The launch of the mid-engine supercar is supposed to be special. In the case of menstruation, it really is. The 107-year history of the Modena-based manufacturer includes numerous front-engine cars that are equally impressive and beautiful. However, machines with medium engines are few and far between. Before launching the new Maserati MC20 in 2020, it has been 16 years since the Italian carmaker sold anything, including an engine in the middle. So when its Hello Car came out not only to attract interest to the brand but also to announce its return to racing, it was and still is a big deal.
It’s been almost two years since this announcement, and the campaign doesn’t seem to be over. However, as I began to travel mile after mile, the real character of the MC20 became brighter. It represents the pure essence of a mid-engine supercar, stunning to look at, attractive to drive and extremely expensive. However, its alluring curves and smooth styling will not let you down. The MC20 is not a track star. This is not a car that you want to chase a lot of the time. Instead, the latest creation of the month is a car that takes a beautiful day, a winding road, and rewards you with endless smiles when you empty its tank, and if my idea is correct, the month is just beginning.
2022 Maserati MC20 Design / Styling
In the previous list of what a mid-engine supercar should be, I mentioned the first look for a good reason. Think back to the last decade and all the new supercars we’ve seen. You must call most of them impressive, especially with their various arrow elements and clever engineering. However, very few people can cement themselves in your brain even after fifteen minutes of their fame. Innovative engineering satisfies the brain and we desperately need statistics to prove whether a car is good or not. However, the stunning look pulls at the heartstring, which sticks in the long run. This is why there is so much interest in supercars of the late 80’s and 90’s. People want to run something that makes them feel good.
Also read: 2022 McLaren GT Review: A Grand Tour Created by Science
The Maserati MC20 was then the new tech of a modern supercar. Look around, and you won’t find any aggressive air elements and attract attention. According to Masrati, it is intentional. Instead of attaching a large wing to the back and calling it a day, the Italian carmaker has chosen to work all the clever arrow tech in car design. So it can have a beautiful face, it is still functional. Take, for example, the front end, where the brand’s signed trident logo and central grille provide air cooling to the car’s various cooling components and front brakes. However, it does not lean on aggressive cutouts. Whether functional or not, every aspect is smooth, almost as if functionality took a back seat because the appearance section has gone crazy.
The same goes for MC20 parties. The Maserati could easily have fitted it with two huge side pods that would probably provide more air to the mid-mounted engine, but it didn’t. Instead, we get simple intakes right behind the door handles and with the dark side skirt of the car. These essential evils look unobtrusive and do not distract the eye from the rest of the design. In addition, they all flow well together, which gives the MC20 a cohesive and balanced look.
The back is probably the most exciting part of the whole design. In the photo, it looks relatively calm, almost normal. Personally, however, the restraint of the MC20 is much appreciated. Hidden in the dark material is a huge central diffuser perforated by two exhaust tips featuring different outlets. The two long lines adorn the MC20’s taillights, visually widening the car with a smooth theme. Lack of sharp lines across the bodywork of the car will play well in the long run. There is nothing outside of it that dates it. This does not seem to be consistent with current trends. Instead, the MC20 highlights exactly what it looks like, a new take on a winning formula. If people aren’t already looking at you wherever you go, the MC20 has butterfly doors to make sure you get all the attention you want.
Performance / driving impressions
An unobtrusive drive and MC20 nail after my unofficial list of what makes a mid-engine supercar key that is without exception. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 621 horsepower and 538 ft-pound of torque. Before complaining about the lack of a V8, I’m glad there isn’t one. For starters, the V6s are on-brand for Masrati. Its first midfield was driven by one of the engine-powered cars, the Merak. Second, it has serious weight gain benefits. The MC20 has a carb weight below 3,300 pounds, which is probably not the case with a large engine bolted to its spine. After all, the V6 of the MC20 says a lot about the future of our brand as it will appear in future models like the upcoming Greekel, which will strengthen the brand’s commitment to creating exciting machines for next year.
On the road, the twin-turbo power plant does not disappoint. This allows the MC20 to hit 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds on its way to a maximum speed of 202 mph. With peak power coming in at 7,500 rpm, you have to work for it, though fortunately, you get relatively less torque at 3,000 rpm. The MC20’s power delivery is reminiscent of McLaren’s turbo setup. Put your feet down, and there’s a split second before the engine comes alive and rocks you forward. Thanks to its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the MC20 feels as fast as anything else, delivering terrific straight-line speeds accurately. However, you won’t hear much of it from the cabin. Instead of a mandatory exclusion note, the MC20 rewards you with a bootload of turbo sound. Although not as loud as I expected, the added sound is welcome because I feel the engine is breathing right behind me.
To adapt to its straight-line motion, the MC20 offers an excellent set of carbon-ceramic brakes. These brambos do a great job of taming the month without fading even after repeated heavy use. There are many good paddle feel, and you don’t need to paddle too much to get the right response.
Despite all that power going to the rear wheel, the MC20 puts it down. Traction in a straight line is not a problem, even in its most aggressive mode when stability control is off. However, MC20 is keen to dance in the corner. It pushes it to 90 percent of its capacity, and the MC20 is incredibly accessible, making the rest flat, stable and made even in the tightest curves. Go beyond it and you see some of its limitations. The front end doesn’t have as much grip as expected, and the rear side is twisted. I chose to slow things down again because the MC20 doesn’t need crazy speeds to be an attractive drive. It is 80 percent happy enough, providing enough excitement to make your heart run without the fear of running up the side of the hill.
According to the suspension, the MC20 features an adaptive damper with different rigidity levels across different driving modes. The car starts in GT mode, the most conservative and comfortable. The suspension is not softened online, but the car computer changes its power delivery to make it easier to operate around the city. Sports next and my personal favorite. In this mode, you get all the power you want with a suspension that still seems to have something to offer. The Corsa MC20’s hair caught fire. Stability control disappears, and you get maximum strength and complete rigidity. It works on a completely smooth road where there is little obstacle to crash the car. However, when one is poorly maintained, its stiffness becomes a real problem because it uncomfortably shakes the whole cabin.
While the MC20 may not be the all-out track star it may be, I’m glad it isn’t. Instead of saving all the fun when you’re at the perfect limit, the MC20 rewards you at all speeds with truly engaging drives. It has nice bones. You can feel that its carbon-fiber chassis is a good one from behind the wheel. MC20 Hall The month is just getting warmer, if I can guess. Although we already know that a convertible and fully electric version of this supercar is coming, I will not be surprised to see a track-focused variant in the future. For a company that doesn’t often make mid-engine machines, they’ve done a great job with it.
2022 Maserati MC20 Interior / Tech
Go inside the Maserati MC20, and you’ll find an amazing amount of interior space. At 5’10 and a lot of pounds, I sat quite comfortably behind the wheel. Although the driving position is a bit higher than I would like, the MC20 has nice visibility through the large windows. Headrooms are not a problem either, allowing even taller drivers to drive without any problems. Masrati has done a great job with internal gaps. I would have no problem catching a passenger and traveling long distances.
Technically, the MC20 is simple but effective. Inside you’ll find a pair of 10.25-inch screens. The first one in front of the driver displays all the information you need and changes its graphics as you go through the drive modes. The second screen is in the center of the dash and features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Masrati’s infotainment system. Although I was part of a smartphone-based system, Masrati’s native OS was intuitive and easy to use. I don’t even miss the physical buttons in the interior. Everything is OK where you want to expect it in the system.
Must wear: 2022 Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae Review: Is It The Final Aventador?
Masrati has done a great job with her favorite materials. From various leather surfaces and suede inserts, MC20 is covered in premium materials. However, the cabin seems a little spartan. There is not much padding across these different surfaces which makes some of them feel quite stiff. In this respect, the MC20 tends to be more of a suitable supercar than a GT.
2022 Maserati MC20 Price
The last thing I mentioned is that having a suitable supercar is extremely expensive, and the month MC20 can be. It is by far the most expensive machine the brand makes, with a base price of $ 215,995. However, as tested, we crossed 260,000. At this price point, the MC20 falls right into the crosshairs of the Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren GT, and Porsche 911 Turbo S.
As we’ve established, it’s not the fastest option in its segment, or it won’t set the fastest lap time or provide the best on-limits performance. However, none of this matters to us in the real world. MC20 nail key count. This is the textbook definition of what a supercar should be. It has an unforgettable look, a driving experience that makes you feel alive and has a price tag for matches. Also, we must not forget that this is the first iteration of this model. If this is Masrati’s first attempt to return to the mid-engine supercar segment, the next one will be really special.
