2…MASERATI MC20

MASERATI MC20

Maserati MC20 is the first super sports car of the Trident Brand. The MC20 is offered as a two-seater coupe with a minimalist cabin that’s focused on the driver; a convertible is expected to join the lineup later and eventually an electric MC20 will reach production too. A collaboration with motorsport engineering company Dallara has resulted in a carbon-fiber structure with aluminum subframes for the

suspension and powertrain. This construction minimizes weight, which sets the MC20 up for performance-related success.

Maserati is using the MC20 as an opportunity to launch an allnew twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that pumps out 630 hp. Called Nettuno, the new engine utilizes a unique twincombustion system borrowed from Formula 1 race cars and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Maserati claims a zero-to-62-mph time of less than three seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. In addition to the gasolinepowered model, Maserati also says an all-electric variant of the MC20 with all-wheel drive will hit the market in short order and will be the Italian luxury brand’s first foray into electrification.

A two-seat cabin is accessed through upward-opening ‘butterfly’ doors. The MC20’s interior design is clean and minimalist, with only the essential controls dotting the center console. The cabin offers upscale materials with a decidedly sporty bent, including black leather seats with dark blue contrast stitching, aluminum pedals, and carbon fiber trim. To help solve the issue of rearward visibility, the MC20 features a digital rear-view mirror that uses a rear-facing camera to feed an image of what’s behind the car to a frameless inside rear view mirror mounted to the windshield in the traditional location. Several current-production vehicles already offer a similar system.

Few driver-assistance features are available on the MC20 as its focus is more toward performance than day-to-day use.

Specifications 2022 Maserati MC20 Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe PRICE Base (C/D est): $213,000 ENGINE twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection Displacement: 183 in3, 2992 cm3 Power: 621 hp @ 7500 rpm Torque: 538 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 106.3 in Length: 183.8 in Width: 77.4 in Height: 48.1 in Curb Weight (C/D est): 3600 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 2.8 sec 100 mph: 5.9 sec 1/4-Mile: 10.5 sec Top Speed: 202 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST) Combined/City/Highway: 17/15/20 mpg

LOTUS EVIJA

The Lotus Evija (pronounced eh-VIE’-ya) aims to push the boundaries of modern hypercar technology. While many rivals offer hybrid powertrains, this model commits to being fully electric, and it comes with an ultrafast charging setup. Its

exterior design takes cues from race cars built to dominate the

track. The car’s sheetmetal includes elements such as butterfly doors and a large rear wing. Best of all, however, is what this car offers from its four electric motors: The Evija delivers almost 2000 horsepower, and Lotus claims this makes it the most powerful production car on the planet. Only 130 models of this leading-edge hypercar will be built, each priced at more than $2 million.

The star of the show is the Evija’s muscle-bound electric powertrain. Motivation is provided by a team of four electric motors, and Lotus claims they generate a total output of 1972 horsepower and 1254 lb-ft of torque. That’s almost double the horsepower provided by more expensive hypercars such as the Aston Martin Valkyrie. A single-speed automatic transmission governs it all, sending power to all four wheels. The car’s light curb weight is designed to optimize handling. The company claims the Evija weighs just over 3700 pounds, making it supposedly the lightest EV hypercar ever to enter production. The Evija can reach a top speed of more than 200 mph, and Lotus expects it to sprint to 62 mph in under three seconds. The

car’s performance can be customized via five driving modes: Range, City, Tour, Sport, and Track. Our drive of an Evija prototype gave us a little taste of what to expect from the production version, namely its communicative steering rack and responsive handling characteristics. While the prototype had a detuned electric powertrain and was without some of its niftiest features, such as active aerodynamics and torque vectoring across its axles, it still generated just over 1600 horsepower and showcased its brutal acceleration.

EVs typically require you to wait several minutes or hours for the battery to charge. The Evija is different. It’s equipped with technology that’s designed to make charging the battery almost as quick as getting a fill-up at the gas pump. The car takes just 12 minutes for an 80 percent charge, and a full

charge takes a mere 18 minutes. This Lotus hypercar is able to travel up to 250 miles between charges.

The Lotus Evija seats two passengers, and its cabin is accessed via a pair of dihedral doors. These doors do without handles to preserve the car’s clean, sculptural aesthetic, and they’re operated using the key fob. Once you’ve entered the car, the doors can be closed using a switch on the overhead console. The Evija’s electrically adjustable front seats feature a carbonfiber shell and thick pads swathed in microfiber. The driver can

manually adjust the tilt and length of the steering column, and there are two bespoke storage spaces placed close to the occupants’ hip points. The list of standard interior amenities includes climate control and three-point seatbelts, with four-point harnesses offered as optional equipment. Overall, the Evija’s cabin has a look that’s somehow both retro and modern. Lotus says certain design

elements were inspired by the company’s racing cars of the 1950s and ‘60s.