Maserati has just unveiled the convertible version of its slinky V6 supercar, the MC20. Called the MC20 Cielo, the Italian company has decided to do things a little differently...
Liquid crystal roof
Not for the MC20 Cielo a conventional folding fabric roof, nor even a hard-top - no, the Cielo instead gets a folding glass roof. Yup, glass and not just ordinary glass. This roof uses Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology, which allows you, at the touch of a button, to turn it from clear to opaque. So you can have your MC20 Cielo open to the sky even with the roof closed.
Maserati claims that the roof is "a first of its kind and best-in-class in terms of thermal insulation, of opening and closing speed, just 12 seconds, and of how it epitomises the best in technology." The roof has been developed in co-operation with convertible experts at Webasto. The roof has been designed so that it doesn't corrupt the MC20's styling, nor its aerodynamic performance. Speaking of which, special attention has been paid to the way the air flows into and around the cockpit, so that you can have your roof down without losing your wig.
Maserati says that it has also worked hard to ensure that the Cielo didn't put on weight relative to its coupe sister. Generally, convertibles have to be much heavier, thanks to the weight of the roof mechanism and the extra chassis and body strengthening needed, but the Cielo is just 65kg heavier than the coupe MC20. That's thanks largely to the fact that the Cielo uses a carbon-fibre chassis, which is left bare in parts to show off the lightweight tech.
Stunning colour
While the rest of the MC20 Cielo's styling is as dramatic as you might expect, Maserati has also decided to show it off with a new colour - known as Acquamarina, it is available as part of the Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme. The new shade is described as: "A fresh, luminous and light shade. An iridescent colour, in its interaction with light, revealing itself in a surprising way."
Launch versions also get a striking, light-coloured interior (plain black is still available if subtle is your thing...) and the headrests can be had with a hand-stitched Maserati trident badge if you like.
That launch version, called the PrimaSerie Launch Edition, will be limited to just 60 cars, and will come with gold-finished 20-inch wheels, which feature laser-engraved "PrimaSerie" wording. As with the updated coupe for the 2023 model year, the Cielo also gets updated cabin controls and a bright blue engine start button. There's also, for the first time, an electric steering column adjuster (which Maserati claims adds only 700g in extra weight).
630hp V6 engine
Engine-wise, there's no change from the coupe - the MC20 Cielo uses the same 'Nettuno' 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, developing 630hp at 7,500rpm and 730Nm of torque from 3,000rpm. The setup comes with five driving modes, selectable by the driver - Wet, GT, Sport, Corsa and ESC Off. Each one is identified by its own colour: Wet is green; GT blue; Sport red; Corsa yellow; ESC Off orange. Corsa is, of course, the most extreme mode, and is really for track days.
The MC20 Cielo gets double-wishbone suspension front and rear, with adaptive dampers that have three settings - Soft, Mid and Hard. You can do the maths on those yourselves... Power from the engine goes to the rear wheels, via an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Braking is by 380mm (front) and 350mm (rear) Brembo discs with six-piston calipers at the front. A carbon-ceramic braking system is optional.
On the tech front, you get a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which comes with a Maserati digital assistant. This is based on Google Android software, and you can optionally incorporate Amazon Alexa voice control. You can also have a high-end Sonus sound system, just in case that engine isn't quite musical enough for you.
Maserati hasn't officially confirmed it yet, but the Cielo should - as with the MC20 coupe - be getting a fully electric version in the next year or so. Maserati has committed to becoming an all-electric brand by 2030, and will start later this year with an all-electric replacement for the GranTurismo coupe, apparently featuring a 1,200hp electric setup. All-electric models will get the 'Folgore' or 'Lightning' badge. Unlike other brands in the vast Stellantis group, which will share a common electric architecture, Maserati will get bespoke platforms for now. The brand will launch five fully-electric models between now and 2030.