This is a 2022 Maserati MC20 review of the brand's new supercar. We drive it on public roads and at Willow Springs Raceway.
So this is it, we’re here at Willow Springs and this is really it. A Maserati MC20. The brand new mid-engine twin-turbo V6 sports car, and we’re excited because we’re going to get to take this car not only on the public roads around Willow Springs, but also right around the track here, just like you’re hearing behind us.
And we’re going to be running this thing at full throttle around Willow Springs to figure out what we think of this vehicle. This is an exciting car because it’s got 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. And it’s a full carbon fiber tub. That twin-turbo V6 sits right behind you here, mid-engine layout. This is really one of the most serious performance cars Maserati has made in decades. I think the brand is really on a tear right now. They are trying to re-establish themselves as a premier, global performance brand within the new Stellantis Group, and this is going to be a key device that helps them make that happen.
We’re here to test it out, and we really like the look of the car so far. The inside and outside is just beautiful. I’m hoping the camera is picking up some of this pearl effect. They’s put this blue pearl into the paint. The wheels, the proportions, the slope of the roof. I mean this is an attractive car. If the mechanicals and the driving experience live up to what the body is transmitting here it’s going to be quite a vehicle for this brand and quite a help for their revival efforts.
This is the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. This particular one has the carbon fiber engine cover that costs you a cool $5,000. It’s also got a carbo fiber rear spoiler, and that’s $5,500. It’s got carbon fiber lowers. If you look down there by the exhaust pipes you’ve got carbon fiber. Inside the car we’ve got the carbon fiber seats, and these will cost you $7.000 and they are supposed to save 18 pounds. Other options on this particle test model include the 20-inch birdcage wheels that are actually included, there’s no price next to those. Right below them on the sticker is the carbon ceramic brake package, which is $10,000. And then there’s a blue brake caliper that you’re seeing right there, that’s another $1,200. And that beautiful carbon fiber front end, that’s part of the carbon fiber exterior package. Well if you’re trying to protect that, and you probably should, you can get a suspension lifter for $4,000.
So we’re here, and we’re driving. And we’re feeling the torque of a 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine that is very torquey. I love twin turbos, but of course I might be biased. This is really working well. I’ve got it in Sport mode instead of GT, so the throttle immediately woke up as well as the suspension stiffness. And I would not describe it as overly stiff now. It’s still pretty comfortable and I could live and drive in this mode. We just hit some corners back there and it felt right too. This car weighs approximately 3,300 pounds. So it’s not the lightest car in the world but that a pretty impressive weight. Especially because this car looks very substantial. When you’re walking around it and sitting in it, it feels like a very substantial vehicle so for it to feel this way, this substantial, but weigh 3,300 pounds, is actually pretty impressive.
It was interesting you know I think it lost a little more traction than I expected it to. There was some wheel spin there and it was trying to manage it. But even with the wheel spin I would have to guess that the 3 second zero-to-60 that they’re telling us is about right. It moved very quickly.
It picks up speed real quick. I noticed it on the street drive. You know the mid-range torque — the turbos are really well tuned. High confidence — I’m telling you there’s a lot of confidence this car inspires. All the things you want in a car like this, this is delivering.
