Maserati was left without a technical partner after Ferrari departed the Fiat-Chrysler group and became an independent company in 2016.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the Trident brand was forced to go out on its own and create its engines. The outcome of this revival is the MC20 sports vehicle.
The Maserati name undoubtedly has the cachet to pull this off, but the MC20 also goes well beyond the company's typical grand-tourer mold.
Can the first authentic Maserati sports car since the MC12 of 2004 walk the walk? The new coupe is targeted at customers of McLaren, Porsche, and even Ferrari. Not to mention that the MC12 was based on the Ferrari Enzo...
In this way, the MC20's best qualities cannot be appreciated on a public road due to its astounding on-paper performance. No-compromise vehicles sometimes impose the most constraints.
Due to this, the complete 4.4 km Grand Prix layout at Philip Island was used for this study. As a result, we are unable to provide you with much information regarding parking accessibility or fuel usage on the highway. But keep reading to learn the characteristics of a super-sports automobile.
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| MC20 2022 Maserati review |
Is there anything intriguing about the way it was made? 8/10
The design of the MC20 is perhaps most notable for being so understated. Instead of relying on tacked-on embellishments to produce downforce, the automobile has a general design that does so rather than having wings, vents, fins, and diffusers all over it.
Additionally, the MC20 is built around a carbon-fiber tub for stiffness and lightness, much like any modern supercar worth it's salt. Aluminum front and rear subframes are suspended from that tub framework, and these, in turn, support the suspension and other mechanical components.
- Naturally, a lot of time was spent in the wind tunnel throughout the creation of the automobile, but the goal was to integrate the downforce-producing components rather than have them stand out.
- As a result, if you want to put it simply, the entire automobile is an upside-down wing. A really attractive upside-down wing, though.
- This gives the MC20 a smooth, modern appearance that sets it apart from other rent-a-racer vehicles and lends credence to the idea that sometimes, less really is more.
Even some of the detailing are beautiful. There is plenty of visible carbon fiber within the door jambs, a ton of Alcantara inside, and the two-tone body package effectively breaks up the design. The vents cut into the Perspex rear windscreen from Maserati's iconic trident shape.
We're not so sure about the swing-up, scissor-style doors, which still force you to stoop beneath them if you are taller than 180 cm, and the "Park" button that is located extremely low under the dashboard.
The carbon and leather steering wheel, with its built-in controls, is stunning to hold and look at, so that is a plus.
How useful is the interior space? 2/10
The MC20 features both a front and a rear baggage box, although they are both so tiny as to be essentially worthless. This is unfortunate because the Maserati generally makes a compelling argument for itself as a getaway vehicle for extended weekends.
The interior's functionality is the other aspect that suffers from the car's artistic design. While the driving posture is excellent and the pedal-to-wheel ratio is perfect, you are on your own when it comes to storage. The MC20's one cupholder is located at the back of the central tunnel, which is its best feature.
Additionally, the mid-engined design makes it extremely difficult to see out of the back window. To combat this, Maserati equipped the MC20 with a rear-mounted camera screen that can also function as a traditional interior rear-view mirror (you can still see only the engine).
The drawback is that the picture that is being projected onto the "mirror" doesn't have enough depth of field to allow the driver to just glance at it.
Does it offer a decent price-to-value ratio? 5/10
Maserati has used the MC20's options list to increase its profitability, following in the footsteps of several high-end automakers. Of course, that comes after your accountant has dealt with the $438,000 MSRP.
The point is that when it comes to supercars and their reputations for value for money, you kind of has to suspend your disbelief. By any reasonable, traditional standard, they are grossly overpriced, yet the Maserati is neither the least costly nor most expensive way to travel at this speed among its peer group.
But getting back to those choices: Once again, it's best to disregard any preconceived notions you may have because several Maserati alternatives are more expensive than a decent, just-bought hatchback.
You must pay a startling $13,164 for the carbon-fiber engine cover alone, although Maserati management claims that it is a popular choice.
Then there are the carbon-fiber brakes, which not only cost $28,961 but also an additional $2962 if you want the calipers painted in yellow.
Despite being outrageously expensive ($8721), the hydraulic front-lifter that lets you deal with driveways and speed bumps at least has some engineering. Unlike the black-roof option, which costs $10,202 and is, well, a black roof. What about the outside carbon fiber kit? A cool $92,806!
What data about the engine and transmission are most significant? 9/10
For their drivelines, earlier generations of Maseratis used Ferrari technology (both companies were originally a part of the larger Fiat Chrysler family) in a partnership that let both brands split the development costs.
It was a good arrangement for Maserati since having a Ferrari-built engine in your car was never considered to be a sales deterrent. However, Maserati's supply of engines ran out when Ferrari was split off and became a publicly held corporation in 2016.
The twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 in the MC20 is one of the earliest results of moving engine design in-house as a solution.
Although it is unquestionably a high-tech powertrain, it is pretty traditional in other ways. For instance, Maserati has a long history of using the V6 configuration, and the driveline is devoid of any hybrid components. There isn't even a hybrid choice.
Maserati boasts that the V6 is the most potent six-cylinder production vehicle engine in the world, with a minimum of 463kW at 7500rpm and 730Nm between 3000 and 5500rpm, the claim seems reasonable.
A dry-sump lubrication system, in which the engine oil is stored in a distant tank rather than the hot sump of the engine itself, and a complex fuel injection system with two injectors per cylinder are technical features that you won't find on most road cars.
The ignition system with two spark plugs per cylinder, however, is the actual secret. Additionally, there are two combustion chambers; the first one ensures numerous flame fronts for a more thorough burning of the fuel in the main combustion chamber.
The remainder of the driveline is also designed with purists in mind; it has an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox that solely drives the rear wheels through a mechanical limited-slip differential.
The shift points, throttle sensitivity, and suspension behavior may be customized in a variety of drive modes that range from GT (the default option) through "Wet," "Sport," "Corsa" (Track), and "ESC Off," while maintaining full engine power.
How much gasoline does it use? 7/10
Most MC20 owners certainly won't give fuel economy much thought, but the official combined number of 11.6 liters per 100 km is still somewhat extravagant by 2022 standards.
However, when compared to the available performance, an engine producing more than 600 traditional horsepower with that combined fuel efficiency rating is still a reason to consider contemporary technology and efficiency.
With a 60-liter gasoline tank, the MC20 is a practical cross-country vehicle for weekend trips.
What is driving like? 9/10
The MC20 has extremely incredible acceleration, which is made even more astonishing by the fact that it doesn't rely on all-wheel drive grip or hybrid torque to sprint.
While not the loudest of engines, the V6 nevertheless manages to sound upscale and quite refined. In contrast to some of its rivals, who appear to mix decibels with kiloWatts, it is never as shouty.
The ability to charge through the rev limiter in the lower gears and the lack of lag (or throttle delay) does not disprove the existence of two turbochargers, even though the raw power does.
The MC20 can gladly stomp on to the redline at 8000 rpm, even though power peaks at 6500 rpm (like with many current turbo motors); occasionally, too happy if you don't have your finger on the upshift pedal. This current turbocharged vehicle has a subtle turbocharged sensation, similar to other excellent examples.
When you turn the mode selection to Sport, the transmission changes fairly quickly with a shock through the backrest as each gear clicks home. The movements are rather smooth in GT mode. Although you do have a full override, the shifting procedure is very error-proof, so you still need to pay attention.
Both of the vehicles we were able to test drive at Philip Island were equipped with the lighter "birdcage" alloy wheels in addition to the optional carbon-ceramic braking system.
However, the lighter wheels indeed seem to be worth their over $3,000 price tag since that automobile required less leg pressure to achieve the same outcome. Each of them needed a hard push on the brake pedal to slow things down.
The rear-drive configuration and lack of a hybrid component in the driveline both point to a degree of purposefulness in the car's design. And its actions in the first corner support that.
Fundamentally, the Maserati needs a more "classical" style if it's to shine, rather than simply throwing it at an apex and letting the electronics handle everything.
It would much rather you get your braking done and done with before applying any significant steering lock, for example, and does not reward trail-braking (when you continue to brake after you have gone into a curve).
If you ignore this, the mid-engined layout's rear weight bias will cause the automobile to try to yaw, making the rear end light and the vehicle over-rotate (which is a spin, to you and me).
Similar to the last example, applying the power before the MC20 is fully rotated will unload the front end and send the front wheels plowing (an exaggeration, but at the speeds, we're dealing with, even a minor degree is a major problem) towards the outside of the turn.
In the end, the technique becomes a textbook example of braking, turning, and then pulling away. At this point, the MC20 shows that it is a ton of fun and tremendously quick. The only thing left to deal with is the certainty that whatever occurs after that will occur very rapidly.
What safety features are installed? What level of safety? 7/10
We are unable to assign the MC20 a star rating since neither ANCAP nor Euro NCAP has evaluated its crash safety.
However, the absence of basic safety features like rear-cross traffic warning and blind-spot monitoring (which costs an additional $2797) must be brought up. That's especially alarming given how difficult it is to see behind a mid-engine vehicle.
What does ownership cost? What kind of guarantee is given? 5/10
The Maserati is no different from other high-end vehicles in that it only provides a three-year manufacturer guarantee (albeit with unlimited kilometers).
That indicates there is still some apathy on the part of certain automakers because it lags behind even the most basic commuter vehicles of today. and perhaps their clients.
However, fixed-price service is an option for the MC20, with the first three years of servicing costing $4000.
Every 15,000 kilometers or every 12 months, whichever comes first, are the scheduled services.
Verdict
There is no question that the MC20 fulfills or surpasses its performance brief with a peak speed of more than 320 km/h and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of fewer than three seconds. But there must be more going on than simply the measured things when you're paying these rates.
And it exists. The MC20 injects a significant amount of purity into the ranks of modern supercars by eschewing all-wheel drive and hybrid technology in favor of a more traditional approach to handling and overall feel.
Anyone who wishes to contest that claim has plenty of MC20 substitutes to choose from made by other companies, and for some of us, the less-is-more axiom holds.