ITALY'S OTHER FERRARI (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Maserati's rare MC20 Spyder is very desirable indeed. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 35

Maserati's MC20 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.

Backgroundword count: 154

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 Huracan is a bit too showy. The convertible versions of the Porsche 911 Turbo or Audi R8 aren't quite special enough. If that's your perspective, might we suggest you join the waiting list for this car, the Maserati MC20 Spyder. Launched originally as the MC20 Cielo (Italian for 'sky'), this Spyder 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 MC20 Spyder 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 Experienceword count: 330

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 the Spyder's rear end. It's still not quite enough to compensate for the lack of a fixed top, but Maserati claims the 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 MC20 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 MC20 Spyder is brutally quick off the line, dispatching 62mph in just 3.0 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.

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