Maserati MC20 convertible previewed

Maserati is readying a new convertible version of the Maserati MC20 supercar and, to prove it, the Italian marque has released images of a lightly camouflaged prototype.

Thought to be almost production ready, the drop-top supercar pictured is said to be about to begin its final on-road testing.

Created to rival cars like the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder, the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet and the Ferrari F8 Spider, the roadster version of the Maserati MC20 should be launched in 2022.

When it arrives, expect a mild weight bump over the coupe's lithe 1475kg, but for the advanced 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 'Nettuno' to carry over unchanged.

That means the roadster will muster an impressive 463kW and 730Nm of torque.

Combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the 0-100km/h sprint should take a still-to-be-verified 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 326km/h.

It's not clear if the roof is a single piece of carbon-fibre – to match the rest of the body – or if the MC20 convertible will come with a more practical foldaway fabric item, or both.

The most likely option is Maserati has equipped the MC20 with an electrically foldable roof.

Once launched, Maserati is scheduled to also offer both the coupe and convertible with an all-electric powertrain that's set to offer even stronger acceleration.

Originally, the battery-electric supercar was also set for a 2022 arrival.

There's no word on pricing, but in Europe the MC20 convertible (or Spider) is set to command a price premium of around $45,000, which could see it priced from $480,000 plus on-road costs in Australia.