Maserati MCXtrema, here we are: customizations and track days

By Carlo Platella
A dream come true. After many previews and suggestions, the brand new MCXtrema, the one-off by Maserati designed for exclusive use on the track, is finally ready to be handed over to its first customers. The lucky 62 owners of what has been nicknamed the ‘Beast’ will enjoy an extensive customer program designed by the Trident, ranging from customization to support on the track. John Thomas Sgrohead of Maserati Corse, explains to FormulaPassion all the details of an extreme car in name and in fact.

The beast

It was February when the MCXtrema took its first steps on the track with Andrea Bertolini at the wheel. “You can imagine the emotion”says Sgro. “You see the first sketches, you talk to potential customers, you follow the development and then one day in February you see it on the track with Bertolini. The engine starting up, him coming out of the garage and starting to move forward. These are things you will never forget. The engine started up on February 26, while We will deliver the first car in two weeks to an American customer at Monterey Car Week.”

“These 6 months have been full of milestones, such as the first shakedown and many test sessions. We have managed to bring customers to this customization path and have them sit alongside Bertolini to do some testing in their future MCXtrema. It’s been a really positive journey for us. These tests have highlighted the commitment of our design team and our engineers, managing to achieve the perfect balance between aesthetics and performance”.

The head of Maserati Corse then tells the origin of the MCXtrema nickname: “This stratospheric car we called it the ‘Beast”because every time a customer walks by, they look at the rear wing and say, ‘This car is a beast!’. Last year, we unveiled it at Pebble Beach, carrying it in a cage, where you have to transport such beasts. That was also a lot of fun. It’s a project that enhances the value of a brand like Maserati in every way. The last time we made a car like this was the MC12. Twenty years have passed since then. This is its heir and we are very proud of it.”

Problem of abundance

MCXtrema will be produced in 62 units, a supply that obviously sold out quickly: “We are lucky that There are more people who want the MCXtrema than we can produce.. The approach is not first come, first served, but a selection. This car must absolutely go to people who want to perform on the track in a unique way with a unique car. It is not a car to keep in the garage. We have already identified most of the customers who will have the honor of owning the MCXtrema. Being part of this club of 62 owners is a great honor”.

“The customer journey does not end with the delivery of his car,” explains Sgro. “We created the MCXlusiva programwhich offers our customers the opportunity to choose between one of the liveries designed by the Klaus Busse Style Center: a ‘Tech’Beast’, a Racing-inspired one and another ‘Speed ​​Beast’. The fourth is a custom livery: if the three options offered do not satisfy you, you can design anything you want. This is also an opportunity to engage and be more involved with our customers, to understand their creativity and what they want”.

Not only that. Maserati has also thought of a support program on the circuit, with the intention of organizing track days to bring together fans of the Trident: “Our customers will also have the opportunity to enter inside an exclusive program which is called MCXperience, where they can compete and have the engineering support of Maserati and Bertolini to improve their times. It is a specific path for them that will allow them to fully immerse themselves in the Maserati racing world”.

Hunting for records

Motorsports enthusiasts are primarily hungry for performance, taking delight in comparing the lap times of supercars from around the world, particularly on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Maserati admits it has ambitions to soon take the MCXtrema to the track to unleash its full potential, but we’ll have to wait and see for more details: “These are assessments that we have made: where to take this car to really make it shine. We haven’t made a decision yet, but when you have a super performing object like this, you automatically think about what you can do with it. We’re thinking about activities to test its limits, but also from a creative perspective to make this car do something special. We’re thinking about it.”

Looking ahead, it seems very likely that the MCXtrema’s successor as Maserati’s next one-off will be electrified, aligning with the Trident’s strategy to have a 100% electric range. “Maybe”reflects Sgro. “When you believe in an MCXtrema and you can enter the world of collectors, gentleman drivers and people who buy these unique cars to go on the track, you see the opportunities for the future. We haven’t decided yet what the next one-offs will be.but it allows us to continue developing these cars in the future.”