A brother from another mother? Maserati MC 20

[4thedrivers]

Would love to see a side-by-side comparison between the Emira and the MC 20. Exterior styling, interior design and powerplant choice all suggest a similar focus, with Italian flair. Hmmmm.

 

[R1272]

someone created this a while ago to show how well the Emira design holds up against cars many multiples it's price. These aren't to scale, just cool to see the silhouettes. The MC-20 is awesome.

 

[PaulP]

I prefer the MC20, but it's twice the price

 

[GetawayDriving]

someone created this a while ago to show how well the Emira design holds up against cars many multiples it's price. These aren't to scale, just cool to see the silhouettes. The MC-20 is awesome.

View attachment 6260

Emira is the best looking machine here. It holds up from every angle. I’m not in love with the MC-20’s Jar Jar Binks face. Looks great in profile though.

 

[Pegasi]

Not a fan of those wheels on the Mas. But I do think that Matte white paint is incredible. If the Mas was 100K, I would still take the Emira.

 

[digilotus]

I had high expectations of the MC20 and it looks the part. Pity that many reviews find it a bit mediocre and its interior is a big let down too. In Harry Catchpole's review of the MC20 you can see the car bouncing around the road and the handling reviews point out its overall nervousness too. If Lotus tuned the handling of the MC20 it would be a monster I'm sure.

 

[LotusB]

I prefer the MC20, but it's twice the price

It's more than 3-times the price. I considered one, but ultimately ruled it out. The dealer wouldn't share any information regarding allocations, production numbers and so on. I was very scared they wouldn't cap production (which they confirmed) and devalue it the same way McLaren did. I also wanted to see something in person, at least sit in it to see how well I'd fit and that wasn't an option. Lastly, although I'm in awe of the engine and F1 technology, it just seemed like a huge risk.

IMO the Emira is a much smarter buy. It won't have the exotic flavor of butterfly doors, carbon fiber tub, high-revving V6 engine making 621hp, Maserati panache, options, nor will it be as rare.... BUT... it'll also be much less temperamental, easier to live with and extremely affordable. I decided that if I'm spending $250k+ it wouldn't be to take a chance on Maserati.... it would be with a known commodity from Lamborghini and that beautiful V10. But the Lamborghini is a big-time compromise as well. As a taller person it was pretty hard to fit in the car.

 

[Zardoz]

someone created this a while ago to show how well the Emira design holds up against cars many multiples it's price. These aren't to scale, just cool to see the silhouettes. The MC-20 is awesome.

View attachment 6260

Don’t like what’s going on on behind front wheel/ fender of Maserati. Vertical cut line goes nowhere. Incongruous

 

[Zardoz]

Don’t like what’s going on on behind front wheel/ fender of Maserati. Vertical cut line goes nowhere. Incongruous

Also, none of others offered with manual.

 

[vantage]

IMO the Emira is a much smarter buy. It won't have the exotic flavor of butterfly doors, carbon fiber tub, high-revving V6 engine making 621hp, Maserati panache, options, nor will it be as rare.... BUT... it'll also be much less temperamental, easier to live with and extremely affordable. I decided that if I'm spending $250k+ it wouldn't be to take a chance on Maserati.... it would be with a known commodity from Lamborghini and that beautiful V10. But the Lamborghini is a big-time compromise as well. As a taller person it was pretty hard to fit in the car.

I won't comment on which is the smarter buy since I don't know all that much about the MC20 BUT, I know a few things about Lotus ownership:

1) the community is amazing for a variety of reasons including know-how and general enthusiasm for the brand;

2) for whatever reason, you tend to focus less on values, whether you got the perfect spec, whether your car is 1 or 5 in that color, etc. and all the stuff that is should not be the focus of sports car ownership, but perhaps that will change with the Emira, though Lotus is an engineering-driven brand at heart;

3) I would definitely expect a lot more from a $250k car than $100k one, so expectations of the Emira are tempered somewhat by that.

 

[TrickeeKiYay]

With positive reviews on Top Gear of the Emira and MC20 in back to back weeks I would love to hear a comparison of them from Chris Harris.

 

[emiraspain]

I personally think the MC 20 looks great and is the best looking of the 4, followed by the Emira. I think Ferrari have lost the plot design wise, years ago.... very few cars of their interest me, even if I was in the market for one.
No doubt the tech and in and around the engine in the MC20 is far better than the Toyota engine, it has much more power and could sound incredible, although maybe you need to do a few things to release the full sound.
The interior of the MC 20 was nice to my memory and you would expect it to be...
BUT once again, we are comparing apples with oranges.... design wise ok, but otherwise its really as useful as comparing a toyota yaris gr with Mercedes Axxx AMG, very different price points and power outputs...

Id like to see a new alfa sports car.... that could be comparable...ish...

 

[Wizardwings]

Heres a flattering pic of the MC20 for all of you to ogle at.

 

[DaaS]

Just for reference

 

[Johnson]

It's interesting how the Italian cars just feel a little more curvaceous... the bumps and bulges a bit more pronounced. Whereas the British cars are more taught, with lines closer to the functional bits ("shrink wrapped"). Feminine vs functional?

 

[digilotus]

View attachment 7104
Heres a flattering pic of the MC20 for all of you to ogle at.

That front looks like a vacuum cleaner or a carp fish.

 

[Lotustoronto]

I like the MC-20, but let's face it, the ripped off the jaguar cx75 from James Bond spectre.

 

[Green]

I won't comment on which is the smarter buy since I don't know all that much about the MC20 BUT, I know a few things about Lotus ownership:

1) the community is amazing for a variety of reasons including know-how and general enthusiasm for the brand;

2) for whatever reason, you tend to focus less on values, whether you got the perfect spec, whether your car is 1 or 5 in that color, etc. and all the stuff that is should not be the focus of sports car ownership, but perhaps that will change with the Emira, though Lotus is an engineering-driven brand at heart;

3) I would definitely expect a lot more from a $250k car than $100k one, so expectations of the Emira are tempered somewhat by that.

They might be listed for $250 but try a google search to buy one. I did and there are none listed under $300. More like $340 to $380. Three times the Emira not really a comparison car.

 

[Sea4S]

The Cielo in the Acquamarina launch color is a very attractive car in my eyes..

 

[simonb]

The car the 4c became, but going from £50K to £190K. I think it will do everything the Radford is trying to do, but just better