New Maserati MCPURA makes chic entry at Festival of Speed

Call it a facelift, rebrand, whatever you like… meet the latest evolution of Maserati’s MC20 halo car: the MCPURA. Take your first peak with us, fresh from Goodwood 2025.

That’s pronounced M, C, PURA, by the way — no jokes about it sounding like something you’d order with a side of fries, please. And yes, you’re right, it does look all but identical to the outgoing model. Nonetheless, it’s been five years since the original MC20 hoisted the three-pronged trident back into the limelight, and it’s time for a refresh. 

Let’s start with the good stuff: it’s still a jaw-droppingly gorgeous thing to behold, and it still goes like a proverbial bat out of hell. But what’s new? The front end, for one. A restyled grille and diffuser combo take cues from the firm’s brutal MCXtrema track weapon — which also made a snarling appearance at this year’s hill climb. Meanwhile, the rear features a more subtle diffuser, and there’s new twin-spoke alloys which reportedly hark back to Maserati’s racing idols of the ‘50s.

That paint finish was also quite something to behold in the glistening Goodwood sun. In fact, all the new shades in MCPURA’s palette really make the supercar’s lines pop. According to Maserati, three highlights include ‘Devil Orange, a combination of vibrant energy and audacity; and the elegant dual-layer metallics of Verde Royale and Night Interaction’. All of which make the MCPURA ‘the brand’s new standard-bearer, the epitome of Italian luxury around the world.’ 

Convertible fans also needn’t worry: Maserati will still sell you a drop-top MC20 MCPURA. Now known as the Cielo — meaning heaven, in the Maser’s native tongue — you’ll feel as though you’ve ascended to some blissful, higher plain when you finally get a chance to hear the unabated growl from that 621-bhp V6 engine. 

Just 621 bhp? That’s the same as the old model… Unfortunately, yes. And the same goes for all the other oily bits. Underneath, the MCPURA is mechanically identical to MC20 from what we can tell. But is that really such a tragedy? With a 0-60 mph sprint of less than three seconds, and a frankly terrifying 0-186 mph time of just 8.8 seconds, more grunt it does not need.

Inside, there have been some modest enhancements. The cabin designers have been more liberal in their use of Alcantara, the seats bear laser-etched tridents and, in the convertible model, there’s a button which turns the whole roof transparent in the blink of an eye. Witchcraft? Not quite, but the polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) glass, is an exceptionally cool party piece to show your mates. 

Ultimately, then, the MCPURA is more like an MC20 that’s been to finishing school, than a whole new model. And we’ve got no issues with that. Afterall, why wouldn’t you want your Italian supercar to look even sexier? 

Let us know what you think about the MC’s latest rebrand. Has the Maserati finally got the upper hand over Ferrari’s hybridised 296 GTB and McLaren’s Artura?

Hero image credit:  Maserati