When it comes to sports cars, you can’t go without a convertible. Almost a third of PS cars are sold in the open version. No wonder then that Maserati, two years after its launch MC20 sports car Followed by a convertible.
However, this Spyder is not called, as is customary with previously open Maseratis or Italian colleagues from Maranello or Sant’Agata, but is called Cielo. It’s Italian for heaven. This is exactly what should make the open MC20 bring passengers closer to it. For this purpose, Maserati has developed a new type of retractable roof that makes convertible traffic jams more bearable.
Transformation Paradox
On hot summer days, many people drive their convertibles from top to bottom – especially in urban areas or in traffic jams. The reason: Once the wind stops getting cold, it can get unbearably hot under the scorching sun in the mostly black leather interior.
This can be prevented in the MC20 Cielo: thanks to new technology, it can create a convertible feel even though the top is closed. With the push of a button, the retractable opaque roof transforms into a transparent glass roof and lets in the sun. Liquid crystals in the ceiling can be affected by the application of a voltage so that the ceiling blocks sunlight or is transparent. This also provides better heat and noise insulation compared to some other convertible surfaces.
Transferable Standard
Of course, the glass roof can also be operated like a classic solid surface. It opens and closes in twelve seconds without affecting the rear load area and the 100-liter capacity. Up front, the MC20 packs another 50 liters.
The weight of the high-tech roof is a disadvantage, especially for sports cars. It makes the MC20 65kg heavier – and an empty car is now 1,540kg. W: The glass roof increases the car’s center of gravity – a minor drawback in terms of driving dynamics, especially in sports cars.
Maserati power
But given the performance, the empty weight becomes secondary anyway. The V6 biturbo engine developed by Maserati also generates 630 hp (463 kW) and a maximum torque of 730 Nm in the Open Spyder. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission transmits power to the road through the rear wheels. The 4.67-meter MC20 sprints to 100 km/h in three seconds, and reaches 200 km/h after 9.2 seconds, before hitting a speed of over 320 km/h.
Minor aerodynamic tweaks were also made. In addition, the mechanical drive mode switch has been replaced by a digital switch with a small screen. A front axle lift function is also available as an option for the Spyder, to raise the front 50mm over steep bumps or slopes – so there are no dents on the front wing.
The first prototypes of the Maserati MC20 Cielo will arrive in Switzerland early next year. Prices are not yet known.
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