Maserati goes mid-ship with new MC20

MASERATI has entered a new era following the long-awaited reveal of the MC20, a mid-engined super sportscar designed to pick up where the MC12 left off in being the performance flagship of the Trident brand.

Proudly boasting the all-Italian construction of its new car, Maserati says the MC20 will dispatch the 0-100km/h dash in 2.9 seconds and push on to a top speed north of 325km/h.

The secret to this performance, combined with a sub-1500kg kerb weight, is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine developing 463kW of power at a peaky 7500rpm and 730Nm of torque between 3000-5500rpm.

Drive is sent exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with an electronic limited slip differential controlling how much power goes to each wheel.

Visually, elements of previous Maserati models can be seen in the MC20’s exterior design, the most prominent of which is the MC12.

Viewed from the front, the MC20 traces the same basic lines and mimics the some of the defining features of the Enzo-based MC12, those being the small, wide-set headlights, deeply channelled bonnet, mirrors that look like they could have been modelled on Shrek’s ears and a high, wide hipline sporting prominent air intakes.

The wheelarches are also characteristically wide in comparison to the body but that is about where the similarities etc.

Side-on, the MC12 is distinctively shorter than its V12-powered forefather, measuring 4669mm long, 1965mm wide and just 1221mm tall.

The overall silhouette is also more user-friendly with a taller, slightly steeper windscreen which should allow for far better frontward visibility while the sloping roofline behind the cabin is also steeper.

Especially unlike the MC12 though is the absence of a rear wing or spoiler – the MC12’s gigantic integrated wing was one of its defining features – with the whole package culminating in a subtly raised but sharp boot line.

At the rear, the MC20 stamps its identity for all to see, bearing no resemblance at all to any other recent Maserati.

The defining feature here is without doubt the massive integrated diffuser which forms nearly three-quarters of the rear end and encompasses the centrally mounted exhaust tips.

In classic Italian style, butterfly doors have been fitted as standard both to up the sense of occasion, but also functionality “as they improve the car’s ergonomics and enable optimal access to and from the cabin”.

Savage looking tri-spoke alloy wheels up the visual ante further.

Underneath the aerodynamically optimised skin, the MC20 rides on double wishbone suspension front and rear while stopping duties are taken care of by six-pot front and four-pot rear brakes courtesy of Brembo.

Inside the cabin, Maserati has taken a minimalist approach to the interior design to ensure the “driver is always central” with nothing to distract them “from the sporting driving experience”.

As a result, there are only a handful of essential buttons spread around the cockpit while the instrument cluster is a 10-inch all-digital unit, complemented by the matching 10-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted centrally in the dashboard.

Carbon-fibre has been used for the majority of the trim while standard equipment at this stage includes wireless phone charging, five drive modes (GT, Wet, Sport, Corsa and ESC Off) and Maserati Connect.

Six colourways will be available from launch – Bianco Audace, Giallo Genio, Rosso Vincente, Blu Infinito, Nero Enigma and Grigio Mistero – all of which reflect Maserati’s heritage as a brand as well as its Italian identity.

Maserati has made no secret of its big plans for the coming years and that is reflected in the MC20, which it says has been “designed to enable coupe and convertible versions and for full electric power”.

The brand has sold 314 cars Down Under so far this year ending August, 30 units down on the 344 sales it chalked up over the same period last year.