Maserati MC20
The Maserati MC20 is an upcoming two-seater, mid-engined sports car that will be produced by Italian car manufacturer Maserati and was originally scheduled to debut in May 2020.[2] The name is an acronym of Maserati Corse and 2020.[3] Maserati announced a racing variant to be also offered.[4] The Maserati Innovation Lab was responsible for the development of the new car and an electric option will also be produced.[5] Maserati also tests a fully electric powertrain.[6] The new sports car will be produced at the Maserati Modena plant that is undergoing necessary modernization.[7] The new car's logo appeared on a Maserati-sponsored Multi 70 trimaran's mainsail that was due to race in the RORC Caribbean 600.[8] The debut along with brand redesign was rescheduled for September 2020 in Modena.[9]
Maserati MC20 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Maserati |
Production | 2020 (planned) |
Assembly | Modena, Italy |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sports car (S) |
Body style | 2-door coupé |
Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.0 L Nettuno twin-turbo V6[1] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Maserati MC12 |
Test mules and prototypes
In November 2019, a series of spy shots were published showing a highly modified Alfa Romeo 4C-based test mule of an upcoming, new Maserati sports car. Apart for the typical camouflage, the car featured a much larger rear portion and wider track.[10][7]
The following statements from the manufacturer confirmed that the cars were used as prototypes of a new powertrain developed by Maserati, but it was not confirmed whether the new sports car will be based on the outgoing 4C plaform.[11]
As of March 2020, Maserati has completed their first prototype, ready for road and track testing.[12]
On May 13, 2020 a Maserati MC20 prototype pays homage to Sir Stirling Moss, who passed away on April 12, 2020 at the age of 90.
A prototype of the MC20 was created with the graphics taken from the Maserati 420M/58 "Eldorado", the iconic single-seater brought to its debut in 1958 by Stirling Moss in Monza on the occasion of the "Trophy of the two Worlds".[13]
Engine
On 1 July 2020, Maserati unveiled the six-cylinder engine it designed and will build in-house to power the MC20. The engine was announced as a 90-degree, 3.0L V6 with a dry sump, twin-spark and pre-chamber ignition system. In this application, it's twin-turbocharged and equipped with both direct and indirect fuel injection. The 220kg (485lb) Nettuno engine develops 630 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 538 pound-feet of torque between 3,000 and 5,500 rpm. It redlines at 8,000 rpm.[14]
On 2 July 2020, Road & Track criticized the press release from Maserati that claimed the engine is "100% Maserati". They claimed "it's not hard to see the connection to the Ferrari F154 engine and the Alfa Romeo 690T engine". Comparisons between the engine's 90-degree angle were the same as that found in the Ferrari engine, the rev limit of 8,000RPM was also a match for the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. The firing order of "1-6-3-4-2-5" was also the same as the firing order of the F154-based V6 engine found in Alfa Romeo Giulia and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.[15]
References
- "Maserati Nettuno Engine Is A Twin-Turbo V6 With 630 Horsepower". motor1.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- "Maserati MC20: the name of the new super sports car of the Trident Brand is announced". maserati.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "Maserati MC20 will carry on MC12's racing legacy". cnet.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "Maserati MC20 Is Name Of Brand's New Mid-Engined Supercar". motor1.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "Maserati MC20 to be MC12's successor and it will go racing". motorauthority.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "The music is changing: Maserati starts testing its first 100% electric powertrain". maserati.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "New Maserati MC20: 2020 sports car named". autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "MC20: the name of the new Maserati super sports car climbs aboard the Maserati Multi 70". maserati.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "MMXX: The Way Forward September 2020 - Modena". maserati.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- "Wait, Is Maserati Working on a Mid-Engined Sports Car?". caranddriver.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "What on Earth's going on with this Maserati prototype?". topgear.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Maserati starts testing the prototype of the new MC20". maserati.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- "Un prototipo unico di MC20 dedicato a Sir Stirling Moss. Continuano i test della nuova sportiva del Tridente". maserati.com. Maserati. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- Glon, Ronan (1 July 2020). "Maserati details 630-hp Nettuno V6 engine". Autoblog. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- Tatarevic, Bozi (2 July 2020). "Maserati's All-New Twin-Turbo V-6 Actually Shares a Ton of Parts with Ferrari and Alfa". Road & Track. Retrieved 6 July 2020.