100% Made in Modena and 100% Made in Italy
Recently, I had a chance to attend the Maserati meeting with the International Motor Press Association (IMPA). It was a virtual meeting and in it, Maserati took the time to go into great detail about its new MC20, which will usher in a whole new era for the automaker.
Maserati as a Brand and Lineup Updates
Mike Glime kicked things off for Maserati, going over the company’s history on the racetrack and in the consumer market, how the brand has shaped up over the years, and where the future will take Maserati.
He touched specifically on the Maserati MC12 that brought Maserati back to racing in a big way. This car will lead the way for the future of the brand, and it was a guiding force for the new MC20. Glime said he’s never been more excited to be a part of Maserati.
There will be ten new products in the next five years. Level three autonomous driving and fully electric models. The next-generation SUV will come in 2021 that’s mid-size, and then the Granturismo will come out shortly after that.
Glime said that design and styling is the biggest factor for buyers. This will likely continue in the future, and Maserati will continue to preserve its unique styling.
Maserati will continue to innovate in the interior, too. This is a place that Maserati has struggled in the past. The new 2021 vehicles will get a new infotainment system with a 10.1-inch screen that’s 10 times the resolution when compared to the outgoing model. It’s an android-based system and connects with your phone, Amazon Alexa, and Bluetooth. It will offer over-the-air updates. The company has also redesigned the instrument cluster along with the new features like the line wireless charging, Wi-Fi, and advanced driver assistance features.
The New MC20
The new era for Maserati will come with the MC20 supercar. The engine is the Nettuno 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that’s F1 derived. This is the first 100 percent Maserati designed and produced engine in over 20 years. It makes 621 hp and can propel the car from a standstill to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds. The top speed for this car is 202 mph.
The car has a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis engineered by Dallara and butterfly doors. Draped over that is beautiful bodywork that uses Maserati’s current lineup into account, utilizes the MC12’s styling, and takes this further. There’s a front splitter that is right in line with the side skirts that lead right up into the rear diffuser. These elements are hand-crafted carbon fiber. At the front, the lights, Maserati said, came from cars of the past. Maserati said it went all the way back to the designs of the 1950s.
Inside, you’ll find a driver-oriented interior that’s sleek, minimalistic, and luxurious. There’s a 10.25 infotainment display with connectivity and MyCar app. There’s also a 10.25 digital cluster. There are four drive modes: Wet, GT, Sport, and Corsa. There is tons of carbon fiber inside and plenty of leather.
There will be a convertible version down the road as well as an all-electric version of the car. Those cars don’t have dates for them yet, but Maserati did say they were coming.
The 2021 Trofeo
Maserati has the fastest production lineup in the company’s history. A big part of this is the Trofeo line. Maserati is expanding the Trofeo collection. It includes the Levante, Ghibli, and the Quattroporte.
The vehicles all get the 3.8-liter Twin-Turbo V8 that makes 580 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. These cars all feature launch control, Corsa performance drive mode, unique Trofeo badging, unique wheels, and specific exterior design elements. Maserati said that it wants the Trofeo line to be recognizable across all models.
The designers added the Nerissimo collection to the Trofeo line. This is blacked-out accents and plenty of carbon fiber. The Trofeos also get unique hood vents and side skirts.
The Ghibli Trofeo has some new styling elements on the hood, fenders, grille, Trofeo badging, wheels, rear bumper, and diffuser. This car can do 203 mph as its top speed thanks to that V8 engine. The car is good for a 0-60 mph time in just four seconds. Inside the car gets a unique instrument cluster, Trofeo embossed headrests, carbon fiber trim, and a unique watch face.
The Quattroporte features many similar changes on the exterior, but Maserati did point out the black side skirt and the fact that the dual heat extractors found on the Ghibli are not found on the Quattroporte. It can do a 203 mph top speed, and it will do a 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds. That’s thanks to that big twin-turbo V8.
The Levante existed before 2021 model year, but Maserati did do a refresh here. there are some new side vent badges, new side vents, and some other small changes. Thanks to that twin-turbo V8, the Levante can do a 0-60 mph run in just 3.8 seconds and it has a 187 mph top speed run.
It will be interesting to see how consumers react to these new vehicles and to see what comes from Maserati in the next few years. It sounds like things are about to get very exciting for the brand.
