MC20 vs F8 Tributo: Which Supercar to Drive in Italy
The Ferrari F8 Tributo is the sharper, louder and faster car on paper: a 720 hp V8 against the Maserati MC20’s 630 hp V6. The MC20 is the calmer, more distinctive one, with a carbon-fiber tub and a design that turns heads for being unexpected. For a driver arriving in Italy, the right choice depends less on the spec sheet than on the kind of days you plan: winding mountain passes and a soundtrack, or long, elegant stretches between Milan, the lakes and the Tuscan hills.
Both cars are mid-engined, two-seat, rear-driven supercars built a short drive apart, and both deliver 0 to 100 km/h in about 2.9 seconds. What separates them is character. Below you will find the numbers, the differences you feel from the driver’s seat, and how to decide which one belongs on your itinerary.
TL;DR
The F8 Tributo has the V8 (720 hp, 3.9 L twin-turbo); the MC20 has the Nettuno V6 (630 hp, 3.0 L twin-turbo). Both reach 100 km/h in about 2.9 seconds.
The F8 is lighter and quicker at the top end, with a claimed 340 km/h against the MC20’s 325 km/h.
The MC20 is built around a carbon-fiber cell and offers a pure, unfiltered feel; the F8 is the more theatrical, track-bred Ferrari made usable every day.
On Italian roads, where limits cap your speed, character, sound and comfort matter more than top speed.
Ask us which is available for your dates: we guarantee the exact model you book.
Table of Contents
The numbers side by side
Start with the facts that do not depend on opinion. The figures below come from the manufacturers and from a comparison published by the Italian sports daily Tuttosport, which put the two cars against each other when the MC20 was unveiled.
Maserati MC20 | Ferrari F8 Tributo | |
Engine | 3.0 L twin-turbo V6 (Nettuno) | 3.9 L twin-turbo V8 |
Power | 630 hp | 720 hp |
Torque | 730 Nm | 770 Nm |
0 to 100 km/h | 2.9 s | 2.9 s |
Top speed | 325 km/h | 340 km/h |
Weight | 1,500 kg | 1,435 kg |
Length | 4,669 mm | 4,611 mm |
Width | 2,178 mm | 1,979 mm |
Height | 1,224 mm | 1,206 mm |
The engine, power, torque, weight and speed figures are reported in Tuttosport’s head-to-head, and Maserati confirms the MC20’s 630 hp V6 and sub-2.9-second sprint on its own page. Dimensions are listed by CarWale’s comparison tool. Ferrari describes the F8 as a mid-rear-engined berlinetta with a 720 cv V8.
Two details deserve attention. First, the MC20 is noticeably wider, by roughly 20 cm if you count the published figures, which matters on narrow village streets and in the stone-lined ZTL edges of historic centers. Second, the F8 is about 65 kg lighter, which helps explain how it reaches a higher top speed with only a modest power advantage over the Maserati’s torque curve.
Engines: V8 theater against a bespoke V6
The F8 Tributo’s V8 is the story of the car. Ferrari names it as a homage to the most powerful V8 in the company’s history, and Tuttosport describes the engine as being at the peak of its development. It is a twin-turbo unit that builds speed with an urgency and a rising, hard-edged note that suits tunnels and mountain hairpins.
The MC20’s Nettuno V6 takes another route. Tuttosport points out that it is an engine produced by Maserati itself. It is smaller, lighter-sounding and more precise than it is theatrical. The torque difference is small on paper, 730 Nm against 770 Nm, and in real driving the cars feel closer than the power gap suggests, which is why they match each other from rest to 100 km/h.
In Italy this matters in a particular way. You will rarely have the chance to use more than a fraction of either car’s performance. Autostrada limits are generally 130 km/h, and mountain roads reward balance, not outright speed. So the question becomes: which engine do you want to hear and feel through a long day? If the answer is a V8 with a Ferrari’s drama, choose the F8. If you prefer a refined, more modern and slightly more unusual character, choose the MC20.
Design, chassis and how each car drives
The two cars are quite different underneath. Tuttosport notes that the MC20 is built around a carbon-fiber chassis, while the F8 uses an aluminum and magnesium architecture. That shows up in the feel: ANSA’s road test describes the MC20 as agile, with genuine response to inputs and a pure, unfiltered way of driving.
The F8 takes the opposite approach to aerodynamics. It pushes hard on airflow, with an S-Duct at the front and a rear diffuser with active elements. The MC20 relies on its underbody and extractor and has a cleaner shape without moving parts. Maserati’s own launch material describes a sleek, aerodynamic line without movable appendages and a distinctive personality.
Ferrari, for its part, presents the F8 as a significant step forward from the 488 GTB in aerodynamics, power and handling. It also pairs the 720 hp with dynamic systems such as the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE+), which is designed to make extreme performance reachable for a wider range of drivers. If you want to understand how the F8 sits within its own family, our guide to the 488 versus F8 Tributo walks through the step up.
In plain terms:
F8 Tributo: sharper, more urgent, more dramatic. A car that rewards a driver who wants the event of it.
MC20: cleaner, calmer and more individual. A car that rewards a driver who wants precision and a design few others will be driving.
Cabin, comfort and everyday use
Both cabins are focused on the driver, but they do it differently. The MC20’s interior combines the carbon tub with leather and Alcantara and a 10.3-inch infotainment screen, according to ANSA. The F8 develops the classic Ferrari layout with a new human-machine interface and a dedicated touchscreen for the passenger, as Ferrari describes it. That passenger display is a real advantage on a long trip: whoever is not driving can handle navigation or music without interrupting the driver.
Quattroruote described the F8 as a “user-friendly 488 Pista”, delivering track-level performance with better everyday usability than earlier Ferraris. That is a fair summary of why the F8 works well as a rental: it behaves politely in traffic and in town, then wakes up when the road opens.
A few practical points for an Italian itinerary:
Width: the MC20’s extra width calls for more care in narrow lanes, hotel driveways and parking garages. The F8 is easier to place.
Entry and exit: both are low, two-seat cars. Plan for soft luggage, not hard cases, and pack light for a couple.
Heat and traffic: summer in Rome or Florence is slow and hot. Both cars cope, but you will want the days that include them to be short.
Parking and ZTL: limited traffic zones apply to most historic centers regardless of the car. Book hotels that offer secure parking, and ask your host about ZTL access before you arrive.
Price, rarity and the used market
New-car pricing is where reliable figures run out. The F8 Tributo is no longer in production. Ferrari’s own reporting says the F8 Tributo reached the end of its life cycle in the first quarter of 2023, so what you see on the road is a car from a closed chapter, which is part of its appeal to collectors and enthusiasts. For current list or used values, confirm with an official dealer or a specialist, since the figures move with options, mileage and market.
The MC20 is a more recent presence. In the UK, PistonHeads’ used buying guide noted in September 2025 that used values were low and that there were not many used Cielo convertibles for sale. In Italy, Maserati presents the car through its dealers, for example Rossocorsa in Milan and Brescia.
For a renter, this mostly means one thing: neither car is something you can simply walk into a showroom and borrow for a weekend. Renting is how most people experience them without the commitment of ownership, maintenance or storage.
Which one fits your trip?
Use this as a quick decision guide.
Your priority | Better pick |
Sound, drama, a V8 Ferrari experience | F8 Tributo |
Highest performance and top-end speed | F8 Tributo |
Carbon-fiber purity and a distinctive look | MC20 |
Arriving somewhere unnoticed by the usual supercar crowd | MC20 |
Easier on narrow streets | F8 Tributo |
A passenger who wants to share the experience on a screen | F8 Tributo |
A refined, precise weekend on open roads | MC20 |
If you are touring the lakes and the north
From Milan toward Lake Como, Lake Garda and the Dolomites, the MC20 is a rewarding companion: wide sweeping roads, long tunnels and the sort of scenery where a calm, precise car is a pleasure. The F8 fits the same route, with more sound in every tunnel.
If you are heading to Tuscany and the south
Tuscany’s hill roads reward a car that is easy to place and responsive at low speed. The F8’s smaller footprint and Ferrari’s work on usability give it an edge, particularly when the road narrows through a village.
If the occasion is a celebration or a business arrival
For an event, a wedding or an arrival at a meeting, the choice is visual. A Ferrari says one thing instantly. A Maserati MC20 says something quieter and perhaps more personal. Neither is wrong; it depends on the impression you want to make.
If you are still weighing brands more broadly, our comparison of Ferrari versus Lamborghini for Italy touring and Ferrari versus Porsche in Italy covers the wider field.
Our perspective
We hear this question in different forms, and our answer is always built around the trip, not the badge. The F8 Tributo is the car for the driver who wants Italy to have a soundtrack. The V8 is unmistakable, the car is approachable at low speed, and it makes every tunnel and every pass feel like an event. The MC20 is for the driver who wants something just as quick but more personal: a carbon-fiber car with a calm, confident presence that does not look like everyone else’s supercar. What we care about most is that you get exactly what you booked. We guarantee the model you choose, and we help you match it to your route, your luggage and your plans, so the car becomes a confident start to your day and not a compromise. Delivery to your hotel, villa or airport means you step straight into the schedule instead of a queue. If you cannot decide, tell us the route, the number of days and what you want to feel. We will recommend the car that fits, and if the one you have in mind is not available for your dates, we will say so plainly and offer the closest alternative. andrea
Reserve your drive in Italy
We offer Ferrari and Maserati hire across Italy, with personal recommendations, flexible rental durations and delivery to the address you choose. Browse our Ferrari rental in Italy and Maserati rental in Italy pages, or tell us your dates and we will confirm what is available.
For the wider range, from Lamborghini to Porsche and Aston Martin, start at our luxury car rental in Italy page. Rental prices depend on the model, season and duration, so request a quote for your exact dates.
FAQ
Which is faster, the MC20 or the F8 Tributo?
Both are reported to reach 100 km/h in about 2.9 seconds. The F8 has more power (720 hp against 630 hp), is lighter at 1,435 kg against 1,500 kg, and reaches a higher top speed of 340 km/h against 325 km/h. On Italian roads, you are unlikely to notice the top-speed difference.
Is the Ferrari F8 Tributo still made?
No. Ferrari reported that the F8 Tributo reached the end of its life cycle in the first quarter of 2023. That makes it the last of its kind for many enthusiasts, and a car that is now available mainly through used sales and rental.
Which is easier to drive in Italian towns?
The F8 Tributo is narrower, at 1,979 mm against 2,178 mm for the MC20, so it is easier to place in tight streets and parking garages. Both are low two-seaters, so check ZTL rules and parking with your hotel before arrival.
Can I choose the exact model when I hire?
Yes. We guarantee that you receive the exact luxury model you book, and we can deliver it to your preferred location. Contact us with your dates so we can confirm availability for the car you want.
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