Maserati Shamal

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Production: 369

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The Shamal is a hot summer wind that blows on large areas of Mesapotanië in Irak. Maserati dicided to give its new model this name. The car was first introduced on December 17 th 1989.

The design of the car is from Marcello Gandini, who also designed the Countach. The Shamal got a bit of that design, look at the rear wheelarch. The car has the same bottum, doors and windscrean as the earlier Biturbos.

On the bonnet there is a small spoiler, with is patented by Maserati under the name of silent travel. The centre pillar is a rollbar and is always in black to give the car an aggresive look

The interior has extended seat cushions for a perfect position on high speeds. The steering wheel has the horn bottons insertred in the spokes.
The famous analog clock is in the middle of the dachboard. Only the gearlever is fitted in wood. The sidepanels and dashboard are fitted in gray.
The shamal has a six speed gearbox of Getrag and a Ranger differential for a maximum of traction in every situation. In collaboration with Koni, Maserati produced an electronic active suspension control system. This system updates the adjustment on each wheel, based on road conditions and the level of comfort required. The driver select the setting on the console left from the gear lever.

The engine of the Shamal is a 3.217 cc V8 at 90° with a bore and stroke of 80mm x 80mm. The engine is a Biturbo and has 2 IHI turbos and two intercoolers. All this gives the engine a maximum power of 326 bhp @ 6.000 rpm and a maximum torque of 432 Nm @ 3.000 rpm.Acceleration from 0 to 100 Km/h would take 5.2 seconds. The Samals maximum speed is about 270 Km/h.

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Prica Maseratiju biturbo i svim njegovim verzijama,

Launched in 1981 the Biturbo was a completely different product for Maserati, but proved successful and adaptable. A small capacity (1996cc) V6 was coupled to two turbochargers (hence the name) and mounted in the front driving the rear wheels. A rather conservative and boxy in-house designed two-door body completed the package. Performance was brisk with the 2-cam, 18 valve (two inlet and one exhaust per cylinder), carburettor fuelled engine producing 182bhp. Later the engine (still with 3-valves and carburettors) was taken out to 2.5-litres in capacity. Continuous development over the years has produced many variants, some of which are described below. A wide range of power outputs were obtained during the life of the engine by adding intercoolers, injection, catalysts etc.
The 420, introduced in 1982, was the beginning of the four-door models, otherwise similar to the original coupe. Some were also built with intercoolers, known as the 420S, with fuel injection, known as the 420i and with both intercoolers and injection (you've guessed it), the 420Si.
The Spyder, introduced in 1984, was a convertible built by Zagato using a shortened wheelbase chassis. Over the years they have been fitted with the original 3-valve carburettored engine, the 3-valve fuel injected engine and the 2.5 and the 2.8-litre units. The bodystyle was also facelifted on more than one occasion, including the Shamal style headlights adopted by its roofed bretheren.
The 425, introduced in 1983, was a four-door version using the 2.5-litre version of the V6 engine and featuring a lengthened wheelbase.
The Biturbo S was intercooled whilst the Si also used electronic fuel injection and the ES added a catalytic converter. The latter two cars used the 2.5-litre engine.
The 430, introduced in 1987, was the first to feature the new larger (still 3 valve) 2.8-litre engine. This also introduced watercooled IHI turbos which greatly improved their longevity and had a slightly facelifted design. It was again facelifted in 1992 when it gained (amongst other changes) Shamal style headlights.
The 430.4V finally saw the 24V 2.8-litre engine in the 430, as well as Shamal style adjustable suspension.
The 228, introduced in 1986, was the original two-door four-seat coupe with the longer wheelbase, a more plush interior and the larger 2.8-litre engine producing 248bhp.
The Karif, introduced in 1988, was a two door coupe on the shorter wheelbase (the same as the Spider) with the 228 engine, generating 285bhp. Only a very small number of these cars were built.
The 222, introduced in 1988, featured two doors, two litres and two camshafts and later became 222E with a catalyst, the 222SE with a facelift for 1990 and then the 222SR with Shamal style lights and adjustable suspension.
The 422, also introduced in 1988, was a four door version of the 222.
The 2.24V was effectively a 222 with a 24V cylinder head (ie a quad cam 2-litre unit).
The 4.24V was a four door version of the 2.24V.
The 222.4V was a 2.24V with the larger 2.8-litre 24V engine.
The Racing, in 1990, was, despite the name, only intended for street use, fitted with the 282bhp 24V 2-litre unit.
The Ghibli Cup, introduced in 1996, featured a 330bhp 2-litre unit and special trim, wheels etc. based on the cars used in the one-make Ghibli race series.
The Quattroporte (fourth series) arrived in 1996 with either the 2.0 or 2.8-litre V6 engine. The chassis was further developed and the body heavily redesigned. Some images here.
The Quattroporte Ottocilindri, also introduced in 1996, mated the Quattroporte body with a Shamal derived V8, producing 335bhp, all combined with a much developed electronically controlled suspension.The 'Evoluzione' received an interior facelift, plus a few changes externally.
From the mid-1990s the only variants produced were the Ghibli with two doors and the Quattroporte with four. The former was replaced by the 3200GT whilst the latter continues in production today.

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Technical Details

Engine
original : 1996cc (82x63cc) three-valve twin-turbo V6 with 180bhp @ 6,000rpm (some 185bhp or 210bhp or 220bhp) : later quad-cam with four-valves and 245bhp @ 6,200rpm (306bhp @ 6,250rpm in Ghibli) Various : 2491cc (91.6x63mm) three-valve twin-turbo V6 with 200bhp @ 5,500rpm (some 188bhp) Various : 2790cc (94x67mm) three-valve twin-turbo V6 with 284bhp @ 6,000rpm (some 225bhp or 250bhp) Shamal : 3217cc (80x80mm) V8 with 325bhp @ 6,000rpm Quattroporte V8 : 3217cc (80x80mm) V8 with 335bhp @ 6,400rpm

Suspension
front : McPherson strut with coil springs plus anti-roll bar rear : Semi-trailing arms with coil springs wheelbase : 2400mm (Spider and 2-door), 2514mm (2-door), 2600mm (2-door and 4-door)

Brakes
discs all round, solid on early models, ventilated at the front later

Transmission
5 speed manual ZF unit, automatic optional 6 speed manual Getrag unit in the Shamal & Quattroporte V8 (also optional 4 speed automatic in the latter)

Steering
Rack and pinion, power assistance on later cars

Kerb weight
original 2-litre : 1,086kg 430 : 1,387kg Quattroporte V8 : 1,647kg Shamal : 1,417kg Ghibli : 1,395kg

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Production volumes

original Biturbo 2.0 1981-87 9,206
Biturbo 2.5 1983-88 6,057
425 1983-89 2,052
425i 1987-89 320
Spyder 2.0 1984-86 276
Spyder 2.5 1984-88 1,049
420 1985-86 2,810
420S 1986-87 254
228 1986-92 469
Biturbo i 1986-88 683
Biturbo Si 992
430 1987-94 995
430 4v 1991-94 291
222 1988-90 1,156
222 SE 1990-93 777
422 1988-92 978
4.18v 1990-92 77
Karif 1988-92 221
2.24v 1989-93 1,147 plus 254 with cat
4.24v 1990-92 384 plus 490 with cat
Spyder 2.0 1989-92 309
Spyder 2.8 1989-94 603 plus 220 with cat
Shamal 1990-96 369
Racing 1991-92 230
Ghibli 2.0 1992-97 1,133