Passing the Trident: Maserati Unveils The MC20 Super Sports Car

Photo Credit: Maserati North America Inc.

Founded more than 105 years ago, Italian luxury car builder Maserati has manufactured creations blending the exclusive, high-end luxury with passionate sports car athleticism. While Maserati spent recent years championing their Levante sport utility vehicle as well as the Ghibli and the heavily-updated Quattroporte premium sedans, fans of the brand eagerly awaited the time more personalized driving experiences connected to the Trident logo. The long-anticipated replacement to the GranTurismo and GranCabrio grand tourer line, excepted to borrow design language communicated with the elegant Alfieri concept car, is planned for sale either next year or 2022. With September 9th MMXX: Time to be audacious” event, Maserati took the covers off their exceptionally powerful, lightweight MC20.

Radiant in an elegant yet race car-like appearance, the Maserati MC20 is said to be the start of a new era for the Italian automobile company. The MC20 (a name combining Maserati Corse and 20 for the year 2020) is a two-seat, mid-engined performance car with tightly wrapped body panels honed through over two thousand hours in a wind tunnel. More than a thousand hours of simulations using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) has also been used to shape the super sports car. Maserati’s first production application featuring lightweight carbon fiber monocoque construction, the MC20's design allows a driver to experience an exceptionally high weight to power ratio while maintaining strong rigidity. Introducing their MC20 to the world in a coupe body style, Maserati states that a convertible version is in the cards for the future.

Photo Credit: Maserati North America Inc.

The Maserati MC20's key source of performance is a new racing-derived Nettuno engine. The twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V-6 powerplant is Maserati’s first in-house developed engine in more than 20 years. Generating an astounding 621 horsepower and 538 lb.-ft. of torque, the MC20's V-6 power unit contains patented Maserati Twin Combustion ignition technology as well as an engine fuel delivery system featuring direct injection and port injection. A dry sump oiling system with fully variable oil pump as well as an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is paired with Maserati’s Nettuno powerplant.

Photo Credit: Maserati North America Inc.

Weighing 3,306 pounds, the weight to power ratio of the Maserati MC20's is recorded at 5.3 pounds per horsepower. Acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (0 to 62 miles per hour) is realized in 2.9 seconds while the top speed of the MC20 is advertised at 325 kilometers per hour (202 miles per hour). The rear-wheel driven, mid-engined supercar’s handling is supported by front and rear double-wishbone suspension with virtual steering axle as well as limited slip self-locking rear differential (An electronic differential is optional). Providing steady means to counter the Maserati MC20's 621 horsepower, ventilated disc brakes include front Brembo six-piston calipers.

Entering the vehicle through butterfly-style opening doors, the driver and passenger of the MC20 rides in high-tech performance atmosphere. Strategically placed controls with steering wheel-mounted controls provide both a driver-focused experience and a clean dashboard layout. This appearance is aided by a pair of 10-inch screens. One serves as the driver`s instrument display of the Maserati MC20 while the other is the multimedia unit. The Maserati Multimedia System is paired with Maserati Connect featuring up-to-date navigation, WiFi hotspot and Amazon Alexa connectivity. Luggage space for the MC20 is modest totalling 150 liters (50 liters at the front and 100 behind the vehicle`s occupants).

Photo Credit: Maserati North America Inc.

The MC20 is Maserati’s fifth mid-engined production vehicle and the first since the limited edition, Ferrari-based MC12. Maserati has grand plans behind the car that is being produced with pride in Modena, Italy. Along with desires to parlay the Maserati MC20 into a return to motorsports for the brand, the Italian auto company also indicates the potential to introduce a fully electric version of the super sport car.

A Canadian Star Car: Red Green's Possum Van

Clip of Possum Van during a Red Green Show season 1 scene transition. It could be argued that the car someone regularly drives can be reflective of their personality. The level of character traits found in our automobiles can range from subtle to flamboyant as practicality, style, power, brand loyalty and other details are factors influencing our vehicle affection. On the big screen and silver screen, an automobile (frequently popularized as a Star Car) can be used to affirmatively to expand on a human character. Batman’s Batmobile, the Dodge Charger called the ‘General Lee’ in Dukes of Hazzard, the Volvo P1800 featured in the 1960s television version of The Saint, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in some of the most famous spy movies are some popular examples where vehicles play a major role in reinforcing the appearance of fictional individuals. Due to the budgetary constraints of Canadian media productions, the presence of native Star Cars is rare. However, one success...

What Is A Column Shifter and Why It Is Regaining Relevance?

Pictured here, the opulent multi-colour interior of the 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible included a dazzling chrome column shift lever. (Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada) The important role of a transmission paired with an internal combustion engine has been established for more than 100 years in facilitating the efficient flow of power through the drive wheels. Eventually through the evolution of automobile design, the familiar placement for a gearshift lever was mounted on the floor. However, for a time, it was also popular to find a gear shifter behind the steering wheel attached to the steering column. The Birth of Three on the Tree Although column shifters would become synonymous with automatic transmissions, the first appearance of the gear shift behind the steering wheel came with a manual gearbox. Referred to in brochures as remote control shifting, the 1939 Plymouth introduced the shifter positioning behind the steering wheel. The novel remote control shifting ...

Plastic Performance: The Story of the Innovative Polimotor Engine

Photo Credit: Jack Webster The engine compartment for a traditional fuel-burning automobile is one of the most incredible storms regularly occurring on this planet. Intense heat of the combustion process combines with a stunning electrical storms and powerful mechanical forces to create the momentum we take for granted. Harnessing and managing this essential storm to generate optimum performance relies on the ability to engineer the best possible engine. Among one of the aspects carefully considered towards the construction of a traditional internal combustion gasoline engine is material selection. Performance, durability and importantly cost factors into how to produce a powerplant. For a long time, cast iron was favoured for the construction of engine blocks for most production automobiles while other components utilized alloys such as stainless steel. Previously existing in high performance or more expensive vehicles, aluminum has gained wider acceptance in rece...

Car FYI

Search This Blog