Maserati MC20 Takes To The Sky With New Cielo Convertible

Just when you thought the MC20 supercar couldn't get any better, Maserati decided to chop off its roof and create another great set of wheels, the MC20 Cielo. The Cielo (sky in Italian) keeps the coupe's sinister-sounding Nettuno V6 and potent driving manners, while also allowing passengers to enjoy the open air. Talk about best of both worlds.

Like we said before, you'll find the same twin-turbo Nettuno V6 behind the seats, and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission hasn't gone anywhere. The Cielo even keeps all of the coupe's 621 horses, and torque output also remains the same. Amazingly, Maserati was able to take the MC20 coupe's great performance and drop it into the Cielo despite some small design adjustments.

And when we say small design adjustments, we mean it. Aside from adding a new convertible-style retractable roof, the Cielo's overall styling is familiar. The coupe's trident-shaped air vent covering the engine bay is no longer needed with the roadster body style, so a matte titanium decal takes its place. Consequently, the air intakes have been moved to a lower position on the rear of the supercar. In terms of functional design tweaks, that's about it. The automaker even managed to hold on to the coupe's cool butterfly doors, in order to keep the "wow factor." But the Cielo doesn't always have to be like the coupe, so Maserati decided to differentiate it with a new double-X wheel design. These rims are made of a fancy diamond-cut alloy, but a more lightweight carbon fiber option is available to keep that extra 66 pounds at bay.

Another interesting feature that coupe owners can't have is a chromatic "smart glass" panel on the retractable roof. It features polymer-dispersed liquid crystal technology, which allows it to turn opaque or clear at the push of a button. Maserati boasts that this glass panel is the largest in the supercar segment. If the actual open sky is what satisfies you most, that same button opens up the roof in just 12 seconds.

To celebrate the arrival of its "one-of-a-kind spyder," Maserati will offer a PrimaSerie special edition at launch, which will be capped at just 60 units. Of course, this limited-production variant has a lot of bespoke features compared to standard MC20 Cielos, including a unique three-layer Acquamarina exterior paint color. It blends a shade of "racing-inspired" gray with iridescent aquamarine mica, and interacts with surrounding light. This fresh, sky-like paint job is also available in Maserati's Fuoriserie customization program. The cabin gets some unique details too, with ice-colored Alcantara leather upholstery and aquamarine contrast stitching throughout.

Maserati hasn't disclosed any information about pricing or release dates, but we know that the MC20 Cielo will arrive for the 2023 model year. Also expect a slight price bump over the coupe version.

Would you prefer the Cielo over the MC20 coupe?

Images: Maserati