Jeremy Clarkson, the well-known television presenter and motoring enthusiast, faced an unfortunate breakdown while testing the luxury Italian supercar Maserati MC20 Cielo, valued at a staggering £234,000. The incident occurred on the road between his farm and his pub, The Farmer’s Dog, in Burford.
In his Sunday Times column, Clarkson recounted the initial thrill of driving the MC20 Cielo. Despite the car’s low nose scraping frequently on the road, he found himself warming to the vehicle, appreciating its unique character—even its lack of conventional style. “It all felt very un-Cheshireish, if such a word exists,” he wrote.
However, the excitement was cut short when the car’s engine suddenly conked out late in the day. “I was wondering how on earth I would load it onto a trailer with a nose that low,” Clarkson explained, “but then, just as suddenly, it started working again.” Since then, he admitted he hasn’t dared drive it, leaving the supercar idle and “looking forlorn” in his yard.
READ MORE: Sinkhole Forces Partial Closure on Tredworth Road in Gloucester
READ MORE: I Tried Dry January and It Wasn’t What Everyone Said It Would Be
Clarkson expressed a poignant connection to cars, describing them as sentient beings. He mused that the MC20’s mechanical failure saddened him much like losing a beloved landmark, underscoring his passion for automobiles.
While the MC20 Cielo’s name means “pure heaven,” Clarkson was perplexed by the prefix “MC,” which didn’t seem to fit its Italian heritage. He also critiqued the car’s interior, noting the switches appeared lifted from a budget Fiat Punto and that the seats felt “hard and meagre,” resulting in an overall underwhelming experience given the hefty price tag.
Reflecting on the car’s £234,890 cost, Clarkson questioned who would choose it over other luxury brands like Bentley, McLaren, Ferrari, or Lamborghini, suggesting that the MC20 might struggle to find buyers in its competitive segment.