Maserati has shown off an updated and revised version of its MC20 supercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Meet the Maserati MCPURA.
Wow! What's new about it?
Er… hang on… (shuffles notes)… er… the colour. And… er… the badge. That seems to be about it.
Just the colour and the badge?
Yup. The MCPURA does have slightly different lights, and some slightly altered trim, but honestly this really looks like the same old MC20 to us. Not that that's a bad thing - the 630hp 'Nettuno' V6 turbo engine didn't need much in the way of upgrades or more power. The cool 'butterfly' doors remain the same, and the lightweight carbon structure is basically unchanged. It'll take just 2.9 seconds to hit 100km/h, and it'll run on to a top speed of 300km/h.
And the colour?
Yes, that's a bit of a special one. Maserati says that this 'Ai Aqua Rainbow' shade is part of its Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme, and it comes in either a matte form for the MCPURA coupe, or a glossy finish for the convertible MCPURA Cielo. Under sunlight, the paint gives off a distinct rainbow shimmer, and Maserati has given the car's famed trident badges a magenta colour with blue mica, which sparkles rather nicely.
Inside, there's 'Alcantara Ice' seats with laser-etched logos. If you don't fancy the Ai Aqua Rainbow shade, there are others to choose from - Devil Orange, Verde Royale, and Night Interaction. That last one sounds a bit iffy…
Anything else?
It's pretty much as you were. There's the same carbon construction that keeps the MCPURA's kerb weight down to a reasonable 1,500kg, the same retractable glass roof for the Cielo convertible, and the same twin spark plugs for the engine. Honestly, it really is just the name and the colour which have changed.
Why is it called MCPURA?
Well, Pura is, of course, the Italian for Pure, and the idea is that the MCPURA is, as the MC20 was, the purest form of modern Maserati. The Italian sports car maker is also trying to play on Einstein's famous equation for the conversion of mass into energy, by bowdlerising it as 'E-MC-PURA' which, says Maserati, “celebrates an energy with the capacity to multiply until it becomes a pure expression of excellence.”
Santo Ficili, Maserati's chief operating officer, stated: “With MCPURA, Maserati is once again regaining its rightful place: at the top and in its stomping ground. Both versions - coupé and Cielo - are created at our historic Modena facility, where the heart of the Trident has been beating for almost 90 years. This is where the entire MCPURA production process takes place: we produce the Nettuno engine, assemble each component and carry out the most exclusive customisation at the Maserati Officine Fuoriserie. Modena is not just our headquarters; it forms part of our identity. We are the oldest automotive marque in the Motor Valley, an area we have helped to build and that we continue to represent around the world. From there, we proudly tell the story of Italian excellence and luxury.”