Maserati has taken its gorgeous MC20 supercar and redesigned it as a limited-run series of ultra-high-performance track day cars, dubbed the MCXtrema. Even Maserati itself says that this new track-only special is a 'beast' and with 730hp on tap, we'd not be inclined to disagree.
Turned up to 11
Expect to see lots of this sort of thing in the coming years. As petrol is slowly sidelined from our roads by battery power (and Maserati itself is about to launch a whole slew of all-electric cars) more and more car makers will turn to the idea of making ultra-high-performance cars to be driven on the track, not the road. In common with others of its ilk, the MCXtrema isn't designed to be legal for the road nor any racing series, so the engineers have just been able to turn everything up to 11. "Presented as the Modena-based brand's most powerful track car, the Maserati MCXtrema is a courageous and exceptional car from all points of view, designed for purist collectors and for the loyal customers of the brand, who wish to add a new 'toy' to their garage that can swallow up the kerbs of the most exciting tracks during private tests," said Maserati at the car's launch.
With the road-going Maserati MC20 as its starting point, the MCXtrema uses the same 3.0-litre 'Nettuno' V6 engine, but it gets two bigger turbochargers ramping up power to that 730hp figure, more than 100hp up on the road-going car. All of that power is fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential racing transmission.
Maserati has also dramatically cut the weight of the car - the road-going MC20 weighs 1,500kg but this MCXtrema tips the scales at just 1,300kg. Most of the bodywork and chassis are made of carbon fibre.
Fully-adjustable suspension
The suspension has been upgraded too, with fully-adjustable dampers, springs and anti-roll bars. Keeping it all under control are massive Brembo-made carbon-ceramic brakes.
As befits a track-day car, there's some serious aero work going on here too. The bonnet gets massive air scoops, which rather charmingly are meant to be in the shape of Maserati's famous trident badge, while there's a roof scoop too that feeds air to the mighty V6 engine. At the back, there's a Le Mans-style shark-fin running along the engine cover and an enormous, adjustable, carbon rear wing.
Inside, there's just the one seat, and a racing-style chopped-down carbon-fibre steering wheel in front of it. Around that are carbon panels with lots of switches controlling brake bias, traction control and pitlane speed limiter among other things.
Options for the MCXtrema will include a rear-view camera, on-board telemetry, tyre-pressure monitoring and a passenger seat so that you can terrify your significant other.
All 62 are already sold
The MCXtrema has been launched this week at The Quail, a huge classic and collectors' car event in California, part of the Monterey Car Week that also includes the famous Pebble Beach classic concours. How much? The list price is set at just over €1 million - or about five times the price of a standard MC20, give or take. Worth it? Well, all 62 that are going to be made have already been sold, and Maserati says that the MCXtrema will be as quick around a track as the semi-legendary old Maserati MC12, which was based on the Ferrari Enzo. Indeed, it really ought to be quicker - the MC12 had 630hp and weighed 200kg more than the MCXtrema.
Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO said: "Maserati MCXtrema was created with the aim of offering an incredibly exclusive product that can set a new paradigm for our track cars. The project is dedicated to a selected clientèle who are particularly attentive to distinctive details, ranging from the most refined and innovative design to exceptional performance. MCXtrema embodies the sporting spirit typical of Maserati's DNA, a declaration of a new pathway for our brand, devoted to superlative manufacturing and able to stand out in the world of luxury engine production with uncompromising performance."