2023 Maserati MC20 Cielo Embraces Thrill of Combustion, Motorsport-Inspired Character

As the senses are awakened and the calendars are filled to the brim with social events during one of the busiest seasons of the year, fall has been a season of celebration and anticipation for us here at Jim Butler Maserati of Saint Louis. As the staff of Autoweek claimed on their blog this month, our Maserati MC20 Cielo is excitingly a member of an exclusive and thrilling group of “last hurrah” cars. Even though the future of electrification is promising, some of the offerings before its official roll-out are going to be meant to savor with a true petrol-lover’s skill!

The MC20 is on track to receive its full-electric version shortly down the line, with the Folgore slated to use an elaborate triple-motor system and penning an action story ripe with performance that will earn a place in automotive folklore immediately. The Cielo is equipped with a glass hardtop that can be folded away in just 12 seconds, adding a mere 143 pounds to the carbon-fiber-rich finished product. Here the review staff claims that they are so happy that the rugged touring spirit still lives on here, and not just a futuristic show and tell “because Maserati can”.

Reprogramming the UI to allow for this simple roof operation took quite a bit of time and meticulous effort, but in this review, we are shown that for better and more opportunistic times after such global turmoil, “every little bit of this car is pure excellence.” The existence of the Nettuno V6 happens to be the starring feature that makes everything glossy while still raucous, eagerly achieving a 621-horsepower output. The pre-ignition system is heavily inspired by all the greatness the motorsports genre has provided drivers over the years, and both turbos on board deliver peaks of up to 43.5 psi. 

This is an engine that unapologetically heaps on unique layers of character, with a noise that is thick with induction and a unique hiss every time you ease up on the gas. The MC20 Coupe is already a very raw and grunty persona, but the Cielo just adds to the excellence factor with the ability to lower the roof on a whim. The Bridgestone S007 tires feel relentlessly on point and grounded and using the three included dynamic modes change specs drastically to properly adapt to the terrain. 

The GT Mode softens the adaptive dampers and puts the torque converter on swing shift to assist with transmission shifting ratios. Sport Mode firms things up in the Chassis neighborhood, and allows for gears to shift a necessary instant quicker. The most aggressive Corsa Mode has the well-dialed in chops to toggle the dampers to a softer setting, and torque bumps for each precision-timed shift up. Happy to be hurtling at speeds everyday drives don’t demand, the MC20 Cielo is going to drive desire, on-pavement antics, and upper-end quality quite obviously at a pace and fervor that the public is starved for. 

Tags: Jim Butler Maserati, Jim Butler Maserati St. Louis, Maserati MC20, St. Louis Maserati Dealer
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