Among the hundreds of supercars, sports cars, and SUVs that will be participating in the Gumball 3000 2024 rally, there will be a few special models, and the Maserati MC20 Cielo is one of them. While the MC20 line straddles the boundary between supercar and hypercar performance, its design exudes both luxury and athleticism.
It is known that two Maserati MC20 Cielo convertibles have been registered for the Gumball 3000 rally: one in white, belonging to a team from the US, and another in green, representing enthusiasts from the UK.
The Maserati MC20 Cielo is the convertible variant of the six Maserati MC20 supercars currently present in Vietnam. What sets the MC20 Cielo apart from its Coupe counterpart is not just the retractable roof composed of two glass panels that can be raised or lowered in 12 seconds, but also the additional storage capacity it offers. The Cielo features a 50-liter front trunk and a 100-liter rear trunk, along with alloy wheels adorned with Roman numeral-themed designs and the option for carbon rims.
In Italian, “Cielo” translates to “sky,” befittingly describing the unique retractable roof of this Maserati supercar. With just a touch of a button on the central display, the car’s electric glass roof can instantly switch from transparent to opaque, thanks to Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology. This allows the driver to welcome the sun into the cockpit without fully retracting the roof.
Notably, Maserati boasts that the MC20 Cielo possesses the fastest roof operation in its class, capable of opening or closing in just 12 seconds. Furthermore, the roof can be operated at any time, even while the car is in motion, as long as the speed remains below 50 km/h.
According to the Italian automaker, the glass roof design has no detrimental effect on the car’s aerodynamics or torsional rigidity. When retracted, the roof panels are neatly stowed in a dedicated compartment above the engine, resulting in a different engine bay appearance compared to the coupe version, as the 3.0-liter V6 engine is no longer visible.
The trident logo on the engine cover is crafted from matte titanium. While the MC20 Cielo is approximately 65 kg heavier than its coupe sibling due to the additional mechanical components for the retractable roof, it offers the convenience of a convertible top and the option for privacy or sunshine at the touch of a button.
In terms of powertrain, the MC20 Cielo is equipped with the same engine as the coupe version. This includes a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces a maximum output of 621 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and a peak torque of 730 Nm at 3,000 rpm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 325 km/h.
The MC20 Cielo offers an optional premium Sonus faber sound system, which has been recognized with an EISA award for the best in-car audio. This 12-speaker setup has been meticulously tuned and positioned to deliver an immersive auditory experience even with the top down. Additionally, occupants can enjoy the benefits of the Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) and Maserati Connect infotainment systems.
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