Maserati x Fuoriserie x Fujiwara, Meet the MC20 Cielo
I’ve been loving the latest Maseratis. In recent months i’ve driven the Grecale midsize SUV, the imperious GranTurismo, and the stunning MC20 supercar, each one of them beautiful. Now Maserati are fusing design elements from the fashion world. Fuoriserie is Maserati’s customisation program, and their new “Fuoriserie By” collection brings renowned designers into the mix. It really caught our attention and their latest collaboration was only announced today. They’ve opened up their design process to people who want to leave a personal mark on their cars. To kick things off, they teamed up with Hiroshi Fujiwara, a Japanese musician, producer, and designer who pretty much bought hip hop in Japan and is known for collaboration across many artforms. To say he is well-known in Japanese street culture is an understatement and his ‘Fragment Design’ is ‘big in Japan’. He has brought his own Fragment style to the stunning MC20 Cielo open top supercar. The idea is that instead of buying a car that looks like the magazine ad you first saw, now, you can customize and design it until it is unique to you.
What makes these versions of the Cielo stand out is how Maserati held back its usual iconography leaving Fujiwara to infuse his personal style. On the rear deck, instead of the Trident emblem, there’s now a double lightning bolt. Two versions are available: one in matte black (Nero Essenza), and another in matte white (Bianco Audace). Inside the look is understated yet intentional with black leather seats highlighted with white stitching, and a special metal plate that notes the collaboration. They kept it clean and didn’t go overboard, so it still feels like the sumptuously gorgeous MC20, just with a bit more attitude.
The MC20 Cielo itself is already something special. It’s got the V6 Nettuno engine derived from Formula 1 tech, and the retractable smart glass roof can switch from transparent to opaque with the push of a button. It’s the kind of car that’s as much about the driving experience as it is about the design, which makes the whole Fuoriserie idea feel pretty natural. If the car is already about blending performance with personal style, why not let people personalize it even more? I’ve driven the MC20 and it’s extraordinary, and and open-top Cielo possibly the most beautiful modern car I’ve seen.
According to Klaus Busse, who heads design at Maserati, “Fuoriserie” means “out of the ordinary.” He’s basically saying that the company wants you to step off the beaten path and create something that aligns with your own tastes and priorities. Now that these Hiroshi Fujiwara editions are available to order, I’m looking forward to seeing what people do with them—and how this idea of personalization evolves in the future. Watch this space.