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
ManufacturerMaserati
Production2020 (planned)
AssemblyModena, Italy
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door coupé
LayoutRear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine3.0 L Nettuno twin-turbo V6[1]
Chronology
PredecessorMaserati 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]

Maserati MC20 prototype

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
  1. "Maserati Nettuno Engine Is A Twin-Turbo V6 With 630 Horsepower". motor1.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. "Maserati MC20: the name of the new super sports car of the Trident Brand is announced". maserati.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  3. "Maserati MC20 will carry on MC12's racing legacy". cnet.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. "Maserati MC20 Is Name Of Brand's New Mid-Engined Supercar". motor1.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  5. "Maserati MC20 to be MC12's successor and it will go racing". motorauthority.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  6. "The music is changing: Maserati starts testing its first 100% electric powertrain". maserati.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  7. "New Maserati MC20: 2020 sports car named". autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  8. "MC20: the name of the new Maserati super sports car climbs aboard the Maserati Multi 70". maserati.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  9. "MMXX: The Way Forward September 2020 - Modena". maserati.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. "Wait, Is Maserati Working on a Mid-Engined Sports Car?". caranddriver.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  11. "What on Earth's going on with this Maserati prototype?". topgear.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  12. "Maserati starts testing the prototype of the new MC20". maserati.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. "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.
  14. Glon, Ronan (1 July 2020). "Maserati details 630-hp Nettuno V6 engine". Autoblog. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  15. 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.
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