Exoticism in Motion: The 2023 Maserati MC20’s Agile Racecar Spirit

“Exotic” is used to describe so many of our past and present models here at Jim Butler Maserati of St Louis! The 2023 Maserati MC20 is one of those models that instantly conjures up a reaction, allowing whoever is glancing at it while it pulls up a few moments to take it in. The Car and Driver review team had claimed after their viewing that passers-by are “staring at it just like they do at Ferraris and Lamborghinis.” 

From the view out of the windshield to the delightfully raucous sounds of the untamed engine, this is a car made for diehard enthusiast drivers who can indulge in a car with sweeping and very charismatic character. For the MC20’s second model year, there is now a Cielo Spyder in the lineup, which features a retractable glass roof that electrically retracts in just 12 seconds. Most of the MC20’s sweet features come standard, but the optional front suspension lift mechanism is one savvy addition that situates the low nose in a position to easily conquer speed bumps. 

The famed “Nettuno” is the power source of the twin turbocharged V6 offering up power for this instantly legendary number, and it cranks out 621 horsepower. Its twin-combustion system is borrowed from Formula One race cars and paired with an incredibly smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Its 207.6 horsepower per liter instantly renders it the most power-dense engine from a high-end supercar in existence. During Car and Driver’s speed testing, they blasted up to 60 mph with the MC20 in just 3.2 seconds, along with an 11-second quarter-mile at a top speed of 131 mph. 

On top of its segment-leading acceleration, the MC20’s handling can more than just “casually claim” that it is race-car sharp. Many experienced drivers who have been lucky enough to take a spin have claimed that the ride is amazingly compliant despite the car’s performance being the things that “normie brand” owners only dream of. So many future-leaning enthusiasts are asking about an electric variant, and the official statement has thus far been that one with all-wheel drive will be on the market soon. Once inside the butterfly-style doors, the MC20’s interior design went the route of only the most essential of controls populating the center console. 

Here you’ll also find leather seats with very sweet contrasting stitching, clean and classy aluminum pedals, and unique bits of carbon fiber trim. This is a car that is meant for taking corners with hard-boiled enthusiasm and finesse, so we admit off the bat that there are a few minor issues with rearward visibility! To aid with this task, there is a digital rear-view mirror that draws from a rear-facing camera. This feeds an image of anything pertinent behind the car to an inside rearview mirror that is mounted to the windshield. The Topgear.com review staff remarked that the thoroughly good stuff about the MC20 is drawn from “its fancy roof, simply gorgeous looks, absorbing drive, and quiet ride.” With its sworn outright rivals possessing a very stiff and harsh driving quality, they can pose frustration during the everyday drive. But when you get to edge in and tense the muscles along with giving it the chance to really blast open its lungs, it’s just “dastardly huge fun.” We are so very thrilled after the inspiring outcome and reviews of this release: everything about the MC20 is curvy, classical, striking, and consistently poised within the ideal and moment-savoring character.

Tags: Jim Butler Maserati, Jim Butler Maserati St. Louis, Maserati MC20, Maserati MC20 Cielo
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