The changes in the auto market’s impending future are coming at us quickly here at Jim Butler Maserati of St. Louis. We realized that many opinions regarding performance were still looming as conversation pieces! One of the pressing criticisms that electric vehicles have drawn lately is that they lack the same raw passion that gas models possess. The telltale noise, shifting of gears, and engaged involvement of the driver are traits that some feel EVs miss the mark on.
James Morris is a very experienced auto journalist at Forbes, and he was excited to provide his very respected opinion about the matter. He just so happens to have been testing more EVs than ever lately, so taking an enthusiastic step directly into the Maserati MC20 Cielo’s cabin was exactly the type of assignment he had been eager to tackle. Cielo is Italian for “sky”, and this amazing supercar has 3 roof modes to enjoy the atmosphere’s lucent blue hues.
The glass is equipped with Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal technology, which switches things from fully cloudy to clear with an electrical input’s Jedi-like assistance! The panoramic roof on the BMW iX also offers this feature, but James adamantly claims that our version takes things to the surreal extreme. After pushing just one button on the LCD panel, you can quickly make the sense-stimulating change from completely opaque to transparent.
This can be a useful middle ground when engaging in speeds above 60 mph when turning the glass transparent can promote more peace during highway cruising. When the sun is shining, and you are eagerly approaching the two-lane roads just beyond the city limits, it’s a great way to enjoy the atmosphere and the distinctive gas-powered roar. The 3.0-liter patented twin-turbo Nettuno V6 cranks out a startling 630 horsepower and is entirely driven via the rear wheels.
The transmission is an 8-speed dual-clutch system boasting two overdrive speeds, and the heavy presence of carbon fiber keeps the curb weight amazingly light. The drive modes in the cars of today have been amazingly game-changing for drivers who once had so many different wishes about being able to switch gears with dynamics quickly. The Corsa mode edges in heavily and increases the turbo engine boost, while also making changes to the suspension that allow you to race easier. In GT mode, the power begins to rise gradually, while the accelerator offers up a much quicker return in Sport mode.
Here the reviewer is impressed that the manual gearboxes of the current market with paddle shifters are just too snappy, and the MC20 offers up just the opposite, with a seamless and integral motion that is always waiting to perform. As James had passed by so many different types of people on the street, he also admitted that no single model he had ever driven had elicited as much love from acquaintances and those passing by as this one. When thinking aloud about the good things to come as far as the acceleration quality and keeping weight down for a future all-electric version, he also admitted that his own very fast EV felt extremely mundane after this model’s spirited spin!
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