. For braking, there are AP Racing six-piston callipers in front and four-piston stoppers at the back. The supercar rolls on 19-inch centre-lock wheels.

Zagato plans to make just five examples of the Mostro Barchetta, which is the same as the production number for the coupe. The company's announcement doesn't mention a price for the vehicle or specify whether the other four units are still available for order.

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