MC20 supercar heralds 'new age' for Maserati

MANILA: Maserati officially launched the MC20 during its "MMXX: Time to be Audacious” event.  The new super sports car combines luxury, sportiness, and performance with the distinct Maserati style.

The new MC20 (with MC standing for Maserati Corse and 20 for 2020, the year of its global debut and the beginning of the auto brand’s “new era”) is a vehicle that exhibits supreme aerodynamics and athleticism.

This is through its new Nettuno engine that marks the return of Maserati to manufacturing its own power units after a 20-year pause.

The MC20 is an incredibly compact vehicle with a weight of less than 1,500 kg, exemplifying Italian excellence. In reality, the MC20 was developed in Modena and will be manufactured at the Viale Ciro Menotti factory, where the Trident’s models have been constructed for over 80 years.

The new manufacturing line, produced in the sites where the Gran Cabrio and Gran Turismo models were built until November 2019, is now ready for operation in the historic facility.

The location also includes a modern paintshop that integrates advanced, eco-friendly technologies. The Nettuno engine will also be installed in Modena, specifically in the recently developed Maserati Engine Lab.

The MC20 design was produced in 24 months, with the participation from the outset, in an advanced strategy, of a team of Maserati Style Center designers, Maserati Innovation Lab engineers, and Maserati Engine Lab technical specialists.

The butterfly doors of the MC20 are deemed as spectacularly attractive and functional, as they enhance the ergonomics of the vehicle and allow maximum access to and from the cabin.

Its Nettuno engine is also regarded as the first engine in this new phase of the Trident’s history.  This twin-turbo V6 of the MC20 has already been given a global patent, which places MTC (Maserati Twin Combustion) technology, the revolutionary combustion mechanism that has undergone in-house development, on the world’s roads.

This engine generates a torque of 730Nm and a power output of 630hp. It is the fastest vehicle in the class with a weight /power ratio of 2.33 kg/hp.

The aerodynamics were also engineered through more than two thousand man-hours in the Dallara Wind Tunnel and over a thousand CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations, which allowed the establishment of an authentic masterpiece.

The vehicle has a sleek line, with no mobile attachments but only an inconspicuous rear spoiler that enhances downforce without compromising the elegance of the MC20. It is also configured to allow convertible and coupe versions for complete electric power.

When inside the cabin, the driver is significantly prioritized. Nothing has to divert the driver from the sports driving experience because each part of the vehicle has a specific function and is totally driver-oriented.

The MC20 is fitted with two 10-inch screens, one allotted for the cockpit and the other for the Maserati Multimedia System (MIA).

Simplicity is also the highlight of the carbon fiber-clad center console,, Its features include a handy storage compartment under the armrest, the Multimedia System controls, the power window controls, two-speed selection buttons, a driving mode selector (Wet, GT, Sport, Corsa, and the ESC Off, which disables control functions), and the wireless smartphone charger.

The new Maserati MC20 will be online via the Maserati Connect program. The complete range of services, which include connected navigation, Wifi Hotspot, and Alexa can also be handled through the Maserati Connect smartphone or smartwatch app.

Six new colors defining the MC20 were also revealed, namely, the Grigio Mistero, Nero Enigma, Blu Infinito, Rosso Vincente, Giallo Genio, and Bianco Audace. Each has been conceptualized, designed, and developed exclusively for this vehicle and they all deliver significant themes — a strong link to the Maserati heritage and to the Italian identity.

Both theoretically and visually, the vehicle also holds a strong connection to the MC12, which signaled the return of the Maserati in the world of racing in 2004. Similar to its predecessor, the MC20, also declared its explicit intent for a racing comeback.

The production debut is set towards the end of 2020, yet orders are already accepted since its recent world premiere.

Photos from Maserati

Also read: New Maserati MC20 pays tribute to Sir Stirling Moss