In an intimate event held at the Maserati Sydney showroom, I joined 19 other guests for the Australian Premiere of Maserati’s latest super car, the MC20 – the first of its kind. MC20 stands for Maserati Corse 2020 and marks the Brand’s entrance into a new era, the rediscovery of its original sporty DNA, its dynamic roots and essential audacity.
The guests, including Tim Robards and Amy Pek, enjoyed food and wine curated by renowned Italian chef Giovanni Pilu. In addition to the unveiling of the MC20 we also had a live cross to Giovanni Ribotta, who is the Head of Exterior Design for Maserati, who discussed the key design elements of the MC20 with us.
It was also the first time in the world that the Giallo Genio piant colour has been seen in public and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The yellow is pearlescent and the painting of each super car takes seven phases to complete. This is one of six colours that the MC20 is available in, with the others being Bianco Audace, which shimmers with iridescent blue undertones when exposed to the light, Blu Infinito that gleams with a ceramic brilliance that only sunlight can capture, Grigio Mistero hue which recalls the mesmerising beauty molten metal. Plus Rosso Vincente and Nero Enigma and all of these showcase the distinctive features of speed, infusing them with life.
Maserati long known for its comfort and elegance on the road, now strikes back with ferocity on the track: a car that runs but doesn’t sweat. MC20 represents the pure form of speed, with Maserati panache: a work of sculptural engineering seemingly hewn, piece by piece, from a masterfully chiselled block of raw carbon, showing the way to the Brand’s aesthetic future. Created through a process of elimination, there are no frills and no excess: just energy. MC20 is an archetype, carved for speed, so pure one seems to hear the hallmark Maserati sound even with the engine off.
It all began back in 1926 with the legendary Tipo 26, the first race car displaying Maserati’s Trident logo. In the same way, MC20, created in 2020, will be the first car of a new Era. A design that expresses pure performance and matches it in elegance. A design that transcends the confines of mere appearance giving way to this dynamic creature. We have moved beyond sartorial costumes and coverings, and can see only raw beauty.
The form of MC20, which will also be available in convertible and electric versions, is composed of a chorus of elements singing in mechanical perfection. The racing beauty of 2020. Sharp edges generate friction, a slowing action, while the sublime sinuosity of the monocoque carbon-fibre frame allows the air to flow freely across it. Side vents are present but not visible. Even the Trident, symbol of the Brand, has been reduced to its essential, archetypal truth. Remaining a perennial source of graphic inspiration: the perfect number three, with a central element and two lateral ones, also returns to adorn the rear window and wheels. The butterfly doors open dramatically, wings that unfurl upward to facilitate getting in and out for drivers and passengers, despite the low-slung attitude, revealing an eagerness to spring into action. Kerb-proof wings. The lower part of MC20, always dark, in exposed carbon fibre or black paint, is the uncontested realm of engineering. Here the process of elimination has even been applied to the question of colour: what remains is pure technology.
Even the interiors, comfortable, luminous and luxurious, in keeping with the Brand’s image, exude a sense of dynamism. From the laser-generated textural effects to the seats in Alcantara leather, as colours appear in all their kaleidoscopic glory in one place, only to shade toward black in another. The infotainment system features a high-resolution screen similar to a tablet, providing a total user experience. The audio system is the result of a 100% Italian collaborative effort involving the craft-based Sonus faber, renowned for its meticulously engineered acoustic speakers.
The heart of MC20 is a V6 twin turbo petrol engine, entirely produced at the Modena plant, the first in over twenty years and another important Maserati patent. Located at the rear of the vehicle and powering the rear wheels, in keeping with traditional racing configurations, this unique engine features Formula 1 technology, propelling the Brand toward the exciting world of racing. This historical piece of engineering is called Nettuno and compresses all the energy of 630 CV into 3000 cc of displacement. Producing a mighty 470kW (630bhp) and 730Nm, the lightweight V6 dispatches 0-100km/h in under 2.9seconds before going on to a top speed of 325km/h. A magnificent god of the sea, brandishing a trident and out to conquer new lands, will bring that sweet Maserati sound to its maximum expression on both the open road and racing circuits.
Prices start at $438,000 plus on-road and Australian deliveries will commence in 2021 with the initial allocation already sold out. Contact your nearest Maserati dealer for more information.
Photographs by Maserati Australia.