All good things come to an end, and when it was finally time for Maserati to say goodbye to its longstanding relationship with Ferrari’s power units, the Modena-based luxury sports carmaker took it as an opportunity to reinvent itself. Today, the new Maserati MC20 marks the beginning of this era as one of Italy’s most formidable names in supercar craftsmanship.
Debuting at the MMXX: Time to be Audacious event, the MC20 is positioned as the successor to the equally exclusive MC12 from 2004. First impressions reveal that it looks nothing like any other Maserati model that came before it. Under the aerodynamic-focused skin resides a special new heart in the form of the Nettuno engine, a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine positioned beyond the driver that’s capable of delivering 463kW of power and 730Nm of torque. This is enough to see the MC20 reach 100km/h in under 2.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 325km/h.
While the figures are impressive, it’s the engineering and design that shines. At under 1,500kg, the MC20 is extremely lightweight for today’s standards. Hitting this target required extensive use of materials like carbon fibre while maintaining Maserati’s reputation for seamless ride quality and comfort.
On the design front, the car features a much more functional aesthetic with a merger of aggressive and fluid body lines paired to strategically placed intakes that intentionally remain subtle. There are even upward-opening butterfly doors, which are bona fide supercar features. Maserati believes that the revolutionary MC20 is the epitome of Italian excellence and a major part of this pride comes from its place of origin. The car was entirely designed in Modena and will be built at the Viale Ciro Menotti plant where the Trident’s models have been built for more than 80 years.
The new production line was born from the spaces where the venerable GranTurismo and GranCabrio models were assembled until November 2019. Even the celebrated Nettuno engine will be built in Modena at the brand’s newly established Maserati Engine Lab.
The interior is a further expression of Maserati’s past and future. The cabin is designed to be comfortable, luminous and luxurious, but there’s a new focus on exuding a sense of dynamism. This is showcased across the laser-generated textural effects on the Alcantara leather seats that pair nicely with the carbon-fibre finishes on the steering wheel and centre console. The infotainment system features a high-resolution screen similar to a tablet, providing a total user experience, while the audio system is the result of a 100% Italian collaborative effort involving the craft-based Sonus Faber, renowned for its meticulously engineered acoustic speakers.
Proving that the MC20 cuts no corners, Maserati has ensured that customers looking for greener options will be pleased to know that the model will also be released in an electric version alongside a convertible.
For more details visit Maserati.
