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The Maserati MC20 has F1 tech

Maserati hasn’t raced in Formula One in decades, but the automaker’s recently unveiled MC20 supercar boasts some F1-derived engine tech, according to Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained.

Specifically, the car’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 uses pre-chamber combustion. That means each cylinder has dual combustion chambers, each with its own spark plug. Pre-chamber combustion isn’t new; Honda was using it in the 1970s, Fenske noted. But Maserati is doing something different with the technology.

Maserati is likely the only automaker using a so-called passive pre-chamber system in a production car. As the name implies, air and fuel aren’t actively injected into the pre-chamber, which is smaller than the main combustion chamber and located directly above it. Instead, the air-fuel mixture is drawn into the main combustion chamber, and then pushed up into the pre-chamber, by the motion of the piston.

Maserati Nettuno 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6

This setup is designed to speed up combustion, which in turn reduces knock, Fenske said. Knock is a major potential issue due to the lean air-fuel ratios used in the engine and other modern engines to pass emissions tests. Maserati’s patent on the design also claims it can reduce fuel consumption by 30%, or allow for an engine to be downsized by 25% while producing the same power as a larger one.

Both the pre-chamber and the main combustion chamber have their own spark plugs. At high rpm and high load, only the pre-chamber spark plug is used, while both are used in other conditions, Fenske said. The amount of time between firing each spark plug can also be adjusted, changing the duration of combustion to warm up the catalytic converter, or even make the engine quieter, Fenske said.

In the MC20, the Nettuno engine produces 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. That allows for 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph, according to Maserati. The automaker hasn’t provided pricing information or a production timeline for the MC20, its first supercar since the MC12 ended production in 2005.

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September 27, 2020
Ares S1 Project, Ferrari Omologata, Toyota hypercar: This Week’s Top Photos

Italy’s Ares Design this week revealed more photos of its S1 Project supercar based on the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and confirmed some of the specs. The new supercar will feature a full carbon-fiber body and a naturally aspirated V-8 good for 715 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque.

Ferrari Omologata

Another Italian supercar in the headlines this week was the latest one-off creation from Ferrari’s Special Projects division. It’s based on the 812 Superfast and features a design that pays tribute to the great racing GTs from the 1950s and ’60s.

Touring Superleggera Aero 3

There was yet one more Italian supercar in the headlines this week, this one from coach-builder Touring Superleggera. The car takes inspiration from a 1930s-era Alfa Romeo and is based on the bones of a donor Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

Infiniti QX60 Monograph concept

Infiniti rolled out a concept previewing its next-generation QX60. The concept hints at a very impressive redesign for Infiniti’s popular three-row crossover SUV. A redesinged version of the related Nissan Pathfinder is also coming.

2021 BMW M3 and M4

BMW’s next-generation M3 sedan and M4 coupe were revealed this week. They follow a familiar formula but have mixed things up a bit with the availability of all-wheel drive. Peak power for now is 503 horsepower.

Toyota GR Super Sport prototype

Toyota previewed the new hypercar based on its race car that will compete in the 2021 World Endurance Championship. It’s called the GR Super Sport, and it’s expected to pack a twin-turbocharged V-6 driving the rear wheels and an electric motor-generator driving the front pair.

2021 Acura TLX Advance SH-AWD

One of the cars we tested this week was Acura’s redesigned 2021 TLX. It’s based on a new platform and is bigger and more substantial than its predecessor, but it also costs more.

2021 Volkswagen ID.4

And finally, one of the cars we look forward to testing is the new 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The battery-electric compact SUV starts at just over $40,000 and at launch will offer up to 250 miles of range.

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September 26, 2020
Polestar Precept concept going into production

When Polestar revealed the Precept concept car in April, it said the name meant a “manifesto of things to come.” Now, Polestar is making good on the promise of the name by announcing that the Precept will go into production.

The Swedish automaker, which spun off from Volvo under the ownership of the Chinese brand Geely, announced plans for Precept production on Saturday at Auto China 2020 in Beijing.

The Precept was the first concept car to come from Polestar; previous concept cars started as Volvos then became the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2. With that distinction, the Precept previews a new direction for the brand’s future design.

The large electric grand touring sedan has its own face with headlights that hint at the Thor’s Hammer look of Volvos but in a unique way. As an electric car, it doesn’t need the front vents and ducts used by cars powered by internal combustion engines. Instead, Polestar concentrated on adding a “Smart Zone” that highlights the driver-assistance sensors rather than hiding them. Dark side sills visually lower the car and create a slim-looking profile, and the low roof resolves into a lean fastback shape.

The Precept also marks the brand’s way forward in its use of sustainable materials and digital technology.

“Consumers want to see change from this industry—not just dreams. Now, Precept becomes an even stronger statement. We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our cars and our business. The aim has to be climate neutrality, even though I recognize that is a long-term goal,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.

Inside, the Precept uses sustainable materials that include recycled PET bottles, reclaimed fishing nets, recycled cork vinyl, and a flax-based composite that also is also used for some of the exterior components.

It’s unclear how many of the Precept’s innovative features will make it to market. For instance, a lidar sensor is located at the front of the roof, a sure sign that advanced driver-assistance features including the possibility of self-driving capability will be on the docket. The suicide rear doors are likely just a concept car device to show off the interior. The roof is also inverted; it’s glass up top with a body panel where the rear window would normally be—a rear camera mirror provides the view to the rear.

A 15-inch vertical center touchscreen for infotainment is powered by Android technology in cooperation with Google. The Android-powered infotainment system debuted in the Polestar 2, so it is sure to come in the production version of the Precept.

We also don’t know what the name will be. It could be Precept or Polestar 4 as a Polestar 3 SUV is the next model planned from the brand. Polestar hasn’t announced when the Precept production car will hit the market or what it’s price will be, but it’s size likely makes it a competitor for the Tesla Model S, so it could cost $80,000 or more.

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September 26, 2020