Maserati MC20 is Stellantis' most powerful, most expensive model

One of the few things that did not change after PSA Group merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, creating Stellantis, was the status of Maserati. It remains a stand-alone company.

Maserati, with just 16,900 global sales last year, is the smallest of Stellantis' 14 brands, but its position in the market allows it to set the standard for the company when it comes performance and price.

An example of this is the MC20 coupe, which squeezes out 630 hp from its twin-turbo, 3.0-liter V-6 engine, and starts at 215,000 euro in Italy.

To stand out in the increasingly crowded supercar sector Maserati leveraged its operational independence, giving its engineers in Modena the responsibility of developing the MC20's chassis and engine.

Maserati was also in charge of the car's design. The only external contribution came from Italian racing specialist Dallara, which helped with taerodynamics.

One of the boldest decisions Maserati made was to fit the MC20 with a V-6 engine instead of a V-8, which has been the brand's preferred powerplant for decades.

Giving up two cylinders didn't sacrifice power, as the 3.0-liter Nettuno engine pumps out 630 hp and 730 newton meters (538 pound feet) of torque, resulting in a 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 326 kph.

To create Stellantis' most powerful engine, with an astonishing output of 210 hp per liter, Maserati had to develop its own combustion system, called Maserati Twin Combustion, which is capable of adapting to all operating conditions.

That level of precision is expected of the companies based in Italy's "Motor Valley," which is also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini and high-performance motorcycle maker Ducati. At Maserati there is the additional expectation of excellence that comes when working for a brand that was winning races before Ferrari existed.

To prove the MC20's versatility Maserati engineering made the itinerary for supercar's first test drive purposely "tough" to see how it would withstand a range of challenges.

"To understand the MC20 you just have to drive it," MC20 team leader Stefano Polastri said.

Therefore, Maserati engineers designed a test route that took the car on the bumpiest, windiest roads that the Modena area has to offer.

There was also a session on the Autodromo di Modena circuit to test the MC20's racing pedigree. The MC20 performed well as its centrally located engine and carbon fiber chassis quickly made it hard to believe the car weighs 1.5 tons.

The MC20's fluid maneuverability was a pleasant surprise because many supercars require a lot of physical effort to control at high speeds on a track, which quickly diminishes the pleasure of going fast.

It's easy to see that MC20 fits well within a company culture that invented the Grand Turismo, which made it possible to go fast while still feeling comfortable enough to glace out the window and enjoy the ride.

The MC20's aerodynamic features are understated, providing downforce of 100 kg of thrust at 200 kph without polluting the car's bodywork.

The MC20's interior offers two screens, one for instrument panel data and the other for infotainment features. The latter includes Amazon's Alexa, which responds to remote commands via a smartphone or smartwatch. The MC20 as has a Wi-Fi hot spot.

Another example of the MC20's adaptability is that it was designed with different body styles in mind. The coupe that is debuting now will be followed by a roadster next year and a full-electric variant in 2023.

Maserati says the full-electric MC20 will have an 800-volt system, which significantly speeds up charging, as well as three electric motors -- one up front and one each on the rear wheels to offer torque vectoring. Maserati declined to say whether the battery-powered MC20 will be a coupe or a roadster.