Photo: Varryx on YouTube/@Simonemasetti_photography on Instagram
It’s easy to ignore Maserati these days. The lineup isn’t inspiring, there are many performance-oriented and luxurious alternatives, and the House of the Trident lacked a truly engaging car since the demise of the MC12.
The MC20 intends to fill this void with world-class performance in a straight line and in the twisties. The twin-turbo V6 supercar is currently fine-tuned by Maserati at the Fiorano circuit in Maranello, which is pretty close to the Modena-based production facility where the MC20 will be built.
Scheduled to roll off the line as a 2021 model, the Maserati Corse 2020 is somewhat lacking in the sound department. As you can tell from the following video, the gasoline particulate filter and boosty snails take away from the fury hiding under the hood, a new engine known as the Nettuno.
Was it designed by Ferrari, you’re wondering? Well, Maserati claims it's 100% developed in-house, though it's probably no coincidence the MC20 is being tested at the Prancing Horse’s facility. Connections to the F154 V8 and 690T V6 are also obvious, starting with the 90-degree angle of the cylinder banks, 88-mm bore, and 82-mm stroke.
The firing order (cylinder 1, then 6, 3, 4, 2, and 5) also matches that of the Alfa Romeo-exclusive engine, and the rev limit of 8,000 rpm mirrors the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Be that as it may, you can’t deny the sheer output of the Nettuno. At 210 metric horsepower for every liter, it’s a seriously impressive piece of hardware in comparison to other twin-turbo V6 mills.
Maserati has also pulled every trick in the book to make the MC20 a thriller in the corners, starting with a double wishbone that features semi-virtual steering, two bottom links, and one bottom link for the front suspension system. This setup is designed to keep the contact patch of the tire constant while cornering, ensuring high lateral acceleration and lots of feedback.
Oh, and by the way, the latest product plan published by Maserati lists an “all-new sports car cabriolet" for 2021 as a 2022 model year. This likely means the MC20 will be available with a second body style, but we don’t know for the time being what kind of roof or opening mechanism are in the offing.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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