X

Mastretta MXT (photos)

Startup Mexican manufacturer Mastretta brought its new sports car to the Los Angeles Auto Show, in anticipation of beginning sales in the U.S.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
MastrettaMXT_SS01.jpg
1 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
Mexican automaker Mastretta began production of the MXT sports car this year, bringing it to the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show to introduce it to the U.S. The company only plans on building 150 cars per year, with a price per car of $55,000 to $60,000.
MastrettaMXT_SS02.jpg
2 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
The MXT is similar to sports cars built by Lotus, in that it is very light, weighing only 2,050 pounds, and is designed for rigidity. Those factors, and its short wheelbase, should lead to excellent handling.
MastrettaMXT_SS03.jpg
3 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
17-inch wheels should make for easy turn-in. The brake calipers are not particularly large, but should provide adequate stopping power, considering the car's weight.
MastrettaMXT_SS04.jpg
4 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
The MXT is a midengine two-seater, with a weight distribution of 55 percent to the rear and 45 percent to the front.
MastrettaMXT_SS05.jpg
5 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
Mastretta says the MXT makes it to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is 150 mph. With the car's engineering, it should excel in handling.
MastrettaMXT_SS06.jpg
6 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
Mastretta sources the MXT's engine from Ford. It is the 2-liter four-cylinder Duratec, with a turbocharger and custom programming. It produces 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque.
MastrettaMXT_SS07.jpg
7 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
The MXT's structure is similar to that used by Lotus. It has an aluminum tub with front and rear suspension pieces bolted on. This type of structure is very rigid, helping keep the car tires planted.
MastrettaMXT_SS08.jpg
8 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
The interior has a very simple design, but the materials show good quality. The seats have high bolsters, appropriate for a sports car.
MastrettaMXT_SS09.jpg
9 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
The MXT has a five-speed manual transmission. The console is topped by a carbon fiber panel inset with the ignition lock.
MastrettaMXT_SS10.jpg
10 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET
Mastretta chose an aftermarket Clarion head unit for the MXT, which includes usual cabin tech features such as navigation and iPod connectivity.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos