Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.A High-Octane OrderThe Maserati MC20 – which has since evolved into the MCPura – emerged this decade as a compelling alternative to the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren Artura. It was rarer and featured a non-hybrid, twin-turbo Nettuno V6 producing 621 horsepower. One notable personality drawn to the supercar was Grammy-winning South African DJ and producer Black Coffee, though after a legal dispute, he may now start looking elsewhere.Business Insider Africa reported that Black Coffee, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, ordered an MC20 Cielo – the convertible variant – through a trade-in deal involving his MC20 Coupe, which he bought in 2022 for R7 million, or about $438,000 at current exchange rates. The MC20 Cielo cost R9 million (about $564,000), but the trade-in meant he would only need to pay the remaining R2 million (about $125,000) upon delivery.Source: @realblackcoffee/Instagram@realblackcoffee/InstagramTrouble Starts BrewingHis company, Soulistic Music, maintained that the car was expected by July 2025, but Maserati later said it would only enter production in August 2025. Black Coffee cancelled the transaction and demanded the return of the trade-in value before the Johannesburg High Court recently granted summary judgment in his favor.AdvertisementAdvertisementInterestingly, the dealership reportedly told Black Coffee that, because of his international profile, the Maserati factory had made a special exception to secure him a production slot. Black Coffee – who won Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2022 Grammys – also selected 18 specifications for the MC20 Cielo, but Maserati South Africa argued that some of them were not included in the original quotation.The company claimed it never agreed to deliver the vehicle by July 2025. Its court filings also stated that a customized MC20 Cielo requires at least nine months to produce after its specifications are finalized.However, because the court order reportedly did not provide detailed reasons for granting summary judgment, determining who was responsible for the failed transaction remains difficult. Black Coffee's victory also does not mean that Maserati committed fraud or deliberately deceived him.MaseratiAn Expensive Cup of CoffeeThe Johannesburg High Court ordered Maserati to pay R7 million (about $438,000) to Soulistic Music. It must also pay annual interest of 10.5% from August 22, 2025, until the full amount is settled, along with the legal costs of the proceedings.AdvertisementAdvertisementSuch a deal could have benefited Maserati, as customized vehicles tend to offer higher margins, while Black Coffee's popularity could have brought the brand additional exposure. It remains unclear whether the automaker will appeal the decision.MaseratiView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.