Maserati teases MC20 again, out in 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: Italian luxury automobile manufacturer Maserati has once again teased the MC20 in a set of newly released pictures of the supercar. While it was earlier touted that Maserati would stop making cars hauled by internal combustion engines (ICEs) with the GranTurismo Zeda, it now seems that the company is not towing that line, at least in the near future. The teaser images have also confirmed that the MC20 won’t be a family car.

The Modena-headquartered company has shared two teasers on social media, with the caption ‘Who said it couldn’t be done’. Not only is the MC20 prototype heavily camouflaged, the pictures too have been intentionally blurred. However, it’s not the car but the middle-finger statue in one of the images, which holds significance. Some quarters say that by shooting the picture with the statue, Maserati is sending out feelers to its rivals about the competition they would face once the car rolls out. Others are of the opinion that the statue is a message to Italian bankers referring to the 2008 economic crisis. Whatever be the interpretation, it’s clear that the company has something big up its sleeve.

The MC20, in some of the early teasers, resembled the Alfa Romeo 4C. However, it now seems that the MC20 is unlikely to be so. Industry sources suggest that the MC2 will be hauled by a V6 hybrid engine with three electric motors, producing a total of around 600PS maximum power. The car may come with an optional all-electric powertrain, while there are rumours that the company won’t discontinue the turbocharged V8 unit. An 8-speed dual-clutch unit is expected to handle transmission duties with power dispatched to the rear wheels. The hybrid powertrain is likely to attain 0-60mph in less than two seconds and produce a top speed of more than 186mph. The MC20’s stablemate, Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA, produces 540PS maximum from a turbocharged 2.9-litre non-hybrid motor.

The MC20 is expected to lock horns with the Lamborghini Huracan Evo and the two may face off at Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) events.

Production of the MC20 is slated to begin later this year with a rollout likely in 2021.

Also Read: Maserati’s electric powertrain testing gets underway