automotivebriefs
8:53in productionCh. 1 · The Reset/ 8:53 · ceiling 15 min
Sports cars · Supercars

Maserati MC20

Maserati Centro Stile · 2020

Maserati stopped outsourcing engines—and started building a family of machines around one.

The MC20 is Maserati’s first in-house sports car since the Bora. It is not a revival. It is a declaration: no more borrowed engines, no more compromised layouts, no more waiting for permission to be a manufacturer. It launched in Modena in 2020 with a bespoke V6, then expanded into open-top, track, racing, and (briefly) electric forms—before being renamed MCPura in 2025.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:52
    The Reset

    A clean-sheet, rear-mid-engine sports car launched in Modena in 2020 as Maserati’s new technical foundation.

  2. 2:08
    The Engine

    The Nettuno is a bespoke 2,992 cc V6 with pre-chamber ignition—not a carryover or rebadged unit.

  3. 3:39
    The Family

    One platform generated four distinct derivatives: Cielo (2022), MCXtrema (2023), GT2 (2023), and Folgore (canceled 2025).

  4. 5:05
    The Pivot

    The MC20 was rebranded as MCPura in 2025—and its electric variant was abandoned the same year.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

4/ 5
What works
  • distinct design language
  • driver-forward cockpit
  • lightweight, mid-engined architecture
What does not
  • all-wheel drive
  • V8 or V12 engine
  • electric production
  • long-run production
Drive it if
  • buyers who prioritise mechanical distinctness over brand lineage
  • buyers who value variant-specific purpose
Skip it if
  • collectors seeking long-run production
  • daily usability seekers
  • electrification seekers
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The MC20 is a two-seater, rear-mid-engine sports car produced by Maserati. It debuted in September 2020 in Modena. Its internal code is M240. MC stands for Maserati Corse 2020.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It places the driver behind a 90-degree, 2,992 cc twin-turbo V6 named Nettuno. The engine uses pre-chamber ignition and a dry sump. The layout is rear-mid-engine. The cabin is two-seater only.

What it gets right

It establishes a distinct design language for Maserati’s modern era. It delivers a focused, driver-forward cockpit. It commits to a lightweight, mid-engined architecture without compromise on structural rigidity.

What it does not

It does not offer all-wheel drive. It does not use a V8 or V12. It does not retain the MC20 name beyond 2025. It does not deliver electric powertrain production.

What it changed

It reset Maserati’s technical direction with an in-house V6 after years of Ferrari-sourced engines. It launched a modular platform that spawned open-top, track-only, racing, and (briefly) electric derivatives.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for buyers who prioritise mechanical distinctness over brand lineage, and who value variant-specific purpose—open-air (Cielo), track (MCXtrema), or racing (GT2). It is not for collectors seeking long-run production, daily usability, or electrification.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you want a contemporary Italian sports car built around a bespoke V6 and a clear hierarchy of variants. No—if you need practicality, electric propulsion, or heritage continuity beyond 2020.

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