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June 13, 2022
Test drive the Maserati MC20: A versatile super sports car for everything from the circuit to resort | Maserati
Maserati MC20 Cielo | Maserati MC20 Cielo
Maserati MC20 | The Maserati MC20
Maserati's Latest Spyder, the MC20 Cielo, Makes its World Premiere
Maserati has held the world premiere of the MC20 Cielo, a spyder model of its mid-engined super sports car, the MC20, at its headquarters in Modena, Italy. Automotive journalist Fumio Ogawa, who attended the event, reports on the proceedings and offers his test drive impressions of the MC20.
Text by OGAWA Fumio | Photographs by Maserati
The Roof Section Features a Hardtop with Electric Opening and Closing
Maserati is on a roll, and it's impossible to take your eyes off them right now. In 2020, they announced the coupe "MC20," which adopted combustion technology similar to that used in F1 cars. On May 25, 2022, they unveiled the full convertible model, the "MC20 Cielo," at a special venue within their Modena headquarters.
I attended this press premiere. You might wonder about the unusual name, "Cielo." In Italian, it's written "cielo," meaning "sky." Maserati uses the tagline "Enjoy the Sky," promoting it as a car for enjoying the open air.
On a stage set up in a corner of the Modena factory where the MC20 is produced, the ceiling immediately caught my eye. Images of the sky were projected onto it, changing rapidly as if fast-forwarding through a day.
Then, as the appointed time arrived, the stage lights dimmed. With the fierce roar of the 630ps 3-liter V6 "Nettuno" engine, the MC20 Cielo emerged center stage, driven by Maserati CEO Davide Grasso.
"The Maserati brand hero is the sports car. We meet customer expectations in all elements, including innovation, experience, and design. There was a period when Maserati's quality and performance declined somewhat. Now is the time to regain our former glory."
Grasso stated this proudly in an interview.
The MC20's defining feature is its high-rigidity, lightweight chassis, constructed as a carbon-fiber monocoque. This is combined with the mid-ship layout of the 3-liter engine, which, as mentioned earlier, employs pre-ignition chamber ignition technology.
The car's name derives from Maserati Corse (racing). The numbers signify 2020, the year Maserati designated as a major turning point.
The roof is a hardtop that opens and closes electrically. When it retracts, a large Maserati "Trident" logo is displayed on the rear deck. Every time the roof is operated in the city, this Trident is showcased to following cars and passersby. The opening and closing process takes just 12 seconds.
This hardtop is fitted with special glass. With a switch inside the cabin, its transparency can be adjusted. While not as multi-staged as McLaren's system, you can choose between near-transparency and a shade that blocks out sunlight.
Maserati calls this "Smart Glass." This functionality is enabled by PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) film, which allows for low-voltage operation.