Maserati goes back to black with new MC20 Notte
50-unit limited edition isn't all it claims to be - but does look the part
You know how it goes with each new supercar. First comes the coupe, hopefully to a rapturous reception, then a drop-top to keep up the positive momentum - and maybe a track special if there’s some real confidence behind the project. Once all that hubbub has died down, we're into limited edition territory - a little jazzing up here and there to remind everyone of this supercar among all the other supercars.
Now it’s the turn of the Maserati MC20 to follow that path with this, the Notte Edition. Described as pushing the mid-engined exotic as ‘closer to its racing soul’, there’s only going to be 50 for the entire world, each ‘a roaring creature, conceived to seduce’. Right.
Perhaps surprisingly for a car pitched as extra racy, with former GT1 world champion Andre Bertolini involved with the project, and ‘inspiration from the mesmerising racing world’, the MC20 Notte is mechanically standard. Powertrain, chassis and brakes all continue unchanged; hardly the end of the world given how good the standard car is, but a tad disappointing for a very limited edition apparently so heavily influenced by the track.
The significant changes are cosmetic, then, Maserati expanding its Fuoriserie custom programme to a production run. So the black is not just black - it’s paint that turns from ‘a glossy black shade to a magnetic matte ‘nero essenza’ in the dark, with glow-in-the-dark, matte white gold accents including the Trident. The 20-inch birdcage wheels are black with more white gold accents, too. Inside the Notte, there are not-very-racy-sounding six-way adjustable power seats, an Alcantara wheel with carbon inserts and a ‘Una di 50’ plaque between the headrests.
“Fuoriserie means ‘custom-built’ in Italian, and our Trident’s customisation program is conceived to create one-of-a-kind rolling sculptures for our clients. MC20 Notte celebrates the thrill of racing and the allure of the night combining supreme performance and Italian elegance with a touch of mystery of the nocturnal world. It is the first Fuoriserie limited edition of MC20 and it is dedicated to super sportscar collectors and track enthusiasts”, said Klaus Busse, Head of Maserati Design. Sounds like a bit of a cop-out from here, too.
The launch video probably won’t ramp up the enthusiasm much, either, featuring as it does David Beckham, the aforementioned Bertolini and some awkward buddying up. Good job the base MC20 is stonking because it’s hard to see where the Notte builds on the promise much. We still live in hope of a proper Longtail-smashing Trofeo appearing one day. Until then, the 50 Nottes are available to order now (with a track experience thrown in), albeit without prices released. And if one of 50 is not exclusive enough, there are already Fuoriserie-enhanced MC20s out there in unique specs - this Spider has £30k of MC12-evoking paint. Which feels rather more motorsport-inspired than glow-in-the-dark badges.
I look at this and see aspects Jaguar, Lotus, Ferrari etc. etc. but nowhere near as much of what would define this as a Maserati vs. earlier car such as the MC20, which was, unmistakeable . If it weren't for the article + Maserati badges, I would truly struggle to attribute it to Maserati.
That is not to say that it isn't a well proportioned and very good looking car, but it seems that features which defined one manufacturer from another are certainly becoming more subtle, which detracts from the identify and character of the cars. Thats my 2 cents, anyway.
Fool and their money.
That line "Fool and their money", along with the immortal "More money than sense" always make me laugh, they dont care ! if they are buying stuff like this then it doesn't matter as they have loads to spend, they arent chopping in the semi detached for one now are they ?
Do the thrifty, canny ones put their pennies in the bank forever and never spend any, I know some folk who have done that and someone else gets the enjoyment, the taxman loves that, get it spent if you can afford it !
Not really. It's been on sale since mid-2020. This is the first special edition since launch.
The Land Rover Defender went on sale 2020 too. It's already 2 special editions in - a James Bond one and a 75th Anniversary one.
Special Editions are easy for manufacturers to reel off, so why not. But they do need careful placement and marketing. This MC20 makes it easier for the 'murdered out' diehards.
It's lovely to look at (in the flesh), the interior is a bit, meh! it obviously drives well (not driven one so cannot confirm), but I'm just not wowed by them.
Maybe it's missing the big V8 and the glorious noise that the 4200 and the GTS made, I don't know.
It's just missing the WOW factor for me.
I'd probably have one if they were 50 grand, but for 150 grand, nahhh.
"Oh yeah, black everything special editions were everywhere, from £40k Golfs to £1m supercars..."
"It wasn't just special editions, people specced their cars like that - just imagine - no, really!"
"I remember it well; you'd think it was a chavvy/ME/footballer thing but apparently the main culprits were school-run, hair-on-a-Tuesday mums indulging their repressed inner bad-man."
"Haha, and husbands who secretly loved it whilst pretending they were running the 'happy wife, happy life's gig' - and fooling no one."
The full fromage platter.
I love the way it makes no sense.
What is Beckham doing there?
Where does the racing driver appear from?
Why is he wearing a race suit & helmet for a drive on the road?
What is he celebrating when punching the air at the end? (Perhaps the fact it didn't break down?)
Does Beckham just wait in the garage whilst the other bloke is driving his car around the ring road?
Do they walk off into the sunrise at the end for a marathon gay sesh?
Throw in THE Voice Over guy and it's the perfect nonsensical mash up of tired tropes.
But what is the premise?
Does Beckham now work in the engineering team at Maserati?
Is he asking the Test Driver to assess the DAB radio reception in a built up area?
What is actually going on?
And lastly - who is it aimed at?
Certainly not anyone over 13 years old.
But then again, I think my 13 year old boy would find it cringe-inducing.
But the really amazing thing is people got PAID to think this up.
Then somebody at Maserati thought it was a good idea and gave them MORE money to actually make it. (Including a MASSIVE fee for Beckham's ambiguous cameo)
Finally they sat in a edit suite and patted eachother on the back and all agreed it was perfect and ready to share with the world.
The whole thing is just flabbergasting.
Fool and their money.
That line "Fool and their money", along with the immortal "More money than sense" always make me laugh, they dont care ! if they are buying stuff like this then it doesn't matter as they have loads to spend, they arent chopping in the semi detached for one now are they ?
Do the thrifty, canny ones put their pennies in the bank forever and never spend any, I know some folk who have done that and someone else gets the enjoyment, the taxman loves that, get it spent if you can afford it !
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