A six-figure, 200-mph supercar is designed to dominate apexes, not interstate exits, but that hasn’t stopped homeowners from anticipating greater than mere daytrip thrills. As luxurious motoring evolves, the trendy supercar is more and more requested to do what was beforehand unthinkable: carry baggage, deal with lengthy freeway stints, navigate valet ramps, and nonetheless arrive wanting as composed because the five-star resort it’s parked outdoors. The query isn’t whether or not a six-figure efficiency machine can go on trip – it’s whether or not it could possibly accomplish that with out compromising the sense of effortlessness that true luxurious calls for.
We thought we’d reply the query by taking the 2026 Maserati MCPura on a jaunt from Miami to the Florida Keys, and discover out if practicality would get in the best way of its efficiency chops. Now, I’ve pushed this automotive within the mountains of Tuscany, and across the curves of Miami’s Concours Membership, having fun with its 621 horsepower and carbon-tubbed dealing with to the max. However how wouldn’t it deal with the journey from my hometown of Miami Seaside, taking the Florida Turnpike and U.S. 1 even additional down south to Key Largo, Islamorada, Tavernier and Marathon?
A part of the facelifted Maserati MC20’s enchantment is that it may be fairly a docile creature, thanks primarily to its 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 engine. Its rivals out there are way more aggressive, and its car dynamics are positively chilled – which is precisely what you need for a multi-day Florida Keys tour. What’s additionally very important is the front-axle elevate functionality, as a result of when you’re off the primary route, there’s loads of tough automotive parks and velocity bumps to barter – even when the overall terrain in these components is as flat as a pancake.
For starters, I take the MCPura out for a photoshoot to catch the Golden Hour, so make a journey from my place to Ocean Drive, say ‘hello’ to a surprisingly nonplussed breakfast chef as I snap the supercar below The Betsy Ross Lodge’s well-known orb, after which take it on a cruise previous the Versace Mansion (RIP Gianni) and the Clevelander. I swing a proper after the Bentley Lodge, and take 5th Road to the McArthur Causeway, previous the multi-millionaires of Star and Palm Islands on the proper, plus the cruise ships to my left. Sending the automotive away from site visitors gentle with its launch system briefly will get a bike cop’s consideration, however he simply desires to take a look at the automotive, and motors away earlier than I take the exit to Watson Island’s exotically named Parrot Jungle Path.
After taking just a few snaps, I’m held by some extra cops, who’ve been booked to shut off the street and permit some filming of a black Bugatti on the causeway – with a ship pulling alongside on Governors Lower. “Should be an vital dude,” I say to myself, and a few Insta searching reveals that it’s being pushed by none apart from Mate Rimac himself. Small world!
After giving him a cheery wave on his approach, I head again to my place and start the quick technique of packing the MCPura. Simply having a look on the storage choices, and realizing how scorching the engine will get, means your greatest guess is a squashable Tote Bag within the rear trunk, which is form of an odd form – lengthy but slim, and nearly triangular. Due to Rolex, who hosted me at Monterey Automobile Week, I’ve received a sublime resolution for that – though I do discover that my smallest hard-shelled carry-on suitcase will simply match too. Subsequent time, I’ll request some tailored Maserati baggage too!
In fact, with it being a mid-engined supercar, it’s received a frunk. That is small, however it’s removed from ineffective, and I discover my Oakley-Pirelli backpack matches simply wonderful if I don’t fill it an excessive amount of. However for those who suppose this received’t escape a roasting just like the rear trunk, you’re flawed: The radiator on the entrance provides off loads of warmth, so my recommendation is carry something ‘melty’ into the passenger footwell.
Because it’s a Florida Keys journey, although, all we actually want is shorts and tees – plus solar cream and bug spray. Loaded up, which takes all of 30 seconds, I head to the Frost Science Museum to select up my spouse from work, and we hit the street east, previous Zaha Hadid’s Scorpion Tower and the Miami Marlins Park, then on previous Inter Miami’s new Freedom Park, which is below development, the worldwide airport, after which make the massive flip south alongside Florida’s Turnpike.
I’ve the MCPura in GT Mode, so it’s blissful to burble alongside on the velocity restrict, the twin-turbos often whooshing with wastegates fluttering if I have to again off for one of many many random lane adjustments forward that proliferate any form of multi-lane driving in these components. Its eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox can be making this journey straightforward, and with 538 lb-ft torque accessible on demand, if I have to leap forward of anybody it’s accomplished with the minimal fuss – and accomplished in what appears like a split-second after I’ve considered it.
Even on the elevated concrete freeway, the experience is dealing simply wonderful with the bumps of the bridge growth gaps, and our cruise south previous the Homestead airbase and racetrack is uneventful. As soon as previous Florida Metropolis, you’re on to U.S. 1 and the greenery of the southern Everglades quickly wraps round us. It’s again to single lane driving and, after a couple of minutes, we come throughout a random site visitors stack-up. As I’m behind a ship being towed by a truck, I get zero warning aside from its brake lights – and, only for a second, I require each inch of the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes to get woah-ed down. You’ll learn some criticism of the texture of those, and the left pedal does require a little bit of heft – however this proves they do work successfully when required!
In fact, my eyes go straight to the mirror, to see if the GMC truck behind is about to check the rear crash-test props of our full-carbon tub, however along with his larger view, he’s already on the shoulder taking full evasive motion – little doubt aware of the insurance coverage declare of rear-ending this $284,675 creation. Thanks for paying consideration, buddy!
As we sit on this site visitors jam for a couple of minutes, I reap the benefits of this Cielo mannequin’s open high and get the roof down for the remainder of the journey, which is incident free. It’s a bit annoying that you must maintain your finger on the touchscreen to finish the operation, because it takes 12 seconds, and this may be operated when transferring as much as 30 mph.
It’s not far alongside this path to The Buzzard’s Roost, our late lunch cease, which is a superb spot the place you’ll be able to watch the marina staff service some boats. And, for those who’re fortunate, you’ll be able to see one in all them by accident fall into the water like we did, and luxuriate in him get teased for the relentlessly by his co-workers. Refuelled, we head to our boutique resort in Tavernier, the place the MCPura will get envious glances from our fellow vacationers, most of whom are driving rental drop-top Ford Mustangs, whereas parked outdoors our luxurious cottage. And, after all, each time we depart our gated complicated, I put it in Corsa mode and do a launch, to allow them to hear the Nettuno V6 singing its sweetest track!
For dinner, we head for Italian – after all! – at Lido 73, a comparatively new restaurant from the parents who run the Italian Meals Firm, which has a number of spots all through the Keys. First our host spots the Maserati within the automotive park, and she or he tells the waiters… who inform the cooks… and immediately the MCPura is surrounded by a large number of excited Italians taking selfies because the solar units. What it proves is that this automotive places smiles on faces, and I nonetheless keep in mind the Italian dude who slowed down on his superbike in Tuscany, who insisted we revved the automotive in a tunnel, after which gave us the “Bravissimo!” hand gesture.
It’s such a superbly designed automotive that we received optimistic response all over the place we journeyed within the Keys, whether or not it was on the morning espresso store run, or necessities purchasing at Publix to top off on cheese, ham, chocolate, wine and waterside margaritas. However there’s no approach that single-use plastic baggage are surviving the heat-soak of the trunks, so my spouse will get them neatly wedged into the passenger-side footwell for the short journey again.
The one factor lacking from our jaunt on this carbon-chassis, mid-engine sports activities automotive was some respectable roads to indicate off its rocket-ship efficiency. However the Florida Keys is the antithesis of dashing round, and that is most undoubtedly a car that may present chill in addition to thrills. Maserati’s supercar stays a massively pleasurable different in a phase the place rivals typically chase headline figures on the expense of real driving enjoyment, and the understated magnificence of the MCPura, mixed with its ease of operation, ensures it may be used as on a regular basis choice that stirs the soul, quite than a immobile storage queen.
Photos: Charles Bradley
