- As we patiently wait to lay eyes on the production version of the sleek, mid-engine MC20, Maserati has released specs for the new twin-turbo V-6.
- The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 makes 621 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque.
- Maserati has employed a dual-spark-plug configuration with an innovative pre-chamber combustion system integrated into the cylinder heads.
We now know that Maserati will finally debut its all-new, sleek mid-engine Maserati Corsa 2020, more commonly referred to as MC20, early in September. As the Italians have continually teased photos of their latest sports coupe, we now have some hard intel about the engine that will power the MC20.
Tucked between the MC20’s shapely hips will be a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with double overhead camshafts, named Nettuno (“Neptune”). The cylinders are oversquare with a bore of 88.0 millimeters and an 82.0-millimeter stroke and feature an 11.0:1 compression ratio. The cylinder banks are are set at a 90-degree angle. Nettuno is lubricated by a dry-sump oil system that keeps the engine’s belly trim and enables the 3.0-liter to keep a low profile, standing just 25.6 inches tall. The engine will produce 621 horsepower at 7500 rpm, 500 revs short of the 8000-rpm redline. The peak torque of 538 lb-ft occurs at 3000 rpm and stays in the meat all the way to 5500 rpm. While the power numbers are certainly impressive for a small V-6, the interesting accomplishment is how Maserati ignites the fuel.
The Nettuno utilizes two spark plugs per cylinder and port and direct fuel injection. One of the spark plugs is conventional and off-center in the combustion chamber, but the other is dead center, and it features a prechamber. When conditions are such that the prechamber is to be used, a spark in the chamber ignites fuel and generates a star-shaped flame. This prechamber combustion is similar to a combustion process popular in Formula 1 engines, and it allows very lean (read: efficient) operation. We have lots of questions on this new engine, and Maserati representatives have assured us that all our questions will be answered in due time.
The science to the series of explosions is critical to control knock, or the detonation of fuel that can be catastrophic to an engine. Get it just right, and a lean burn creates maximum bang with a minimal amount of fuel. The prechamber combustion, with the aid of advanced computer controls, allows the setup to fluctuate between efficiency and maximum power. In the case of the MC20, we’re only interested in the latter.
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