On a remote regional airport runway, the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider and Maserati MC20 Cielo delivered a revealing demonstration of how modern supercars perform when stripped of ideal drag strip conditions. Conducted by the team at CarExpert, the comparison explored not only outright acceleration, but also how each machine handled an unprepared and increasingly slippery runway surface.
The Ferrari immediately established itself as the more aggressive package. Powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 720 hp and 770 Nm of torque, the 488 Pista Spider can sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 2.85 seconds before reaching a top speed of 340 km/h.
The Maserati MC20 Cielo countered with impressive balance and launch capability. Its carbon-fiber chassis and twin-turbo 3.0-liter Nettuno V6 generate 630 hp and 730 Nm, enabling a claimed 0-100 km/h time of under 3.0 seconds and a top speed exceeding 320 km/h.
In practice, the MC20 Cielo proved surprisingly competitive during initial launches, remaining nearly level with the Ferrari up to around 130 km/h thanks to its strong traction and responsive power delivery. However, once speeds climbed, the Ferrari’s relentless mid-range torque and explosive top-end acceleration became overwhelming. The 488 Pista Spider repeatedly pulled away with dramatic force during both standing-start and roll races, even while struggling for traction on the compromised surface.
The roll races particularly emphasized Ferrari’s engineering advantage. The Pista’s twin-turbo V8 delivered immense thrust through multiple gears with virtually no perceptible turbo lag, highlighting why the model remains one of Ferrari’s most ferocious non-hybrid performance cars. Meanwhile, the MC20 Cielo demonstrated impressive composure, exotic styling, and accessible usability, positioning it as a refined yet still highly capable modern Italian supercar.
Source: CarExpert
