This new drop-top Maserati features a retractable glass roof to better hear that twin-turbo V6 roar.
Following the local launch of its coupe counterpart last year, Maserati has recently debuted the MC20 Cielo in Malaysia. The Italian word for sky, one of the main highlights of this Italian drop-top supercar is its new retractable glass roof.
Featuring a state-of-the-art electrochromic (smart glass) panel that incorporates Advanced Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology, Maserati touts for its roof to be capable of instantly transforming from clear to opaque at the touch of a button on the central infotainment touchscreen. A feature which likely would come in handy over here, where the sun is typically oh so scorching.
This new hard top apparently is ranked as the best-in-class for thermal insulation too, which is a certainly another selling point for this Maserati over here in tropical Malaysia. And on the off chance that the sun is momentarily blocked by clouds, the Cielo’s roof can be fully retracted (at a touch of the screen) in a rather quick 12 seconds to better experience the MC20’s party piece — its engine.
Featuring the same twin-turbo 3.0-litre Nettuno 90º V6 and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission as its coupe counterpart, the Cielo therefore unsurprisingly packs the equivalent 630 hp and 730 Nm of torque as its fixed roof twin. Its drop-top transition unfortunately did add 56 kg to the kerb weight, which in turn does mean that the century sprint time of this spyder is now slightly over 3.0 seconds, instead of the more boast-worthy 2.9 seconds of the coupe.
Though having to lose out on a fraction of a second during the sprint to 100 km/h is arguably a nominal price to pay when there is the opportunity to better hear that sonorous V6, which between you and me is perhaps one of the best-sounding six-cylinders out there right now. Maserati has also promised for the Cielo’s carbon fibre chassis to still guarantee uncompromising torsional rigidity, and thus offers a combination of extraordinary handling on the road and on the track.
Most importantly however is that this drop-top still retains, and perhaps even improves on, the coupe’s award-winning looks. The twin buttresses that comes with the Cielo certainly adds a little bit more flair to the coupe’s sleek lines, with Maserati amazingly managed to retain the coupe’s butterfly doors on the cabriolet too.
This Malaysian launch version is further enhanced with a new three-layer metallic colour known as Acquamarina, which is available as part of the Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme. The base 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.
Now onto the more sensible stuff meanwhile, the two-seat cabin of this Maserati is outfitted with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a similarly-sized central infotainment touchscreen running the Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) Multimedia system. This new Spyder also introduces autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and a new 360° surround view camera to the list of existing safety tech from the coupe.
And if for whatever reason anyone is bored of the V6 roar, the MC20 Cielo can be equipped with an optional High Premium Sonus Faber surround sound system. An EISA award-winning in-vehicle audio system, this 12-speaker setup has been specifically optimised to fit the unique acoustic and positioning needs of this spyder’s cabin to result in the Natural Sound that distinguishes Sonus Faber audio systems.
Proudly touted to be 100% built in Modena, the Maserati MC20 Cielo lands locally priced from RM 1,228,000.00 before local duties and taxes, customisation options, and insurance. The price includes 3 years of Standard Warranty coverage with no mileage restriction, plus a free maintenance program of 3 years/60,000 km whichever comes first.
