Skip to main content

20 For 20: Maserati Celebrates MC12 with Special Edition MC20

Photo Credit: Maserati S.p.A.


For Italian exotic car builder Maserati, 2024 is a year of some major milestones. At the end of this year, the company will make its 110th anniversary producing exquisite sports cars and other various luxury vehicles. Other notable anniversary for Maserati recognizes one of their brand’s classic limited edition supercars with a limited edition release of their current supercar. Spawning as part of Maserati’s Special Series with touches furnished through their Fuoriserie Personalisation Program, the MC20 Icona and MC20 Leggenda pays tribute to the MC12's legacy.

Built in 2004 and 2005, the Maserati MC12 is recognized as the company’s fastest production vehicle. While the phenomenal MC12 owed much of its existence to the extraordinary Ferrari Enzo as the Prancing Horse-badged machine was the source for the Trident branded supercar’s chassis and 6.0-liter V-12 engine, Maserati was able to apply some distinguishing traits to their vehicle. Wearing a body sculpted with the involvement of Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Maserati MC12 was 17.4 inches longer and 2.4 inches taller than its Ferrari sibling. Only 50 production examples of the MC12 were assembled joined by 12 Versione Corse models meant specifically for racetrack-only use.  


Photo Credit: Maserati S.p.A.


In recognition of the 20th anniversary to the introduction of the MC12, Maserati is creating two Special Series versions of their MC20 super sports car replicating the image of the prestigious supercar. Marrying Maserati’s unofficial company colours of blue and white, the MC20 Icona revisits aesthetics for both the MC12 as well as the early 1960s Maserati “Birdcage” Tipo 61 race cars fielded by the American Camoradi team. Combining Bianco Auduce Matte with Blu Stradale, the Maserati MC20 Icona mirrors a prominent appearance spotted with the MC12. Chrome wheels, blue-painted brake calipers and a carbon fiber engine cover are also notable inclusion on the Icona model.

Maserati’s second Special Series model, the MC20 Leggenda, is a recreation of the paint scheme worn by the competition-prepped MC12 GT1 car campaigned successfully by Vitaphone Racing. Nero Essenza and Digital Mint Matte is applied to the outer shell paired with wheels incorporating Nero Lucido and Nero Opaco matched with Trident Digital Mint hubcaps. Maserati’s Trident labels on the grille, doors and C-pillar are finished in yellow.


Photo Credit: Maserati S.p.A.


Released in 2020, the Maserati MC20 sports car was immediately cited as a spiritual successor to the MC12. The current mid-engined performance car is powered by an engine producing the same 621 horsepower as the MC12's powerplant despite being only half the displacement and number of cylinders (twin turbochargers play a major role in the MC20 engine's high power density). Boasting the same performance as its 20-year-old inspirations, the Maserati MC20 Icona and MC20 Leggenda will feature more comfortable interior accommodations as opposed to the MC12. Inside the two-passenger cabin including a carbon fiber interior package, the Special Series models come standard with a Sonus faber sound system.

In alignment with the anniversary, only 20 examples of both the Icona edition and Leggenda edition of the Maserati MC20 will be made. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...

Honda’s Secret 30th Anniversary In Indy Car Racing

Photo Credit: Engine Developments Ltd. Too many times, forgetting an anniversary would end with someone spending time in the proverbial doghouse. This has apparently happened this year as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season concluded with no major celebrations or recognition for what is 30 years since a major current partner of American open wheel racing began participation in the sport. The following article is a collection of the details I’ve learned as well as some insight from engine builder John Judd on what was a quiet 30th anniversary in the Verizon IndyCar Series. During the week where the 30th running of the Canadian street race now known as the Honda Indy Toronto, I was compelled to capture the flavour of the inaugural event. The viewing experience provided me some insight into a period of time where I was too young to absorb auto racing in the manner I do today. A race that featured television coverage with no regular onscreen statistics, the league used a local ...

The 1967 Indy 500: When An STP-Sponsored Turbine Almost Changed Racing

Photo Credit: Uncredited Photographer/IMS LLC Racing has always been the ultimate proving ground for automobiles. Not only has competition promoted innovations big and small, race cars have also influenced overall vehicle appearance. At the 1967 Indianapolis 500, the STP-Paxton TurboCar fielded by the late Andy Granatelli provided a shocking example of how much racing at the speedway evolved over 56 years. Ever since the first 500-mile event was held at the 2.5-mile rectangular oval Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911, the winning Marmon Wasp with a rearview mirror paved the way for what would be a grand showcase of automotive development. Accompanying “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” advancements in automobile technology showed greater sophistication with every passing decade in the quest for more speed. During the 1920s and 1930s, American race car designer Henry Miller offered groundbreaking engines to the Indianapolis 500. Miller also gave front-wheel drive technology it...