Run for the border: Mexico's 2008 Mastretta MXT mid-engine exotic
check out the video after the jump, and click the above photo to view a gallery
The fact that we can't have it makes us want it more. This nicely aggressive coupe from Mexico's Mastretta Design is beautifully sculpted, with plenty of energy bottled up in its stance. The structure is bonded aluminum, just like a proper supercar, and with a production target of 150 units per year, the mid-engine MXT is appropriately exclusive, too. The styling may be writing checks that the powertrain can't cash, with 200 horsepower from the 2.3 liter four, performance numbers are in the realm of the Camry; but we don't think that's the point. This is one stylish car, and we wish we could get our hands on it here in the US. Even without big power, it releases all the proper neurotransmitters -- light weight, minimalist interior, spiffy shape -- too much power may turn it into a widowmaker, anyway.
Mastretta designs all sorts of stuff, from buses to oil bottles. Their vehicular expertise has been honed by producing a handsome Beetle-based coupe, as well as a dune buggy-esque "fun car." Moving off the old VW Type 1 architecture, a faux '62 'Vette was worked up with a custom chassis ready to accept GM components. Mastretta also pulled it all together on the nuts and bolts side and put the designs into series production, so they've also got the practical engineering chops to bring vehicles to fruition. This nectarine-hued creation will drop off the branch in Q1 of 2008, after its formal debut at the Mexico City Auto Show in December of this year.
[Source: Mastretta Design via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gerard Vandenberg 11:05AM (5/19/2007)
.................No thanks!
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Dausman 10:55AM (5/19/2007)
Very nice....add o dream catalog.
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mr.ed 11:28AM (5/19/2007)
The prototype looks like it has typical Mexican 'QC." Look for a dirt floor.
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skwizaad 11:26AM (5/19/2007)
I'm with #2
"performance numbers are in the realm of the Camry; but we don't think that's the point." I like the way the new mustangs look, but that sure as hell doesn't mean I'm going to buy a V6 auto. If it looks sporty, it damn well better perform unless it is so cheap that I can still afford to give it a proper drivetrain and weight reduction.
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ruggels 11:42AM (5/19/2007)
well, it's finally happened, with so many limited productions super coupes on the market, someone in mexico got the bright idea of tackling that of neglected market of attractive yet very slow cars.
pass. i mean seriously, pass, i dont care what it looks like if it's as peppy as a camry for Christ sakes...
then again, the mercury milan rental i received while my camry hybrid was being repaired (oddly after someone from mexico, without license or insurance, thought it prudent to run into it in an otherwise empty parking lot) did feel noticeably slower then my camry... so maybe I've not quite realized the camry is a new performance benchmark to be emulated.
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BKadalur 12:13PM (5/19/2007)
hmm, the tail of a ferrari, the sides of an audi r8, and the front of a lotus with g35 headlights.
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Devin 12:35PM (5/19/2007)
No... that doesn't look like an Audi R8....
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WHAT? 12:59PM (5/19/2007)
I dont see anything new in the design, like someone else here mentioned each section of the car looks like it was borrowed from various other cars. This would also explain why some areas like just aft the side window appear unfinished. The worst part is that the rear is the best looking shot but its so out of proportion for a car that small.
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Adam 12:58PM (5/19/2007)
I rather like the look, but the sound's not all that inspiring. At least not from what I hear in the video.
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Rob 12:59PM (5/19/2007)
I'm not a fan of the Camry, but I think I'd rather take the Camry over this 'thing'. From the video, it sure looks like the Camry would outperform this beast in every way. I mean,.. did you see it's handling characteristics? This thing is just sad.
And really,.. How would you like to buy one of these things and then find out it's being compared to a family sedan... and a Camry no less?
I'd say I was disappointed, but I that infers that I would expect more out of the Mexican auto industry.
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cxvargas 1:19PM (5/19/2007)
Not bad.
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Bob 1:12PM (5/19/2007)
the front is like a 350z, no???
http://clubvaio.blogspot.com/
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Durbo 1:20PM (5/19/2007)
Guys? It's called an engine swap.
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Robz4 1:47PM (5/19/2007)
Ay caramba !!
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Driver 1:49PM (5/19/2007)
Why in gods name is the person taking the video breathing so hard...?
I guess thats what happens when you know you can keep up with a car running while taking its video...
It does look appealing but the engine sounds like a juice maker... so unless they do something to its engine, danke!
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FC RX7 Driver 4:23PM (5/19/2007)
Wonder why autoblog's editors didn't post the full specs? It's not actually THAT slow IMHO. I imagine the car will do much better around a skid pad than a camry. I won't knock it until it gets a full review from a credible sorce. Anyone can make a good sporty car, doesn't matter where it's from as long as the R&D goes into the vehicle.
"weighing in at 1.000 kg (2.204 lbs) the MTX will boast a 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6 to 7 sec with a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph)."
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ruggels 5:33PM (5/19/2007)
FC RX8 Driver's right, I mean, my 3300lb jetta hits sixty in 6 to 7 seconds... weighing 1100 more lbs... clearly we are slighting this car to severely.
erm. no.. sorry man, I don't think we'll be seeing this in Car, EVO, TopGear or Car and Driver any time soon.
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bmoredlj 5:54PM (5/19/2007)
Unlike the Swiss' horrible Weber and the Brazilians' Lamborghini slashing, this little Mexican carmaker makes a pretty nice looking, consistent, non-vomit-inducing, attractive design. Too bad for the weak motor.
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Deezee 6:28PM (5/19/2007)
I dig the design. 200hp tho??! What the hell is that about.
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Logik 7:42PM (5/19/2007)
Not bad, not bad. There is definitely much room for improvement. The most troubling part of the car, for me, is the rear. Although, just by itself it looks great; the car as a whole looks pretty unbalanced. Tune and perfect this thing, price it under $40k, and there you go.
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