Maserati MC20 is dead, long live the MCPURA

Bad news, folks. The Maserati MC20 is dead, but don’t panic. It seems to have faked its own death but turned up at the funeral, stunning the congregation, and claiming it is not the same car because it has a new name. And that name is MCPURA. Maserati kind of described it as a new model but I can’t remember the last time I listened to a press conference where the speaker said with such pride: ‘The MCPURA innovation is focused on the exterior, on aerodynamics, on interior materials and finishes, while the heart of the car remains untouched.’ 

See, it really is the case that not much has changed, which, you could argue, is disappointing. Even talk of the exterior changes is arguably hyperbolic. It still looks like an MC20 to me. At best, you might say it’s an MC20 after an hour or two at a Modenese stylist and a new Instagram filter. There’s a revised front bumper and splitter that takes inspiration from the GT2, a more aggressive rear diffuser, and you can now opt for a wing at the rear. 

Overall, it’s still as pretty as ever, though, enhanced by the new 20-inch alloys that, supposedly, hark back to the wire wheels fitted to the achingly good-looking Maserati A6GCS from the mid-‘50s. There are some new colours for the MCPURA range, too, including Devil Orange, which featured on the FTributo special. The launch colour, AI Aqua Rainbow, is a little less ostentatious but no less striking with its light blue-green hue. For the presentation, this was shown in matt finish on the coupé and gloss finish on the MCPURA Cielo – so yes, you can still go for the spider version if open-top motoring is more your bag. 

And why not, indeed. The Cielo remains a deeply cool thing, especially with its fancy electrochromic glass roof that can go opaque quicker than an Italian footballer taking a dive. The MCPURA retains the previous car’s carbon-fibre tub, which was built with the spider version in mind, meaning the Cielo shouldn’t be too compromised handling-wise, either.  

Inside the MCPURA, Alcantara has replaced all the cow skin you used to find in the MC20. That’s to add a bit more of a sporty focus, reduce glare – very sensible – and, Maserati says, has the added advantage of saving some weight. The Alcantara comes in a two-tone finish, with laser-etching in places like the seat centres to add some intricate detailing and claimed luxury, but it’s still a pleasingly simple supercar cabin inside. Alcantara also covers the reshaped (flat-topped and flat-bottomed) steering wheel, or you can upgrade to a carbon-fibre-topped version with LED shift lights from the GT2 Stradale. 

The only other noteworthy element is the addition of the ‘performance pages’ on the otherwise-unchanged infotainment system. This comes from the GT2 Stradale and is a tool to monitor the car’s performance engine data (turbo, torque, oil pressure), how the engine’s distributing its torque to the back wheels, and the temperatures of the engine, transmission and carbon-ceramic brakes.

Mechanically, it really is identical to the MC20, bar the usual incremental tinkering that happens as models move from one model year to the next. That’s almost unheard of with a rebirth such as this, but you could see it as a plus. Because Maserati hasn’t fiddled with the fundamentals, you still get to savour that glorious 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 Nettuno engine, which remains unsullied by electric add-ons. 

The market seems largely disinterested in hybrid supercars like the Ferrari 296 and McLaren Artura, so sticking with old-school, petrol-only propulsion would seem a canny move by the Massa mob. And let’s face it, did the outgoing MC20 need more horsepower? Not really. 630hp and 538lb ft of torque seems plenty when it equates to a 0–62mph of sub-2.9 seconds and a top speed that breaches 200mph. It should all be delivered with the same driveability and effervescent soundtrack that had the grin-factor whacked up to max in the outgoing car. 

If you still feel this was a missed opportunity to up the ante and move the MC20 on in its new MCPURA form, that’s a perfectly valid criticism. But at least rejoice that Maserati is still making a proper supercar, and a good one at that, because the accountants could’ve easily closed this happy chapter in the company’s recent history. 

I’ll finish with another hyperbolic phrase from the press conference, for no other reason than its exquisite Italianness meant I  had to write it down when I heard it. Sadly, you’ll have to imagine the technicolour tunefulness of it being said in the strongest of Italian accents, which is how I heard it, but the phrase was this: ‘The MCPURA is a butterfly with a tiiiiiiger under the hood.’ Amen to that.

Fancy seeing the MCPURA in the flesh? Well, if you’re attending Festival of Speed this weekend you certainly will, or, for those over the pond, it’ll be at Pebble Beach in August. Fancy owning an MCPURA? Then you’ll be pleased to hear production starts in September and you could have one sitting on your drive by late October. No word on UK pricing yet, though.