Jaw-Dropping Droptop

Maserati unveils the MC20 Cielo, a head-turner with horsepower.

Written by Andre James / Photos courtesy of Maserati

Maserati's super sports car is now also a spyder. The MC20 Cielo announces its special features through its name: MC stands for Maserati Corse ('Racing'); 20 refers to 2020, the year that began the brand's new era; Cielo ('sky') highlights the fact that it is a model devoted to driving pleasure in the great outdoors.

Developed at the Maserati Innovation Lab and produced at the historic plant on Viale Ciro Menotti, the spyder is 100% made in Italy and 100% made in Modena, as is the coupé version. Both models come equipped with a 621-HP V6 Nettuno twin-turbocharged engine, which Maserati says will make the 0-62mph sprint in 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph.

What distinguishes the spyder from its coupé sibling is a state-of-the-art electrochromic (smart glass) retractable roof. It can instantly be transformed from clear to opaque at the touch of a button on the central screen, courtesy of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology. The roof is also best-in-class in terms of thermal insulation and opening and closing speed, which is just 12 seconds.

Just as striking as the roof design are the butterfly doors, which serve the practical purpose of providing easier access into and out of the cabin while showing off the carbon fiber cockpit and the completely unmasked front wheel.

The Primaserie first edition of the MC20 Cielo features an exclusive new three-layer metallic color known as Acquamarina. Interacting with light to reveal itself in a surprising way, the base color is a pastel grey inspired by racing, reminiscent of the MC20's sporty DNA, accompanied by an iridescent aquamarine mica that enlivens the hue and makes it exceptional.

In addition to the parking sensors, rear-view camera, and blind spot monitoring included in the MC20 since model year 2202, the spyder adds a wide range of Active Safety Systems such as an autonomous emergency brake, traffic sign information, and a new 360° camera. MC20 Cielo comes equipped with an optional High Premium Sonus faber audio system. The MC20 Coupé system, an EISA award-winning in-vehicle audio system, has been specifically optimized to fit the spyder's cabin's unique acoustic and positioning needs. The system's 12 speakers are situated to elicit the Natural Sound that distinguishes Sonus faber audio systems. The in-car experience is managed from the Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) Multimedia system and from Maserati Connect.

Pricing will be announced closer to the model's on-sale date in the coming months. sl