MASERATI SHAMAL, THE RAREST, MOST PRECIOUS AND EXTREME OF THE BITURBO DYNASTY

The Shamal marked the zenith in the technical evolution of the Maserati Biturbo. The model, presented at a crucial moment for the House of the Trident was developed with the collaboration of “maestro” Marcello Gandini, who carried out a major redesign of the bodywork. Under the hood was a very powerful V8 engine that provided thrilling performance.

THE MAESTRO’S SIGNATURE

Like the great sports cars that preceded it, the Shamal was named after a Mesopotamian wind. The styling was defined by Marcello Gandini, who worked on the volumes and made the Shamal’s silhouette distinctive. A distinctive element was the typical asymmetrical cut of the rear wheel arches, a true signature that was perpetuated on other designs as well, such as the Lamborghini Diablo and the Cizeta V16T. Staying with Maserati, the distinctive wheel arch also distinguished the fourth series of the flagship Quattroporte, unveiled in 1994.

THREATENING

The sculpted, muscular volumes of the wheel arches concealed a careful aerodynamic study and were necessary to widen the track widths; the trim was also specific to this model. The Modenese top car was fitted with new 225/45 and 245/45 tires shod on 16-inch split OZ alloy wheels. The conspicuous profiles placed at the base of the windshield, in addition to making the model’s look particularly aggressive, served a primary function in aerodynamic flow management. Gandini also took up these elements in other redesigns, as in the case of the De Tomaso “Pantera 90” and the more accessible Maserati Racing, yet another sporty-looking variant of the Biturbo progeny.

STYLE

The front end of the Shamal features a newly designed hood with an integrated grille, as do the headlights: split, depending on function, into rectangular and ellipsoidal projectors with housings to match the body color. For maximum visibility, even in adverse conditions, two pairs of fog lamps were housed in the lower part of the bumper. The front and rear sections of the Shamal are separated by a massive center pillar that wraps around the headliner. The tall, truncated tail gave inspiration for the styling of the Ghibli, the latest iteration of the most iconic model of the De Tomaso era.

ENGINE

The most important novelty lurked under the hood. In place of the V6 engine, a powerful new V8, obviously twin-turbocharged and with two intercoolers, took its place. The beating heart of the Shamal had a displacement of 3,217 cc, dual 32-valve overhead camshafts and was capable of delivering 322 hp at 6,000 rpm. The power supply then featured a Weber Marelli Multipoint electronic fuel injection system. Also new was the transmission, which made use of a 6-speed manual transmission manufactured by Getrag. With these prerogatives, the Shamal accelerated from 0 to 100 mph in 5.3 seconds. Acceleration from a standstill could also have been quicker, but the maximum torque of 433 Nm and the sudden reactions due to the short wheelbase required good reflexes to keep the car moving in a straight line… The sixth gear, of rest, ensured very high averages on highway stretches: the top speed was 260 kilometers per hour.

MODERN CLASSIC

The Maserati Shamal was produced until 1995 in only 369 units. The rarity of this particular Made in Modena coupe derives from its being an elite product especially because of the commitment it required in driving to the limit. It was a must-have for the gentleman drivers who made up the devoted cohort of Maserati brand lovers.