New Maserati MCXtrema hypercar to be unveiled 18 August

Track-only hypercars are big business right now and Maserati is looking to add another to the fold with the all-new MCXtrema. The car was shown off last year as the ‘Project24’ but will have its first public reveal later this month at The Quail event in California. 

Like Pagani, Ferrari and Lamborghini, Maserati has dabbled in track-only hypercars before, with the 2006 MC12-based Versione Corse. The new MCXtrema will also use a roadgoing supercar for its base – the MC20. 

Just 62 examples of the MCXtrema will be built and all have been accounted for. Pricing hasn’t been revealed but the customers will receive track-specific experiences and support as well as a “unique range of services”.

The Modena firm says the MCXtrema “inherits the specifications of the Maserati MC20, enhancing it with technical specifications that have advanced even further”. The changes are significant, because starting with the MC20-derived 3.0-litre V6 Nettuno engine Maserati has upgraded the unit’s twin turbochargers to take power up to 740bhp. 

This is sent to the rear wheels only through a six-speed sequential racing gearbox with paddle shifters, rather than the MC20’s eight-speed automatic transmission. A racing clutch with a limited-slip mechanical differential both feature, without the option of the electronic limited-slip differential in the MC20. 

Beneath the all-new carbon-fibre body there are a number of shared components with the MC20. Maserati has significantly reduced the weight, with the MCXtrema targeting a sub-1,250kg kerbweight, making it more than 250kg lighter than the MC20. This weight reduction is aided by carbon-fibre panels, polycarbonate windows and a stripped-out interior. 

Downforce has clearly been given priority on the MCXtrema too, with a central fin running back from the roof to the huge rear wing, an aggressive rear diffuser and a large splitter at the front. Air is also channelled through the front grille onto the sloping bonnet, which should further push the MCXtrema into the tarmac. Both the front and rear spoilers are also adjustable to suit different tracks and configurations. 

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The exterior tweaks don’t stop there as there are unique forged 18-inch aluminium centre-lock rims wrapped in slick tyres. Underneath the wheels, Maserati has also fettled the brakes. Now there are ‘racing calipers’ with Brembo carbon-ceramic ventilated racing discs and a bespoke brake cooling set-up. The suspension is a double-wishbone configuration with adjustable damping and adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars. 

The MCXtrema boasts a typically focused racing car cabin. There are racing seats (a passenger seat is optional if you really want to save weight), while the racing pedal box and steering wheel are adjustable. A six-point safety belt is standard and there’s a carbon-fibre steering wheel. To keep up to date with your lap times, a telemetry recording can be specified as an option, as can an in-car camera to record your laps. Just like a real endurance racing car there are also air jacks mounted in the floor to make tyre swapping easier.

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