For true automotive aficionados, their love for cars often ignites from witnessing legends like Stewart, Prost, Senna, and Schumacher battle for Formula 1 supremacy. Today’s generation might point to Lewis Hamilton as their motorsport inspiration.
My own automotive passion, however, stems from a less conventional source: Speed Racer. Yes, that’s right, a cartoon sparked my lifelong fascination with cars, specifically open-top sports cars. While coupes may historically boast performance advantages, it’s the targas, spiders, and cabriolets that truly capture the Mach 5 spirit I’ve been chasing since childhood.
This brings us to the breathtaking Maserati MC20 Cielo. The moment I saw this convertible marvel at Monterey Car Week, I knew it was special. The sleek lines and promise of open-air thrills instantly captivated me. Finally, after months of anticipation, I had the chance to experience both the Cielo and its coupe sibling in Italy, alongside the new GranTurismo models. The question was: could Maserati truly bring my childhood dreams to life?
And the price for realizing those Speed Racer fantasies? Around $250,000.
Maserati
Nettuno V6 Engine: A Supercar Soundtrack
The first sensory explosion upon igniting the MC20, coupe or convertible, is the roar of the twin-turbocharged Nettuno V6 engine. Initially, the sound might evoke a diesel tractor cold-start, far from the expected V12 symphony. Yet, this isn’t your typical supercar powerplant. It boasts an equal number of spark plugs as a V12, thanks to its innovative dual combustion chamber design. This technology, coupled with twin turbos, unleashes an astonishing 621 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque, all channeled to the rear wheels. Maserati claims a blistering 0-60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds for both variants, with a top speed exceeding 200 mph. Impressive figures for a three-liter engine.
As the engine warms, its character evolves. A gentle throttle input reveals a snarl, a growl hinting at its potent nature. At lower RPMs, the subtle whistle of the turbos is audible, but as the tachometer needle climbs past 3,000, the Nettuno V6 transforms into a full-fledged supercar orchestra. While the coupe delivers this auditory delight directly behind your head, the Cielo elevates the experience, especially with the top down, amplifying the engine’s crescendo.
Cielo: Italian for Sky, Performance for the Road
The name “Cielo,” Italian for “sky” (pronounced chielo), perfectly encapsulates the convertible nature of this MC20 variant. Weighing in at approximately 3,400 pounds, it carries a mere 143-pound weight increase over the coupe. Crucially, the carbon fiber monocoque, the car’s structural backbone, was engineered from the outset to accommodate the convertible version. This foresight ensures comparable rigidity between the coupe and Cielo, although the latter features a slightly softer front suspension setup.
The roof mechanism on the MC20 Cielo operates flawlessly at speeds up to 31 mph.
Maserati
Driving Dynamics: Unleashing the MC20 Cielo on Italian Roads
Venturing beyond Rome’s autostrade into the Lazio countryside reveals a network of driver-centric roads, perfect for exploiting the MC20 Cielo’s capabilities. These routes, with their mix of straights and challenging curves, become your playground. Planting your foot unleashes brutal acceleration, pinning you to your seat as the world blurs. When deceleration is needed, the phenomenal Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes respond with minimal pedal effort, inspiring immense confidence. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission executes lightning-fast gear changes, keeping the engine in its sweet spot.
Steering is razor-sharp, responsive, and surprisingly light, yet communicative. Grip levels are phenomenal, even on winter tires fitted for the cooler Italian climate.
Maserati offers four distinct driving modes: Wet, GT, Sport, and Corsa. Given the dry conditions during my test drives, the Wet mode remained unexplored. GT mode excels for relaxed highway cruising and urban driving, though the throttle response feels somewhat subdued unless deliberately prodded. Sport mode awakens the MC20 Cielo, delivering eager responses and heightened agility. The steering gains weight and feedback, while the traction control allows for playful rear-end movement before intervening.
While cautioned against Corsa mode on winter tires due to disabled traction aids, curiosity (and journalistic duty) compelled me to experience the loudest exhaust setting. The auditory experience was exhilarating, but even a brief burst of acceleration on a rural road confirmed the validity of the warning. After all, piloting a $250,000 machine that isn’t yours demands a degree of caution.
Each driving mode also offers two suspension settings. This adaptability allows drivers to tailor the ride for varying road surfaces, maintaining responsiveness even on less-than-perfect pavement.
The Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta, a vintage beauty that served as a design muse for the MC20.
Maserati
Design Inspiration: From Vintage Maserati to Modern Supercar
Contrary to my childhood fantasies of a Mach 5-inspired design, the MC20’s aesthetics draw from Maserati’s rich heritage, specifically the A6GCS Berlinetta.
“Shape-wise, it’s completely different, right?” Klaus Busse, Maserati’s head of design, acknowledged. “But what always inspired me about the A6GCS was this super clean fuselage upper design. It’s very pure, very clean, and then this kind of brutal cutaway of the dorsal and the exposure of technology.”
The design team also incorporated cues from classic Formula 1 cars like the Maserati 250F, evident in the MC20 Cielo’s low and wide front grille.
The Maserati MC20 Cielo transcends mere transportation; it’s a rolling work of art, a head-turning sculpture in motion. Driving through traffic near Ostia, just outside Rome, the Cielo became an instant magnet for attention. Witnessing every driver crane their necks in unison as I passed was almost comical, a testament to the car’s visual magnetism.
While not the most plush grand tourer, the MC20 Cielo’s interior is perfectly suited for a 2.7-second 0-60 mph supercar.
Maserati
Interior and Features: Minimalist Supercar Cabin
Inside the MC20 coupe and Cielo, the material palette is distinctly modern sports car: carbon fiber and microsuede dominate, minimizing distractions. The sport seats are firm and supportive, prioritizing performance driving, though perhaps not ideal for extended eight-hour journeys.
Unlike the gadget-laden Mach 5, the MC20’s steering wheel controls are refreshingly functional: ignition, launch control, phone, volume, and cruise control – the sole driver’s aid. The philosophy is clear: this Maserati is designed for driver engagement, not autonomous operation.
The defining feature of the Cielo, naturally, is its retractable roof. This isn’t just any convertible top; it’s a technologically advanced electrochromic glass panel. When closed, it can tint to adjust cabin light levels. When open, the transformation occurs in a swift 12 seconds. Operation is possible at speeds up to 31 mph, controlled via the central touchscreen. While effective, the touchscreen interface for roof operation isn’t the most intuitive, even Maserati’s representatives needed a moment to locate the controls.
During my initial drive, the navigation system decided to update itself and subsequently went offline. A minor inconvenience, resulting in a slightly extended, and arguably more enjoyable, driving route. La vita è bella.
Adventure’s Waiting Just Ahead
Historically, convertible supercars often suffered performance compromises compared to their coupe counterparts. However, advancements in automotive technology have minimized this gap. In the MC20 Cielo, the performance difference is virtually imperceptible.
Consequently, the Maserati MC20 Cielo’s appeal extends beyond Speed Racer enthusiasts like myself. Its blend of breathtaking performance, stunning design, and open-top exhilaration will undoubtedly attract a wide range of supercar aficionados. And for those who do share my childhood automotive fantasies, I couldn’t resist configuring a Mach 5-inspired Cielo on Maserati’s website…
Now we’re talking.
Maserati
Perhaps Maserati could even incorporate an “M” racing stripe and the number 5 on the door?
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