Maserati MC20 Cielo

FIRST DRIVE The sky's the limit for convertible version of supercar

WHEN the Maserati MC20 first arrived, we were bowled over by its character, dominated by a brilliant turbocharged V6 engine. Its intense performance was just as impressive as its ability to adapt to even the most challenging driving conditions.

But when you take the roof off a brilliant supercar, there are obvious technical challenges surrounding structural integrity.

Thankfully, in the case of the MC20, and a few of its supercar companions, the carbonfibre chassis is well suited to deal with this loss, because much of the stiffness comes from the floor. Besides, in convertible form it's better-equipped to turn heads, too.

The Cielo (Italian for sky) uses the same 3.0-litre 'Nettuno' V6 engine as the coupé, packing a clever twin-chamber combustion system that allows for a bigger bang and therefore more power; Maserati quotes 621bhp and 730Nm of torque. In contrast with the torque-management systems found in modern turbocharged Ferraris, the full whack of torque is available in any gear.