The collaborative effort included contributions from its top engineers as well as the futuristic Centro Stile design team. Utilizing the best of Maserati’s advanced equipment, every part of the engine was made with meticulous attention to detail, undergoing a range of stringent tests to guarantee optimal accuracy. “The freedom from any regulatory compromise has also made it possible to take the dynamic and aerodynamic development of the project to the max,” says Vincent Biard, Model Chief Engineer and Maserati Corse Technical Advisor. “Everything that came from the hands of the Maserati designers worked and was accommodated in an out-of-the-box design.”
Inside, the vehicle has been designed specifically with the needs of race drivers at the forefront. Inspired by the vehicle’s forward-facing ethos, the aim was to reimagine a futuristic cockpit where the driver is in full control. A stand-out feature is the carbon and aluminum steering wheel with a five-inch central display, buttons, rotary selectors, and ergonomic grip whilst the bucket seat features a six-point belt and roll cage for safety — all adding to the immersive nature where “every engineering solution is researched, designed and developed to enhance the driving experience.”
With approximately 200 hours in the Maserati dynamic simulator and 1,000 hours of virtual analysis for real-life simulations as well as four years of MC20 development and engine reliability checks, the MCXtrema finally took to the track in its final form on a rainy day back in February. Spearheaded by Maserati’s Chief Test Driver Andrea Bertolini, the high-powered car went around the iconic Autodromo Varano de’ Melegari circuit in Parma, Italy.
Bertolini has worked with the Modena-based manufacturer on the development of a number of its signature models, however, the MCXtrema “[brought back] the feeling of Maserati’s glorious past studded with successes in racing, but most of all I could uncompromisingly continue to raise the bar even higher.”
