Magnificent! The Maserati MC20 Cielo loses the roof, but retains its 630 hp twin-turbo V6

For  Maserati , as for most manufacturers, commercial success necessarily goes through the SUV box, they represent the majority of sales. But to be able to SUV on the tip of the blade, the brand needs a sporty image. And that explains the presence in the range of the  Maserati MC20 , now also available in a new  convertible version , the  Maserati MC20 Cielo .

The function of the MC20 is above all to generate an image and prestige that fall on the rest of the range. But that doesn't mean it won't sell. In fact, Maserati ensures that all production of the MC20 coupé until mid-2023 has already been sold. And to further reinforce the brand's exclusive look and sporty image, the logical next step was a convertible version.

From  the introduction of the MC20 coupe , it was obvious that it would have a Spyder version. What we didn't know was that the MC20 Cielo would have a retractable roof with the roof panel that can change from opaque to transparent, depending on the whim of the driver.

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This type of panoramic roof is not new in itself. However, the one offered by Maserati is different from what Mercedes-Benz and McLaren equip. The technology used by these two manufacturers is that of liquid crystals dispersed in a polymer. This makes it transparent when not flowing through a current, and can only change from a light tint at 30% to an "almost opaque" tint at 95%.

Maserati's glass roof, developed by Webasto  , is however fully opaque when the car is parked, becoming fully transparent if desired. In addition, it offers 96% ray reflection thanks to a filter layer at the bottom, as well as better thermal and acoustic insulation. Basically, it is the opposite of the Mercedes system, it is opaque when it is not crossed by an electric current.

Sportiness and performance intact compared to the MC20 coupé

The roof can be opened or closed while driving up to 50 km/h and it does so in 12 seconds. The roof and its mechanism represent 65 kg more weight than  the coupé, a fairly contained excess weight, which brings the total weight of the car to 1,540 kg.

Rigidity remains optimal thanks to  the monocoque carbon fiber  chassis, as well as the one-piece aluminum frame of the roof mechanism bolted between the monocoque and the rear shock towers. Furthermore, the weight distribution is the same as in the coupé, with 60% of the weight on the front axle and 40% on the front.

Cosmetically, the MC20 Cielo follows the trend of mid-engined convertibles, with two side bulges maintaining the coupé silhouette when viewed from the side, while the center of the entire rear now has a flat bonnet. This does not reveal the fantastic  V6 Nettuno , but optionally it can show the Maserati trident in XXL format.

Among the few cosmetic details that differentiate the Cielo from the coupe (apart from the roof, of course) are the new air intakes at the base of the rear fenders, at the base of the side skirts and at the rear of the hood. They are used to compensate for the lack of ventilation above the engine, due to the adoption of the new bonnet.

Under this trident hood, the size of which will not be to everyone's taste, the Cielo has the  Nettuno 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6  and dry sump with its pre-combustion chamber system. This process derives from racing and was first used on a production car in the MC20.

Power and torque continue to peak at  630bhp and 730Nm  , as in the coupe, while transmission to the rear wheels is still handled by the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Accelerations are almost identical, with  0-100 km/h in 3 seconds  and 0-200 km/h in 9.2 seconds (compared to 2.9 seconds and 8.8 seconds for the coupe), while the top speed is reduced by only 5 km/h. , reaching 320 km/h.

On board, no change compared to the coupe, except for a new round driving mode selector which becomes digital and tactile. The small screen displays the selected drive mode, as well as information about the suspension and ESC settings.

Five driving modes are available (Wet, GT, Sport, Corsa and ESC off) and each is associated with a different color on the screen. The same rotary switch also changes the suspension settings, with various options available depending on the drive mode.

Finally, the very compact roof which overhangs the engine offers a final advantage: the loading volume of the MC20 remains identical to that of the coupé, with a capacity of 100 liters in the rear boot, in addition to the 50 liters of the Forward.

The prices  for Spain of the Maserati MC20 Cielo are not yet known  (the coupé starts at 243,400 euros), but following the trend of other markets on which the prices are already known, it will be necessary to count around  30,000 euros more for the MC20 Cielo compared to the price of the coupé  . The first deliveries in Europe are scheduled for the end of 2022.