MASERATI MC20 CIELO SPYDER

Maserati's rare MCPura Cielo is very desirable indeed. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Maserati's MCPura gets more desirable still in its Cielo open-topped Spyder form. Uniquely here, the brand has used a glass top, an unusual touch on a more unusual choice in the convertible junior supercar class.

Background

So, you've earned the opportunity to consider an open-topped exotic junior supercar with a Ferrari or McLaren badge. But there's just a chance you might consider that to be a rather too obvious way to display your newly-monied wealth. An open-topped Lamborghini is a bit too showy. The convertible versions of the Porsche 911 Turbo aren't quite special enough. If that's your perspective, might we suggest you join the waiting list for this car, the Maserati MCPura Cielo. Launched originally as the MC20 Cielo (Italian for 'sky'), this Spyder variant is slightly different from its rivals in its provision of a glass folding roof. Which you might think would add a lot of weight. Actually though, an MCPura Cielo is hardly any heavier than the Coupe version. Which makes up for the fact that this Maserati is a fraction less powerful than some of its rivals. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

Open top sportscars are usually inherently less rigid than their fixed-top counterparts. In this case though, the chassis gets a slightly thicker carbonfibre of rearranged weave. Plus the aluminium roof carrier that lies beneath the rear deck is bolted to the rear strut towers and the engine cradle, which significantly reinforces this Cielo model's rear end. It's still not quite enough to compensate for the lack of a fixed top, but Maserati claims this Spyder model's overall stiffness is 25% better than rivals. The glass top has only added 65kg to the overall weight and can retract in 12s at speeds of up to 31mph. Otherwise, the driving experience is of course just as in an MCPura Coupe; which means it's beguiling. There's a satisfying exhaust crackle when you prod the steering wheel-mounted starter button. Maserati engines are no longer sourced from previous partner Ferrari. This one, the twin turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 known as the 'Netuno' ('Neptune') was entirely developed in-house and puts out 630hp to the rear wheels via an 8-speed auto gearbox borrowed from the current Chevrolet Corvette. You select gears via either shift paddles on the steering wheel or by a button on the centre console. A rotary controller offers four drive modes - 'GT', 'Sport', 'Corsa' [the race mode] and 'Wet'. Two levels of damper stiffness feature in each of the drive modes. And a mechanical limited slip differential helps traction through the turns. Helped by launch control, the MCPura Cielo is brutally quick off the line, dispatching 62mph in just 2.9 seconds (just 0.1s slower than the Coupe). 124mph passes in just 9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 199mph. Which is all very supercar like - as is the low ride height, which you'll frequently feel over bumps; for low speed town work, the optional nose height lifter is essential. At full chat, the brakes are impressive, combining 330mm (front) and 350mm (rear) carbon ceramic discs with (respectively) 6-piston and 4-piston calipers.

Design and Build

As with the Coupe, the MCPura Cielo is one of those cars that looks better the longer you stare at it. It's certainly striking and brand enthusiasts will note cues to Maserati's of the past; touches like the low-set grille and the chromed Trident symbol. Beneath the skin, carbon fibre and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic panels shroud an advanced monocoque fashioned from, you've guessed it, carbon fibre. Plus there are aluminium subframes at either end. To get in, you pull on the butterfly doors which arch up, leaving a wide entry aperture to gain entry to the dark trimmed cabin. There's a minimalist vibe, with very little switchgear on the narrow centre tunnel. You get a couple of high-res displays, one for the instruments and another for infotainment functions. And neat touches include a rear view mirror that projects real-time video provided by a camera situated on the boot lid. The carbon fibre-backed Sabelt seats are low-set and of the race variety but they feature powered adjustment and lots of lateral support. There are no token rear chairs but even so, luggage space is at a premium; there's 100-litres in the back and another 50-litres in a recess up front.

Market and Model

At the time of this Review in Spring 2026, Maserati was asking just under £235,000 for an MCPura Cielo - £25,000 more than the Coupe version. But most owners will be spending close to £300,000 once they've specced up their cars to taste. Either way, six exterior colours are available. If you're urban-based (or even if you're not), we'd suggest you consider paying extra for the suspension lift system, which helps when ground clearance is needed - for example to cross over speed humps. With this, you just press a button to lift the front axle by 50mm. The system works at speeds up to 25mph. If faster, it automatically returns to the normal ride height. You'll also want to trim out the interior to your taste; there's a choice of the finest leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre. And you can have what Maserati describes as 'the best sound made in Italy', courtesy of the optional Sonus faber High-Premium Audio System.

Cost of Ownership

The full-electric MC20 Maserati had under development was eventually canned, but if you've an ounce of petrol flowing through your veins, you're going to want this V6 turbo version anyway. And you're going to have to pay for the pleasure at the pumps of course. For this Spyder variant, Maserati quotes a combined cycle figure of 24.1mpg (it's 24.6mpg for the coupe) - and a lowest figure of just over 13mpg - which you'll probably be lucky to hit if you're using the car on track. Combined CO2 emissions are just as bad, rated at 265g/km (compared to 262g/km for the Coupe). The low cycle figure is a smoky 470g/km... But all of this is par for the course for a supercar in this segment of course. You'll also need to allow a decent amount in your ownership budget for replacement of tyres and brakes if you're planning to use the car hard. Still, you should cheer up a bit when it comes to considering residuals, which should be very solid indeed given this car's extreme rarity.

Summary

If this car had a Ferrari badge, it would feel genuinely Maranello-made. Given that Maserati's been away for this segment for so long, that's quite an achievement. Yet with its Cielo glass roof, it also offers something different from its rag top rivals. That the brand has been able to build in this innovative feature without a significant weight penalty is really impressive. Otherwise of course, this is just like the MCPura Coupe. Which means it's a car of real character. Like a rival Lamborghini, Ferrari or McLaren, the low ride height means there aren't many places on the British secondary road network where you can exercise the Nettuno engine and be sure of not bottoming out. Spend less on a Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet if that's an issue. But if you want something more exotic and a little different - and ideally have regular access to a racetrack, an MCPura Cielo might be just about perfect.