Here it is, Internet, the new Maserati MC20 Supercar which was revealed in the wee hours last night.
Standing for Maserati Corse 2020 the MC20 signals a Brand New Era, according to Maserati. We’re not sure what that means exactly but we like this thing’s numbers… from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds from a twin-turbo V6 engine that’s been designed and built by Maserati – the first time it’s built its own engine in more than 20 years. Weighing less than 1500kg the MC20 is lightweight with an impressive weight/power ratio of just 2.33kg/hp.
The whole story of the MC20 is a good news one for Maserati. The V6 is the first engine it’s designed and built for more than 20 years – it will be built at the new Maserati Engine Lab. The vehicle was designed entirely by Maserati and will be built entirely by Maserati on a tweaked line where the GranTurismo and GranCabrio models were built until 2019 at the Viale Ciro Menotti plant.
It took Maserati just two years to design and develop the MC20. To accelerate the development, Maserati’s boffins built their own virtual dynamics simulator. It’s called Virtual Car and it allowed the company to simulate 97% of all dynamic tests. Of course, the MC20 was then given plenty of track time.
To get the shape of the thing just right, Maserati spent 2000 hours in the Dallara Wind Tunnel and designed more than one thousand fluid dynamics simulations. Maserati said it wanted the exterior and interior of the MC20 to be clean and functional. We reckon that’s been achieved. On the inside, there are two 10-inch screens, one for the instruments and the other for the multimedia. There’s plenty of carbon-fibre in the cabin and very fripperies.
The MC20 offers wireless smartphone charging, there’s a driving mode selector (GT, Wet, Sport, Corsa and a fifth, ESC Off, which deactivates the control functions), two speed selection buttons, the power window controls, the Multimedia System controls, and a handy storage compartment underneath the armrest. All the other controls are on the steering wheel, with the ignition button on the left and the launch control on the right.
But that doesn’t mean the MC20 is basic. It will be connected at all times via the Maserati Connect program which includes navigation, Alexa and Wifi Hotspot and also allows some functions to be managed through the Maserati Connect smartphone or smartwatch App.
The MC20, Maserati hopes, will help it grow from being seen as a niche player. It wants to be recognised as a luxury and performance brand and it’s hinted that the MC20 should be seen as a signal the brand will return to motorsport.
“Both visually and conceptually, there are strong references to the MC12, the car that marked Maserati’s racing comeback in 2004. In the same way as its predecessor, MC20, with its explicitly racing soul clear from its name alone, announces the intention to return to the world of racing,” Maserati said.
There’s no word on pricing, but the order books are open today with production to begin towards the end of this year.
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