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Review of Maserati MC20 Cielo – Italian jewel convertible


When it comes to the topic of driving in nirvana, there aren’t many top ideas about driving an Italian supercar in the Italian countryside. So when an invitation came in from Maserati to test drive the new car MC20 Cielo In Sicily, there’s no way it could be turned down, not just for what we’re going to do but for the car we’re going to do it for.

The MC20 Cielo is of course a convertible version of the brand’s flagship supercar, the MC20 Coupé. ‘Cielo’ means sky in Italian and in Maserati’s parlance, a lucky few of us will get to experience much of it with this car, top or bottom.

Before that, a little story back. Not only is the MC20 significant overall because it’s the first mid-engined Maserati in two decades, but it’s also the first model where you can’t say ‘Oh, that’s just a Ferrari with a different engine.” It heralds a new era of independence – built from the ground up like a Maserati, with a own enginebut more on this later.

What lies ahead in our drive around the Southwest region of Sicily is not something we could have expected or imagined. Before our three-hour journey, we will travel more than 200 kilometers from the Masseria Della Volpe villa, the first thing that Maserati designers and engineers present at the flag-raising ceremony eagerly demonstrated was the roof. how quickly and easily the house can be retracted.

All in just 12 seconds. Not only was it quick, but the two-piece glasses were almost silent. As the people of Maserati pointed out, this is because the electric motor (rather than the hydraulic one) is used for quieter operation.

It was possible to drive slowly out of the villa’s courtyard and onto the main road, but Cielo was quick to display the great touring qualities that Maserati intended to possess. Sure, it took me a few kilometers to get used to the car, but before I knew it, the Cielo had become a friend and ally in the long run.

Whether it was intentional or not, the first few stages of the drive – when navigating through the narrow streets of Noto and Buccheri – really offer a chance to see what the big Cielo will be like. when it is not driven fast. Sure, a better view of the curb and edge would be welcome, but in general, that’s not a common feature of such vehicles.

Except that’s the only exception, the Cielo feels as relaxed as a BMW 5 Series on those roads. When I dared, the Cielo was pushed a little harder, but when I couldn’t (or didn’t dare), it was docile and agreeable.

The steering is light and smooth, with moderate accuracy to aim and shoot, though it’s not overly appealing. The suspension absorbs bumps very well and some don’t even stay on the runway. This is Italy and Cielo has cobblestone streets too.

As the roads finally opened up, so did the station. Switching from GT mode to Sport mode, there’s a more noticeable sense of urgency. Everything from the suspension, the steering, the throttle, the gearshifts, even the noise, is a little more solid and sharper – a little more alive. Of course, I accepted the ‘invitation’ to dance.

It’s not scary. The Cielo is quick when you want it to, but still easy to maneuver when you want it to be on ‘standby’ for open roads. As we become more familiar with the car and its playfulness, it’s easy to forget about our surroundings and what we’re doing.

Folded roofs, clear skies, stunning views at every turn and the roads ahead winding, flat and clear. What an occasion; and what a car to take along for the trip. This is a core memory moment.

It doesn’t stop there. Just before we took a break in Dirupo Rosso, the roads were even wider, not only with curves but also many straight sections, these roads were visible in the distance. If the engine is running in Sport mode, then the Cielo has really been woken up in Corsa (Race) mode, with our ‘Race Mode’ also heavily turned on.

Suffice it to say, we were thrown to the edge of our seats. In this case, the other end of it. The sheer intensity from the way Cielo lunges forward is breathtaking, with his right foot firmly planted for just a few seconds before a lack of courage takes over. Those limited but precious seconds show a lot what the car can do, when it doesn’t have to be polite.

So this is what it feels like to drive a car that can go from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds, I think. Still with the roof down, the thrill of Maserati’s new Nettuno engine expanding its lungs at 8,000 rpm is like having heavy metal music playing behind you as you witness an action movie scene. intense.

It’s an engine that’s fun to rev up. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is Designed entirely in-house and is the first engine to come out of the new Maserati Engine Laboratory in Modena. With 630 PS of power and 730 Nm of torque, there’s plenty of punch. That power available across eight gears in a dual-clutch transmission is intuitive the way it shifts gears, whether on its own or when the driver asks for it.

Arriving at the break site we finally had a moment to appreciate the MC20 Cielo’s proportions. Its clean, smooth lines exude grace, but with bulges in the right places to create an element of glamour. It also doesn’t seem to be trying too hard to stand out – a common (luxury) trait of grand tourers.

The trident displayed on the engine cover is what kids today call ‘low key flexibility’. It’s a statement, of course. After all, if you’re going to shout about the brand, why not shout it out loud? This is a supercar after all; it is said to have some subtleties.

On the way to the final stop, which Maserati calls ‘Cielo Hub’, there are many more kilometers but this time on the highway. With the roof and music on, we felt like we were in a performance pub with bucket seats. Notably, there’s plenty of room for two adults, ample headroom for a 1.80-foot tall, and cabin space that allows for conversation without having to scream.

This also allows us to be mindful of modern gimmicks; some are real, some are simply cool. The tinted power sunroof can be dimmed to bring in more natural light in the cabin without causing glare, while the digital display on the center dial allows access to other driving modes. together.

The beautiful coastal highways finally led us to our final stop, which was the most stunning sight of the trip to date. With a final twist on the open concept, an MC20 Cielo was displayed near the ledge of what is believed to be a villa used for events, with an unobstructed 180-degree open view of the sea. as background.

What a way to celebrate a car, what a new era for Maserati and what a way to end an epic tour.

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