There are some luxury cars that you come across every day, but the Maserati MC20 is not one of those. Far more than just an automobile, it is a masterpiece – a testament to Maserati’s unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of automotive excellence. The impeccable Italian Maserati style is hard to miss visually and audibly, even if you come across sports cars daily. Having experienced the MC20, alongside the Levante, Grecale, and GranTurismo this year, my reflections on the MC20 are overwhelmingly positive.
Here’s what the 2022 Maserati MC20 gets right
Everything. Okay, I’m just kidding, but the MC20 did surprise me right out of the gate. As it was dropped off in my steep driveway, I wondered how I would even get it out onto the streets. The carbon-fiber steering wheel looked do-able but still slightly intimidating. My neighbors clearly think I’ve lost my mind and purchased a sports car that they cannot distinguish, but I will explain that as needed.
The MC20’s driver-focused cabin is reminiscent of a race car. There are only essential controls on the central tunnel, with two buttons dictating movement: drive or reverse. It looks more complicated than it is, and the sound of the Nettuno engine is the ultimate reward. This new Nettuno engine is a big deal for the brand. After speaking with Maserati CEO Bill Peffer, it is clear that the powers that be are in agreement.
The 2022 Maserati MC20 was new for 2022, representing a return to racing for the Maserati brand. The MC20 is an immaculate blend of supercar and Maserati, down to its front grille. The Maserati MC20 came in three formats: coupé, convertible, and an electric version coming next year. Our test vehicle was the coupé with a striking Blu Infinito paint. Maserati says the MC20 is built to stand out, and it does. Only one trim exists, with fewer than 1,500 made for the first year. Perfection doesn’t need multiple trims to get the job done.
What’s it like to drive the Maserati MC20?
Even if you are familiar with luxury and sports cars, driving the MC20 is like hopping into a rocket ship. There is no regular shifting or even a place to select your gear. Press the drive selection button on the central tunnel to take the car out of auto park mode. Pressing the D/M button once puts the MC20 in drive. If you press the button again, it will put it into manual mode. Both of these buttons offer a satisfying clunk when moving into gear.
There are also paddle shifters for those who want a manual driving experience. The reverse button is just under that, another single button on the central tunnel. Even though this was one of the scariest parts staring me in the face as I sat in the driver’s seat, it became one of my favorite characteristics after a few days.
That sounds intimidating initially, but all that goes out the window once you get moving. From the engine sounds to the blue leather seats, every piece of the MC20 is a significant part of the experience. Wireless Apple CarPlay that flawlessly played Taylor Swift’s Midnights from start to finish. It also connected automatically, an unexpected feature that many mass-market SUVs can’t seem to get right.
Maserati wanted the luxury car to have some of the best-in-class power-to-weight ratios, so the MC20 weighed just over 3,300 pounds. With 621 horsepower, the weight/power ratio is only 5.3 lbs for every horsepower. Significant weight-cutting determinations were accomplished with carbon fiber throughout the interior and exterior. The chassis is also made from carbon fiber. Don’t forget the huge brakes to help stop the supercar on a dime. I’ve always been a sucker for a set of big brakes (who isn’t, though). With 621 horsepower, stopping is just as important as going.
The 2022 Maserati MC20 price started at $216,000
That can go much higher once customized. Our test vehicle was painted a unique Blu Infinito color to the tune of $4,500. It also came with carbon-ceramic brakes and red brake calipers for $12,000. A Trident stitched on the headrest was $900, and the carbon-fiber steering wheel was another $500. Even the black roof was $4,000. My test vehicle had extra carbon fiber on the doors, the front end, and anywhere else it would fit.
With an endless supply of customizable features, the MC20 price can easily hit $300,000. Our version was more like $250,000 with all of the options. The good news is that Maserati allows shoppers to customize the supercar from top to bottom, but it comes at a hefty price. I believe all the models come equipped with butterfly doors, which was more fun than I thought it would be. That was until I tried to get through a gated neighborhood (Florida stuff) and had to open the door to hand over my ID like an absolute goober.
Most of the interior is covered in a light grey suede when carbon fiber is unavailable. Italian flags and Maserati tridents also appear throughout the cabin as a reminder. Cameras dot the exterior for a bit of help getting in and out of driveways, but the ability to raise and lower the vehicle is another benefit.
The Maserati MC20 is fast (really fast)
For 2022, the MC20 has 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque with a zero to 60 mph time of 2.9 seconds. I don’t doubt that time, and I did not come anywhere near testing it out. I found that the MC20 accelerated with lightning speed and handled the extreme power well.
Maserati uses an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which makes switching gears snappy and straightforward. New pre-chamber combustion technology called MTC (Maserati Twin Combustion) made the V6 faster than any Maserati car. Developed from Formula 1 engines, this tech is patented. The engine has three main features: a pre-chamber, lateral sparkplugs, and a two-injection system. This tech can also be found in the Trofeo trims on other vehicles in the lineup. You might get outpaced by a Ferrari or a Tesla, but this beauty is fast, fast, fast.
Even if you aren’t using all that engine power simultaneously, there are a few different modes for a customized ride. These are Wet, GT, Sport, and Corsa modes. Just above the drive/manual and reverse buttons on the central tunnel is a large circular selector that allows you to change modes without effort. Wet mode is self-explanatory, but it makes it easier to drive in the rain. GT is the default driving mode and is perfect for driving around, as the suspension is softer here.
Sport mode switches to a low-resistance pedal sensitivity, and the exhaust valves open at 3,500 rpm. The suspension is stiffer, and the MC20 benefits from faster shiting. However, Corsa mode is the cherry on top of all the MC20 offers. Traction control is in race mode, and the exhaust valves are open. Gear shifting is faster, and everything is amped up for the ultimate driving experience.
You can feel the sports car sink lower and get louder as soon as you turn the selector. Corsa mode also allows you to use the Launch Control system. These modes offer a very different driving experience, but Corsa mode is like hopping into an F1 car with Lewis Hamilton. It is loud, fun, and makes for quite an exhilarating driving experience.
Other design elements on the MC20
Maserati consciously chose to forgo the usual grille design for impact. The design choices are bold but well-executed. The top half of the MC20 is meant to be aerodynamic and sleek, emphasizing elegance. Looking at the bottom of the grille, it represents the technical parts of the MC20 that make it fast and aggressive.
Nothing on the MC20 happened by chance, as each piece and design element was well thought out. Carbon fiber paddle shifters and buttons for shifting make driving easy. A switch also allows you to raise and lower it without effort. All elements work together to make the Maserati driveable while being remarkably fast. I also appreciated the bright but not-too-bright headlights illuminating the road without blinding everyone around me. Since the MC20 is so low, the headlights are extra essential to avoid obstacles on the road that could potentially be devastating. You will not drive over a bucket in the MC20 – it will probably destroy the front end.
One area of design that was lacking was overall space. While the driver’s seat was big enough, the passenger seat felt tight for taller people. The small trunk area is in the back, thanks to the mid-engine setup. With that said, five cubic feet doesn’t leave much room. My large camera bag had to sit on my passenger’s lap.
In conclusion
If you ever have the chance to drive the Maserati MC20, I suggest you take the opportunity. This isn’t a typical daily driver, but that’s also what makes it so unique. Those looking for a seriously fast and engaging sports car that you don’t see on the roads very often will find that in the masterpiece that is the Maserati MC20.
There are two types of people out there: those who believe the Maserati hype and those that do not. I am firmly in the ‘believer’ category, especially after driving everything in the brand’s lineup for this year. The attention to detail is second to none, and even in a world of luxury cars, there is something special about each model. The MC20 is clearly an outlier, and not to quote a TikTok phrase, but the girls/guys that get it, get it.
