Maserati’s middle-aged supercar gets a facelift
The MC20 is now called the MCPura. It’s as focused and dynamic as ever, and with its swanky new wheels and paint job it looks gorgeous too
We are a few years into Maserati’s rebirth, and it all started with the stunning MC20 in 2020. Five years later and we have a new version of that model. However, the MCPura, its new name, is an evolution not a revolution, refining rather than reinventing. Internally not much has changed, but the front and rear have been refreshed to keep this Maserati, middle-aged in supercar years, looking youthful and taut.
The front is even more sharklike, and at the rear the diffuser has been restyled, wrapping around the twin exhausts — both upgrades increasing downforce without looking too technical or detracting from the car’s trademark good looks. The trident emblem, inspired by the statue of the Roman god Neptune in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore, still proudly sits in the centre of the grill. New cyclonic wheels complete the revamp.
Entering the MCPura through the obligatory dramatic butterfly doors is surprisingly unintimidating, making it easy to jump in and drive. In this new model, suedelike Alcantara replaces leather, and the steering is light and precise in the simple but effective cabin. It’s a very focused, dynamic machine when you switch it into Corsa mode and really lean on the twin-turbo Nettuno engine, but arguably it works best when you leave it in the default GT mode and use it as a very exotic grand tourer, where it shines as a comfortable long-distance cruiser.
•Read more expert reviews, news and insights on cars and motoring
Swiping the screen on the drive mode dial lets you soften the suspension, so you can play with separating the powertrain and the sublime adaptive damping. The only downside to any long trip would be the spiteful, supercar levels of luggage space, and beware anything you put in the rear compartment as it will be cooked after the shortest of drives.
Modena’s in-house V6 engine with its clever pre-chamber ignition still feels fresh. The engine is more whooshy and boomy than it is screaming, thanks to the turbos, but it still does what it needs to do to make this car feel rapid. The Cielo is the version to choose; although you forfeit the transparent engine cover with the Maserati cut-out logo, you gain a folding electrochromic glass hard-top that adds only an 85kg weight penalty compared with the coupé version of the MCPura. One gripe is that the roof is controlled via the touchscreen, which feels far from intuitive, and a simple rocker switch would have been more satisfying.
The Fuoriserie department at Modena is keen to take you deeper into the customisation of your MCPura and help you spend more than the basic list price. The personalisation department has a new paint shop that offers more than thirty extra body colours, including Night Interaction and Power Nude Texturised, suggesting a distracted late-night brainstorming session for paint names. There are plenty more to choose from, including the striking AI Aqua Rainbow — AI as in artificial intelligence; aqua because of the overriding blue hue; and rainbow for the multicoloured pearlescent effect when the sun hits the paint — used on the launch car.
•Maserati hits the accelerator with the MC20
Does Maserati’s halo supercar deserve a new nameplate after what, to be honest, is a mild transformation? Hmm — well, it’s a bit of a stretch, but if you liked the original MC20 you will still love its attractive, revitalised replacement. Many will be relieved that it hasn’t had a jarring, overdone facelift. The mechanics are unchanged from the outgoing MC20, with 621bhp still going to the rear wheels — no bad thing, even if it is slipping behind the increasingly outrageous power its rivals are now putting out. It’s definitely an “if it ain’t broke” philosophy.
The Maserati MCPura is an intriguing proposition in the current market. It is similar in price to Porsche’s top dog, the 911 Turbo, and while that Teutonic masterpiece is a technical masterclass, the MCPura would undoubtedly win the beauty contest. The keen-eyed will spot the touchscreen from a Fiat 500e, and to a degree the interior doesn’t shout high-end supercar, but it does embrace you comfortably, and the supple ride quality and gorgeous looks are still this Maserati’s standout attributes. As the new nameplate suggests, it’s a simpler, more elegant supercar choice in the current crop of complex hybrid and electric vehicles, and one that is very easy to live with.
From £209,930
