Maserati MC20 is an engineering and styling masterpiece that opens a new era for the Trident brand. With the MC20, Maserati returns to a stage where it has always starred, that of Supercars that combine luxury and performance with the unique Maserati Style. The MC20 is a Maserati with mind-blowing aerodynamic efficiency. Its superb looks conceal an uncompromisingly sporty soul, with the new 630 horsepower V6 Nettuno engine that delivers 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 2,9″ and a top speed over 325 km an hour. A patented, 100% Maserati engine, benefiting from the MTC (Maserati Twin Combustion) technology, the innovative combustion system developed by the Brand, evolved from the pre-chamber technology used on Formula 1 powertrains. Conceived, designed and built entirely in-house. MC20 is a Maserati built to stun, a Maserati that can storm round the track but also perform superlatively on the road, with excellent driveability, comfort and safety, in an interior where efficiency combines with the luxury and exclusiveness integral to all the Brand’s models.
The 630 horsepower 90° V 6 cylinder 3,000 cc turbo engine, called the “Nettuno”, is absolutely new and protected by an international patent, because it transfers to a road car a technology previously only found in Formula 1. It is an engine 100% made in Modena, and currently the highest-powered 6-cylinder powerplant in production. Designed component by component by the engine specialists of the Maserati technical department with constant support from the Modena Innovation Lab. The new Nettuno engine has a dual combustion chamber for each cylinder. A design which includes a prechamber, in which the main spark plug is installed. The air-fuel mixture is forced into the pre-chamber during the piston’s compression stroke. Near the TDC, the main spark plug ignites the mixture in the pre-chamber, triggering pilot combustion, then propagated (via special holes) into the conventional combustion chamber. The process generates combustion with multiple flame fronts, characterised by high turbulence and thus greater efficiency; this improves the engine’s overall efficiency and increases specific power output without penalising specific fuel consumption. The new Nettuno engine generates a power output of 210 horsepower/litre. This makes it currently the best-in-class 6 cylinder engine in terms of specific power output.
Maserati MC20 was designed in Modena and will be built at the site where the marque’s models have been born for 80 years. A new production line has been created at Viale Ciro Menotti, in the area where the GranTurismo and GranCabrio cars used to be assembled, and completed with a completely new painting plant. The project began in January 2019. The MC20 is particularly light under 1.500 kg, and thanks to its power output of 630 hp it is best in class in weight/power ratio, at 2.33 kg/hp. This light weight was achieved without sacrificing anything in terms of comfort. The MC20 has all the contents cars of this type must have today to satisfy a sporty yet sophisticated clientele, looking not only for performance but also for comfort and luxury. So a great deal of work was done on the materials. The entire chassis is in carbon fibre and composites, with the benefits of lighter weight, faster tool-go times and greater stylistic freedom in the design of forms. Carbon fibre enables the creation of shapes impossible with press-formed metal. The butterfly doors are a very obvious example.
Over two thousand man-hours in the Dallara Wind Tunnel and more than a thousand CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations have enabled the creation of a car with refined aerodynamics which is also a genuine work of art. Conceptually, the Maserati MC20’s aerodynamic design divides the car into two parts: an upper part where stylistic considerations predominate and a more technical lower part, colour-coded in black and carbon fibre respectively. In the car’s upper section, the forms respond primarily to aesthetic priorities and the aerodynamic features are amalgamated into the lines conceived by the designers, to achieve high efficiency without interfering with the sleek, elegant bodywork. What’s more, there are no obvious aerodynamic appendages: just a discreet rear spoiler that enhances the up-washing generated by the floor and enhances the downforce with no detriment to the car’s great beauty. The air vents on the bonnet and those at the side that provide the engine’s air intake and cool the intercooler are thus “natural” features, virtually invisible when the car is viewed from some angles. The front air ducts have been optimised to ensure efficient air distribution across the radiators and the car’s floor and upper part.
MC20 is complete the new generation MIA (Maserati Intelligent Assistant) multimedia system. The heart of MIA the powerful Android Automotive operating system, which offers a completely new, innovative, higher-performing User Experience, with full personalisation to the driver’s use preferences. MIA has two screens inside the car, the digital cluster and central display, which are similar in shape and size. The 10.25 inch cluster is all-digital with TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display. The central display, also of 10.25 inches, has HD Resolution of 1,920×720 and touch functions typical of smart screen personal devices. The effect with the devices switched off is total black, thanks to an innovative optical solution. Maserati MC20 is always connected thanks to the new Maserati Connect program. With a Smartphone or Smartwatch, drivers can always stay in contact with their Maserati MC20 thanks to the Maserati Connect app; this is also possible from home via their virtual personal assistant (Amazon Alexa & Google Assist). Through the MIA (Maserati Intelligent Assistant) multimedia system, the Maserati Connect connected services deliver a new experience for the driver and passengers.
