Q&A: Maserati’s Mastermind Reveals MCPura Key Design Elements
It’s 100 years since Maserati first competed in racing, and to do that, it had to produce a logo. Designed in the 1920s by Mario Maserati himself, the Trident emblem was inspired by the statue of the Roman God Neptune at the very end of Piazza Maggiore in Bologna.
The first car on which it appeared was the Tipo 26, Maserati’s maiden racer, and fast forward a century to the 2026 model year, the new MCPura carries that self-same logo. This 200 mph, mid-engined V6 twin-turbo halo car is an evolution of its elegant MC20 design, which was itself a modern-day re-imagining of the iconic MC12 of 2004 – which dominated the FIA GT Championship in the heydays of GT1 competition.
To get more exclusive insight into the MCPura, I caught up with Leonardo Rimini, the supercar’s product planner, as we took a break from Maserati’s international first drive program in the square at Sestri Levante.
duPont REGISTRY: What was the overriding principle when it came to the MCPura’s development?
Leonardo Rimini: So, the thing is, we knew we had an icon – the MC20 – because it was such a well-received car from everyone: the press and especially the customers. We knew we had to handle it with care. What we tried to do was refine the product and design without overhauling it completely.
That’s what we did – we gave it a bit more character with aggressive bumpers and new finishes inside and out. The diffuser is more accentuated, and we borrowed a few key elements from the GT2 Stradale to give it a sportier feel for those who want it.
The new Alcantara steering wheel also adds to that sense of aggression with a flattened upper section. I believe this really speaks to our philosophy: staying elegant and true to the essence of Maserati without revolutionizing it. That’s very important for us.
dR: Tell me about the pre-chamber combustion system featuring twin spark plugs in the 3.0-liter Nettuno V6. How difficult was it to bring that technology, which is so racing-oriented, into a road car reliably?
LR: It was a very challenging task for the engineering team, but they did a great job. Of course, it’s a patented technology, so we’re the only ones to implement it in a road-going car. It’s derived directly from Formula 1, which makes it a unique part of the car and helps express its essence and sportiness.
It was certainly challenging throughout development of the whole car. Just the aerodynamics alone took more than 2,000 man-hours in the wind tunnel. That gives you a sense of the level of detail we reached when developing this model.
dR: In terms of the carbon tub, it was co-developed with Dallara. How does that collaboration work?
LR: The development is done jointly by Maserati and Dallara – it’s a true collaboration between design and R&D. The production itself is handled by a third-party supplier in Italy [TTA Adler], but not directly by Dallara or Maserati.
Dallara has deep roots in racing and in producing both race and road cars, so working with them was crucial to achieving this result. We’re also one of the few brands in the market implementing a full carbon fiber monocoque. There’s no aluminum bodywork – only composite materials – which contributes to the car’s lightness, impressive weight, and strong power-to-weight ratio.
dR: And the Cielo – how exactly does the open-top car differ from the coupe?
LR: The Cielo’s structure is slightly different. It’s stiffer on the lower part to compensate for the lack of carbon on the upper section. The engineering is a bit different there – it weighs a little more – but both tubs are around 100 kilograms. Very lightweight.
dR: Something I love about it is that it doesn’t have a huge rear wing to spoil its lines; it’s very elegant…
LR: No, but there is one available if you’re into that kind of track-oriented setup! But I believe staying true to Maserati’s essence as a luxury brand means avoiding extremes like that.
dR: How would you distinguish this car from category rivals like the Ferrari 296 or McLaren Artura?
LR: I don’t like to speak too much about competitors. I prefer to emphasize the uniqueness of our car – I believe our powertrain truly differentiates us.
We don’t use a hybrid system; we’ve stayed pure to the internal combustion engine. The twin-turbo V6 Nettuno engine is now part of Maserati’s DNA and is really the beating heart of the company. That’s a very compelling value proposition.
The engine delivers incredible results, and the technology is truly cutting-edge. But if you asked me my favorite aspect of the car, it would be the carbon fiber tub – it contributes so much to the stiffness and torsional rigidity of the chassis. You can really feel that when you drive it.
