Maserati’s upcoming rival for the Lamborghini Huracan has been caught on camera in heavy camouflage during its development programme
Maserati’s upcoming rival for the Lamborghini Huracan has been caught on camera in heavy camouflage during its development programme
Our spy photographers have snapped the new Maserati MC20 supercar on the road for the first time, giving us insight into how the company’s new halo car will look when it makes its full debut on 9 September.
Judging by these images, the car’s nose will draw inspiration from the Italian brand’s previous mid-engined flagship – the MC12 hypercar. It features a similarly low profile, kindred headlamp units and the same broad, narrow radiator grille, with a centre-mounted Maserati trident badge.
At the rear, there’s a dramatic diffuser and a brace of air vents, which should partner with the supercar’s aggressive front splitter and vented side skirts to provide functional downforce. This is also our clearest look yet at the MC20’s rear lamp units and twin-exit exhaust system – although the items fitted to this test mule will likely be tweaked for the production model.
New Maserati MC20: engine and drivetrain
Maserati recently confirmed that the MC20 will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, which produces 463kW and 730Nm of torque – placing it right in the ballpark of the Lamborghini Huracan and McLaren 600LT. The engine’s peak power arrives at 7,500rpm and the engine’s redline is set at 8,000rpm.
To prevent ignition breakdown at high rpm, Maserati has fitted the engine with Twin Spark ignition, which is similar to the system found on the old 2.0-litre Alfa Romeo 156. The engine also features double overhead cams, variable valve timing and a few motorsport inspired upgrades, such as a dry sump with an external oil tank.
The engine’s compression ratio is 11:1 – which is quite high for a twin-turbocharged engine – and it was designed with 90-degree V-angle, much like the V6 engine fitted to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrofoglio or the V8 found in the new Ferrari Roma. Shortly after the launch of the V6-engined MC20 supercar, Maserati is expected to unveil a pure-electric version, which will go head-to-head with the Pininfarina Battista, Lotus Evija and the upcoming Tesla Roadster. However, Maserati is yet to officially confirm the model’s launch date.
New Maserati MC20: heritage and manufacture
Maserati recently released a few teaser images of its forthcoming supercar, which paid tribute to the late Sir Stirling Moss. The British racing legend drove a Maserati 250F in the 1956 Formula 1 season and for a number of races in the 1957 championship, which was won by Juan Manuel Fangio in his 250F.
The MC20 prototype in these recent images wore a unique livery, which was inspired by a different Maserati racer piloted by Moss. The white, black and red colour scheme is an homage to the 420M/58 “Eldorado” car, which Moss raced at the 1958 Race of Two Worlds championship at Monza – shown at the rear of the shot.
Maserati has also confirmed that the MC20 will be manufactured at its Viale Ciro Menotti plant in Modena, which has recently been modernised to prepare it for electrified vehicles. The supercar’s combustion engine will also be built in the same facility.
The MC20 will be the first car to carry the Maserati Corse badge since the limited edition Enzo Ferrari-based MC12 supercar was launched back in 2004. The company claims the MC20 will be a “natural evolution” of its older V12-powered sibling.
James Brodie