The 2022 Maserati MC20: Life Is Just Better Behind the Wheel Of This $212,000 Supercar

Life behind the wheel of the 2022 Maserati MC20 is not the life you’re accustomed to. It’s something entirely different. It’s better. Yes. Life behind the wheel of the Maserati MC20 is just better in almost every possible way.

I get it. This is a totally ridiculous thing to say. There’s nothing inherently wrong with life behind the wheel of another vehicle. But driving the Maserati MC20 is such a trip, especially in a place like Los Angeles, where onlookers are always gawking at the latest and greatest innovations in automotive technology and design. And in this regard, the MC20 may just be the most jaw dropping sports car on the market today.

Consider this recent test drive, when I took the Maserati MC20 out to the Hollywood Bowl…

Maserati MC20 Interior

Before I even hopped in the MC20, I took a moment to marvel at the innovative aerodynamic design and the car’s eye-catching butterfly doors and Rosso Vicente color. No doubt this is one sexy, sexy beast that everyone on the road will notice wherever I drive. The yellow brake calipers are another nice touch.

Next, inspecting the interior, I’m more than impressed by the sleek and slick black-on-black finishes, along with the carbon fiber touches. Sitting inside, the Maserati MC20 really looks and feels like the epitome of luxury. Cranking up some heavy driving tunes on the Sonus faber Premium audio system with 695 watts and 12 speakers, the MC20 feels even more exclusive considering it’s the only Maserati model outfitted with such a massive surround sound system.

With the music set and the engine revving, it’s time to hit the highway and see what the MC20 can really do on the open road.

Maserati MC20 Engine

The first car outfitted with Maserati’s 3-liter, 6-cylinder Nettuno engine, the MC20 – it stands for Maserati Corse 2020, celebrating the brand’s return to racing – has some super impressive stats. Delivering 621 horsepower and 538 lb-ft torque, the MC20 can hit a top speed of 202 mph, going from 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds.

For sure I didn’t max out the engine, but I was able to reach some impressive speeds in GT, Sport, and Corsa modes on I-10 east, slamming on the accelerator to feel the rumble and hum of the V6 engine with the new Maserati Twin Combustion technology and 8-speed dual clutch transmission.

In fact, the MC20 is so fast that it almost feels like slow motion. This car doesn’t just drive. It glides. Weaving lanes and commanding the full width of the road. Perhaps it’s the carbon fiber and composite chassis or the overall light weight (3,300 lbs), but the MC20 totally flies. It uses the same pre-chamber combustion technology as Formula 1 engines, so speed is always at the heart of the MC20’s design.

Maserati MC20 in the wild

Having driven so many different cars, trucks, SUVs, and sports cars, I know a special vehicle when I see, hear, and feel it. The Maserati MC20 checked every single box imaginable. It’s a prestigious automobile that wouldn’t be out of place on the race track, but is still street legal on the roads of Los Angeles.

And, of course, what would the roads of LA be without a little traffic …

Following the speed test on the open highway, I pulled a u-turn to head north on Route 101 towards the Hollywood Bowl. For those unaware, the 101 is often basically a parking lot that moves at idle speed. It’s a known entity in these parts and drivers plan accordingly.

However, what I didn’t account for was the Maserati MC20’s wow factor, which basically allowed me to beat the traffic, as all the other drivers stared in awe of this beautiful machine.

Meandering along the 101 towards the Cahuenga exit for the Hollywood Bowl, I was amazed by the response I received. Not only did every driver slow down, allowing me to weave through traffic, but even approaching the venue, when folks are more than eager to park and hit the Bowl, the seas of traffic parted for the MC20. In fact, although the parking lot was full, security made an exception for me and this stunning Maserati. I guess the rules just don’t apply when you’re driving the sharpest ride on the road.

Maserati MC20 final thoughts

While pricey at $212,000, the 2022 Maserati MC20 doesn’t feel outrageously overpriced. In fact, it feels rather reasonable in today’s car market. Sure, it’s the price of a home in western Pennsylvania or upstate New York, but in California or southern Florida, where supercars are part of the culture, the MC20 is a perfect fit for speedy rides up and down the coast. Just be prepared for a whole lot of stares and attention.

More Car Reviews and Road Trip Tales From Dan Shapiro

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• 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate Review
• 2022 Audi e-tron GT Review
• 2022 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo Review
• 2020 Corvette Stingray Coupe Review

Dan Shapiro is a writer, editor, musician, and producer currently based in Los Angeles. In addition to covering some of the biggest fights in combat sports history, he’s also hunted down the world’s best sushi, skied the northern hemisphere in July, and chronicled Chinese underground music for publications like CNN, the New York Daily News, VICE, and Time Out. Dan also conjured up a ghost at the Chateau Marmont while out on assignment for RoadTrippers. Follow him on Xitter here.
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