“Maserati is back,” says Wolfgang Gomoll in Auto Express. The new MC20 supercar steps out of the shadows of Ferrari and McLaren and represents the start of a new era for the brand, with the model sliding into “the sweet spot between racetrack agility and everyday comfort”. The car was developed on a heavy diet of €5bn from the Fiat Chrysler parent company and is to be the first in a series of new models. Judging by its performance, it has more than eaten its fill.
Under the bonnet beats a mighty 622bhp, three-litre, V6 engine, Maserati’s first in-house design in more than 20 years. Making the leap straight to twin combustion technology, derived from Formula One racers, the car can chase down 62mph in 2.9 seconds, and climb to a top speed of around 202mph. In part, this incredible performance is down to the body’s elegant design and carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, leaving the whole car with a kerb weight of only 1,500kg.
The MC20 is a “delectable slice of exotica”, says Georg Kacher in Car magazine. The power does not come at the expense of the handling either, with a hyper-responsive accelerator and steering keeping things on an even keel at high speeds. The brakes, thankfully, work just fine too and you can order carbon ceramic upgrades as an optional extra.
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This is not just a track car either, says Dell Sellmeyer on gtspirit: “the interior itself is crafted like a work of art”. Open the butterfly doors and you’ll see the minimalist interior is sculpted from layers of leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre, impressed with sparse dials and a touchscreen. It’s also driver-oriented and battle ready, and has the kind of engine roar you’d expect from a car with Maserati’s Italian heritage.
Maseratis are renowned for their “top-line interior craftsmanship and engine growl”, says James Raia in The Weekly Driver – “a Maserati’s vocal pedigree is unlike any other car on the road or track”. Amplified when in “sport driving” mode, the cries of the engine will be sure to wake the neighbours and make them wish they were behind the wheel. Get behind the wheel and “the MC20 will let its performance and beauty speak for itself”.
Price: £187,000 (sales start later this year). Engine: 3,000cc, twin-turbo, V6. Power: 622bhp at 7,500rpm. Torque: 539lb ft at 3,000rpm. Top speed: 202mph. 0-62mph: 2.9 seconds.
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