When Maserati unveiled the MC20 supercar it was supposed to be a bold flagship for the company with its sleek styling signaling a new direction for Maserati. While the MC20 is a good-looking supercar and a fast one to boot, it has not been a sales success and it failed to carve a niche for itself in its bespoke segment. We even had a chance to spend some time in a 2022 model a few years ago (TikTok video is below.)
For 2026, Maserati has not only given the car updates but also a reboot with the MC20 moniker being pitched for the MCPura which is supposed to bring the supercar back to the purist roots that the Italian carmaker was trying to appeal and pay homage to.
Look closely, the MCPura is indeed different
At first glance, the 2026 MCPura doesn’t look all that different from the outgoing MC20 and we won’t blame some buyers for not seeing the fine print. But look closer and the differences begin to emerge with the MCPura getting tweaked front bumpers, a tweaked aero kit and a few new color options for them to choose from.
We’re glad Maserati played it safe in this regard since it allows the supercar to stick to its core identity while also adding subtle flair and updates to make it more appealing. The “Pura” portion of its name means pure in Italian and it’s good to see that pure simplicity will once again regin supreme in the car’s exterior.
It also means that Maserati will be keeping things old-school in terms of performance too with the MCPura bucking the trend of some of its rivals by not offering a hybrid system (for now.) Instead, it will continue to be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 that continues to make 621 hp and sends its power to the rear wheels. A convertible version (Cileo) is also available.
The interior is also mostly carried over but there are some minor changes to talk about too. New Alcantara trim accents are splashed throughout and the coupe version gets the GT2 Stradale’s carbon fiber steering wheel and its integrated shift lights. An updated infotainment system is also included and it now comes with new Performance Pages software that provides real-time vehicle data on the central screen.
When can I buy one?
Maserati is keeping MCPura production limited with the U.S. only getting 120 examples for 2026. Cross the border into Canada and your odds of getting one get considerably lower with the country only getting 10 cars for the same model year. These two countries also represent a third of the production numbers for the model and reflect how seriously Maserati is taking the art of appealing to North American customers with the car. Order books for the model open tomorrow and the first production units are expected to make their way to dealerships by the end of the year.
Maserati is clearly taking a very deliberate approach with the MCPura. While the odds of it stealing sizable amounts of attention from rivals like Ferrari and McLaren are still slim, Maserati is hoping that some buyers will find its old-school nature and Italian good looks appealing enough to warrant a purchase which will give the brand much needed sales at a time when it needs them the most.
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