The Maserati MC 20

Maserati describes the MC20 as a super sports car and they are right. Yet somehow that phrase fails to capture the sheer beauty of this beast. People stop in their tracks, mouths hanging open wanting to know what it is. That was my first reaction on seeing the car across a crowded parking lot. It was such a beauty I immediately approached and waited until the driver appeared. None less than David Smith General Manager of Maserati Auckland himself turned up! I explained how wonderfully the car would grace the pages of this magazine and look where we are!

I’ve said it before and I will again. With a 98-year history, Maserati brings a sense of sophistication and elegance that few brands can muster. Inside you are treated to leather Alcantara and lashings of carbon, never over the top and only exceptionally presented, internally the car has everything you want and nothing you don’t. The steering wheel is a joy without clutter. A few buttons for core functions, a gorgeous driver’s digital instrument display and a centre console give you everything you need including wireless airplay. Yet you are not sucked in by the gorgeous interior. You know this is a machine that is meant to be driven. Your fingers reach for the carbon gear paddles, you know you are in for a treat. The rear mid-engined fire-breathing Nettuno three-litre dry sump V-6 achieves 463kw (630hp) and 730nm torque. Arcane magic using two spark plugs per cylinder and a pre-ignition chamber optimises output.

The incredible feat is to get such a traffic-drivable engine at low rpm that is so wild at high revs. There are only a few road cars where you can’t really use full throttle. This is one of them. And at under 1500 kilograms the power-to-weight ratio puts it firmly in supercar territory. The almost weightless (<100kg) forged carbon tub is the centrepiece that holds everything together with rigidity only a monocoque chassis can deliver. Much is exposed so you can appreciate the unique beauty. The exterior is automotive-sculpture and unmistakably Maserati. From every direction, the MC20 holds space and stage with stunning lines.

Massive Bridgestone Potenzas encircle the deeply attractive 20 inch rims that evoke the Trident of Neptune – the emblem of Maserati. The model I drove had several extras and you’re going to want them all. Like the carbon details, the lifter for pesky speed bumps and a great Sonus Faber sound system. You can specify carbon brakes yet the standard steel deliver outrageous stopping power. You’d only need more on a track. Speaking of that, Maserati has returned to racing after some years of absence. And you can see that the pedigree here shows itself through in cars like this In a car this low there is no body roll and the adjustable suspension is firm yet forgiving, handling all situations with aplomb. The driver isn’t insulated from feedback, you are connected to the road. Handling is both comfortable and precise on virtually any corner or uncertain surface. It stays adhered to the road surface, and pinpoint accurate steering is incredibly rewarding. The ABS or stability control is present yet isn’t triggered because the natural capability of the car is so high. With all the power going to the rear wheels like a true sports car you might expect a little oversteer but it wasn’t detectable in any normal setting. If you are looking for one of the most engaging drives you can have, the Maserati MC20 is it. This car would be a tussle between keeping it in garage-perfect condition, yet knowing you own one of the most superb driver’s cars available. When you come up with a combination of those, it’s going to be a winning strategy. We’ve run out of superlatives… time for another drive.