More of Maserati MC20 revealed with Stirling Moss tribute

Maserati has paid tribute to late racer Sir Stirling Moss by wrapping the upcoming Maserati MC20 supercar with special commemorative livery inspired by the 1958 Eldorado single-seater he once raced.

The legendary British driver, who died aged 90 in April, began racing for Maserati back in 1954 when he climbed behind the wheel of the car-maker's 250F.

Sir Moss praised the Maserati 250F, which won Juan Manuel Fangio the '57 F1 championship, for the front-engined racer's 'user-friendly' and well-balanced handling, making it his favourite F1 car of all time.

Moss also drove the Maserati Tipo 60 Birdcage, Tipo 61 and the 300S.

The Maserati MC20's new Stirling Moss signature livery, meanwhile, is said to have been inspired by the red, white and black colour scheme of the 420M/58 Eldorado that Moss raced at Monza.

The MC20 prototype's famous livery is telling. Maserati has already declared the MC20 signals a return to top-flight motorsport for the brand – after an absence of almost a decade following the discontinuation of the Ferrari Enzo-derived Maserati MC12 two-seat limited-edition supercar in 2005.

The MC20 will have a lot to live up to. During its career the MC12 won 22 races, including the Spa 24 Hour three times, and 14 FIA GT titles (including drivers, teams and constructors) between 2005 and 2010.

Maserati is remaining tight-lipped about what will power its new supercar but has ruled out pinching a powertrain from stablemate Ferrari.

Instead, it says it will develop its own engine at its Modena-based Innovation Lab.

This has led many to suggest the MC20 will come equipped with either a high-output turbo V8, a twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain or, later, pure-electric battery power.

The three-motor, 800-volt battery-electric system previously announced for the still-born Alfieri is tipped to have been approved for production, which should enable the MC20 to hit 100km/h in less than two seconds.

The Italian car-maker has already announced that the production line at its Modena-based Viale Ciro Menotti plant has been modernised for electrified vehicles.

Maserati has pushed back the MC20's debut, which was originally set for later this month but will now take place in September.

When it arrives, the Maserati MC20 will be the first all-new model made by the Italian car-maker since the Levante was introduced back in 2016.