We were all pleasantly surprised by the new Maserati supercar when it was launched, but that was never going to stop the tuning houses from tinkering with its stock settings. Here’s a full run-down of the stunning Novitec MC20.
If you’re a fan of modified cars – and since you’re here, you probably are – you’ll likely have heard of Novitec before. Based in Germany, this performance brand has become renowned for offering its own take on some of the most prestigious cars on the market. And now, it’s the MC20’s turn.
Fitted with a 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 as standard, the MC20 represents an enticing canvas to work from. After a bit of fettling, Novitec say they have unleashed an extra 81 horses, which they cheekily described as having been ‘slumbering’ away in the standard Maserati set-up. As a result, the Novitec MC20 has a peak power figure of 711hp at 7400rpm, while torque stands at 603 lb/ft between 3000-5500rpm. On the road, that equates to a 0-60mph time of just 2.8 seconds, and a top speed north of 200mph. In short, it’s pretty rapid.
Much of the improvement has come from a bit of ECU remapping. The boost pressure, fuel injection, and ignition settings have all been unchained a little thanks to Novitec’s N-Tronic software.
Performance is further aided by a heavily revised exhaust system, made from lighter materials, and allowing for a better flow of waste gases. Customers can then choose from a selection of insulating exhaust wraps to keep engine bay temperatures down; the most desirable of which being made from rather fancy gold plating.
Novitec says that their upgraded exhaust will not only perform better, but sound better too – something which is enhanced further by the presence of a butterfly valve for when you really want to let the car sing.
Naturally, a tuning company like Novitec hasn’t focused solely on the mechanical side of things. There’s a subtle aero package too, which adds a carbon fibre front splitter and ducktail rear wing: both of which, have been designed and developed in a wind tunnel. Visually, they aren’t changes that will blow you away, but when paired with the car’s forged Vossen rims and 25mm lower suspension, theses little alterations amount to a big difference in personality compared to the standard car.
If there was one criticism that you could throw at the regular MC20, it was that while it was undoubtedly elegant, it perhaps lacked a bit of character, both aurally and visually. The performance was always there, but now in Novitec form, this Maserati really does seem like the complete package. Given where the Italian marque had found themselves in recent times, it’s fair to say that we didn’t expect to be saying that anytime soon…
