Maserati North America is recalling 1,092 MC20 coupe and convertible models because the tire placard labels include incorrect vehicle capacity weight numbers. Even though this may not seem like a major concern, overloading increases the likelihood of a tire burst, especially if the vehicle in question has tires for high-performance driving.
The issue was reported to Maserati S.p.A. of Modena on May 3, which launched an investigation that was completed the following month. Safety experts from the House of the Trident verified that some MC20 cars have questionable weight values on their placard labels, which conflict with FMVSS 110.
Manufacturers are obliged under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110 to specify a maximum combined weight (weight of cargo and occupants), which must not be exceeded. It is strange that the questionable labels fail to precisely define this maximum weight.
Why is that? This is funny because Maserati has managed to build a mid-engine supercar that is heavier than Ferrari’s plug-in hybrid 296 and has more twin-turbo V6 power. It should be mentioned that the 296 has a mostly aluminum chassis, while the MC20 is built around a carbon-fiber chassis. To what extent does the plug-in hybrid Faza differ from the ICE-only Maser?
Ferrari quotes a 1,470 kg (3,241 lb) dry weight for the 296 GTB, while Maserati still quotes a dry weight of less than 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). Car and Driver’s scales show that the MC20 weighs 3,757 lbs (1,704 kg) while the Ferrari weighs 3,532 lbs (1,602 kg).
But the bad news doesn’t end there—Maserati continues to claim that its twin-turbo V6 is uniquely Maserati. While the cylinder heads are undoubtedly sourced from Ferrari, nearly all other components are derived from twin-turbo V8s and Alfa Romeo V6s, which in turn would not have been possible without the Prancing Horse’s force-fed V8 powerplant.
The V angle (90 degrees), firing order (cylinders 1-6-3-4-2-5), oil filter mounting, bore and stroke, cylinders and liners, cooling passages, crankshaft position sensor location, crankshaft pulley, bolt pattern and flanges on the rear engine cover are among the similarities. Now what, 100 percent Maserati?
Criticism aside, Maserati’s recall population consists of 380 MC20 Cielo units and 712 fixed-head instances. These will be produced between July 19, 2021, and May 14, 2024. Owner notification letters are scheduled to arrive by first-class mail on September 4, and dealers will be contacted no earlier than that day.
It is apparently necessary to add an overlay sticker for service technicians to address the status of the recall. The 17-character VIN on all affected MC20s begins with Z. Generally, Slovenia is represented by ZX to ZZ, while the Italian Republic ranges from ZA to ZU. There is currently no specified range for ZV-ZW.
If 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet (730 Nm) of torque isn’t enough, Maserati will further increase power with a tri-motor electric drivetrain sometime in 2025. It is anticipated that the MC20 Folgore GranTurismo will surpass the Folgore’s 818 horsepower. Alfa Romeo’s MC20-based 33 Stradale BEV promises more than 750 Cavalli Vapore or 740 horsepower of the mechanical kind.