Maserati MCPura Cielo

FIRST DRIVE Maserati has a new name, but retains all that made it great in the first place

- Thomas Geiger

IF you live in the UK, you know the feeling well. The relentless grey skies, the damp roads and the oppressive weight of a long winter can take its toll. But Maserati believes it has the cure in the shape of a mid-engined, open-topped supercar called the MCPura Cielo.

First, let's address the elephant in the room. The MCPura is, to all intents and purposes, an updated version of the excellent MC20. Maserati has treated its halo car to a rebranding exercise and a very mild facelift. The 'Pura' name is a nod to its philosophy: pure internal combustion, rear-wheel drive and an unfiltered connection between car and driver.

At a glance, calling this a new car feels like a polite exaggeration. The changes are subtle enough that you'd need to park it next to the outgoing MC20 to spot them. There is a touch of make-up on the front bumper, a new steering wheel that mimics that of the hardcore GT2 Stradale and a switch from smooth leather to Alcantara throughout.

However, when the base car is as good as the MC20, big changes were not required. The classic mid-engine proportions remain timeless, and turn heads with a magnetism that few rivals can match.

The headline act remains the engine. In a world where the Ferrari 296 GTS and Lamborghini Temerario are embracing plug-in-hybrid technology to chase ever greater horsepower, the MCPura retains the 3.0-litre 'Nettuno' V6, which is devoid of electrical assistance.