The new Maserati MC20 Supercar is ready to beat its Italian competitors – Robb Report

Maserati, founded a few months after the start of World War I in 1914, had a fierce battle against relative latecomers Ferrari (1947) and Lamborghini (’63) for Italian sports luxury, despite several lost decades of mismanagement and financial problems. And the Bologna brand is still battling a lot: see the launch of the 630 hp MC20, its first supercar in almost two decades, while the pandemic was in full swing, unfavorable conditions that actually obsessed the chain power more.

The middle engine MC20 takes up the mantle of the MC12, one of the most popular Maseratis of the modern era, which made the brand race again in 2004 – the “MC” stands for “Maserati Corse”, the motorsport division of the brand . —And its monocoque carbon fiber chassis was built in collaboration with racing car specialist Dallara. With a sleek aesthetic, born from more than 2,000 hours of wind tunnel testing and more than 1,000 fluid dynamic simulations, the bodywork points to a stone sculpted by the flow of elements. The subtle styling continues with the holes in the hood and the flanks, which almost disappear depending on your sight.

Design chief Klaus Busse says his team was “purely designed, not cars designed around the air inlets.” The interior offers a similarly clean version with a streamlined cabin that puts most driver functions on the steering wheel. Only a handful of controls, including the driving mode selector – Wet, GT, Sport and Corsa – and the dual 10-inch touchscreen information system are on the center console.

The copier’s angular side is reflected at the bottom of the exterior, with more pronounced angles and aero elements such as the channeled diffuser for increased downward force – and of course the butterfly doors. Most notable, however, is the new Nettuno 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6, with a torque of 538 ft. The Formula 1-derived combustion system with spark plug, front chamber, delivers faster, cleaner burns and is considered the first time for a street-legal car. The engine, developed internally, is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

That powerful, high-tech mill and 3,306-pound vehicle weight allow the rear-wheel-drive engine 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, en route to a top speed of 202 mph. The statistics put the MC20 together with some of the latest offerings from its competitors in Maranello and Sant’Agata Bolognese, as well as the starting price of $ 210,000.

And if you’re after the biggest names in the category, such impressive figures are not only beautiful – they are necessary. Andy Love, director of brands and sales at Maserati North America, thinks the MC20 “will relocate Maserati into the mid-engine super-sports car segment” and calls the car an important, fundamental step towards the future of our brand. It’s a big stage, but at least the slim and sculpted lightweight looks more than ready to square. Supporting horses and raging bulls, be warned.

Check out more photos of the MC20 below: