Originally scheduled to debut in May 2020, the highly anticipated Maserati MC20 was postponed due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Rumors hinted at a September unveiled, and it seems they were right. Maserati just confirmed on Twitter that the sports car will break cover on September 9. The announcement comes with a short video teaser showing the MC20's silhouette, but official details remain under wraps.

The Maserati MC20 is a more affordable successor to the MC12

It was long rumored that the MC20 is a spiritual successor to the iconic MC12. But Maserati is, in fact, using a different recipe here. It will also be more mainstream and more affordable than the MC12. The latter was based on the Ferrari Enzo, itself also an exclusive and expensive supercar, while the MC20 will feature the carbon-fiber tub from the Alfa Romeo 4C. The latter was discontinued in 2020 after some seven years on the market, but FCA wants to reduce developing costs and use what was a rather-expensive carbon tub. And needless to say, the design is far from dated and was upgraded accordingly.

The Maserati MC20 will feature a twin-turbo V-6 engine

The MC20 has big shoes to fill. Fitted with a massive V-12, the MC12 took the streets with a whopping 651 horsepower at its disposal. That's tough to beat with a V-6 under the hood, but Maserati is turning to turbocharging for this one. It's also getting help from Ferrari, which has developed V-6 engines for other Italian carmakers in the past. The 2.9-liter V-6 in the Alfa Romeo Giulia, for instance, cranks up to 533 horsepower.

The MC12 should also be notably lighter thanks to its compact size and newer and more advanced materials, so it should have a superior power-to-weight ratio. This means it could be faster and more suitable for track use.

The Maserati MC20 will be more affordable than the MC12

The MC12 was quite expensive back in the mid-2000s when it was sold from $1.5 million before options. While million-dollar supercars are still feasible nowadays in limited numbers, Maserati opted for a more mainstream model. The MC20 is said to cost less than $200,000, but it will probably fetch more than the old GranTurismo, priced at more than $130,000. But even is the MC20 breaks the $200,000 and moves into Ferrari F8 Tributo and McLaren 720S territory, it will still be an affordable choice compared to flagship supercars.