MC20 Cielo

Make
Maserati
Segment
Compact

In December of last year, Maserati officially teased the convertible version of the MC20 supercar for the first time. A bespoke V6 engine and an open top? Count us in, and once we learned the sexy name of the car, our excitement only grew further. A few days ago, our anticipation came to a head as Maserati finally revealed the MC20 Cielo (Italian for sky) in all its glory, but sadly, the reveal images were not accompanied by any depictions of the clever glass roof that the supercar was equipped with.

Maserati has now seen to that oversight by providing us with an informative video showing us how the clever roof works.

Disappointingly, the video is a digitalized render of the real thing, but we do still see the technology in action. By pressing a button on the central touchscreen, one can turn the electrochromic glass from opaque to clear, and back again. The touchscreen also allows you to fold the glass roof, stowing it below the distinctive Maserati trident emblazoned across the engine cover.

According to Maserati, opening or closing the roof takes just 12 seconds, which is handy for when you encounter a sudden downpour. We think this makes the Cielo the pick of the MC20 offerings so far (an electric version is on the way), as you get a practical roof and the drama and pleasure of open-air driving with few drawbacks.

The Maserati MC20 Cielo only weighs 143 pounds more than the coupe and is powered by the same Nettuno V6. This means 3.0 liters of capacity, two turbochargers, and 621 horsepower with 538 lb-ft of torque, all of which goes to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Zero to 62 mph takes just 2.9 seconds, and the top speed resides at the crest of 200 mph.

The entire package is a case study in Italian design, showcasing flair, drama, and engineering prowess in one gorgeous machine, but the cost of ownership is similarly lofty, with the MSRP estimated to be around $240,000.