Maserati reveal MC20 Cielo sports car

Maserati’s long-promised convertible MC20 was launched overnight, ushering in a new challenger in the topless sports car arena.

The MC20 Cielo has the same power and overall look as its tin-top brother. It borrows the same 2.0-litre twin-turbo V6 from the MC20, good enough for 463kW.

The Cielo is a tad heavier than the MC20, but it will still accelerate from 0-62 km/h in around 3.0 seconds flat.

All that power is transferred to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

The crux of the Cielo, the roof, is rather interesting. With a touch of a button, it can turn from clear to opaque (or the other way).

Maserati constructed the roof out of dimmable electrochromic glass, giving it this cool party trick. It also inspired the car’s name, Cielo being Italian for ‘sky’.

Opening and closing the roof takes about 12 seconds.

Maserati has also retained the butterfly doors for the Cielo. Most other roadsters are forced to do away with them because of design.

“The Cielo offers a perfect mix of sportiness and luxury, courtesy of a specification unique to the segment: the innovative retractable glass roof,” Maserati said.

“In actual fact, the new spyder acts as a meeting point between Maserati audacity and the infinite sky, featuring a special sky feeling.”

No pricing has been announced, but the Cielo is tipped to be more expensive than the standard MC20 coupe.