Maserati MC20 Creating the First of its Kind

Overview
Maserati has been teasing us with the new MC20 mid-engine sports car for some time now, and we've finally driven this sweet little cannoli and sampled its novel 621-hp twin-turbo V-6. The MC20 is offered as a two-seater coupe with a minimalist cabin that's focused on the driver; a convertible is expected to join the lineup later and eventually an electric MC20 will reach production too. A collaboration with motorsport engineering company Dallara has resulted in a carbon-fiber structure with aluminum subframes for the suspension and powertrain. This construction minimizes weight, which sets the MC20 up for performance-related success.

What's New for 2022?
The MC20 is an all-new model for the Maserati lineup, and the "MC" in its name refers to Maserati Corse—a signal that the brand will soon re-enter racing events with a track-only variant of the car.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Maserati is using the MC20 as an opportunity to launch an all-new twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that pumps out 630 hp. Called Nettuno, the new engine utilizes a unique twin-combustion system borrowed from Formula 1 race cars and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Maserati claims a zero-to-62-mph time of less than three seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. In addition to the gasoline-powered model, Maserati also says an all-electric variant of the MC20 with all-wheel drive will hit the market in short order and will be the Italian luxury brand's first foray into electrification. The company hasn't released any details about the battery or electric motors yet, but we expect to hear more about the EV model soon. After our brief test drive of the gasoline-powered MC20, we came away impressed with the powertrain's throttle response and linear power delivery. It's As expected, the MC20 is blisteringly quick and handling is race-car sharp. Despite the MC20's otherworldly performance, its ride is refined and with the adaptive suspension in its most comfortable mode it soaks up bumps well enough to consider driving it daily or taking on a road trip.