- Powerful twin-turbo V6 engine
- Impressive dynamics
- Distinctive Gandini styling
- Expensive replacement parts
- High maintenance costs
Overview
Released in November 1992, the Maserati Shamal was a two-seat coupe with two-plus-two seating. Manufactured in Modena, Italy, and designed by Marcello Gandini, the Shamal was powered by a 3.2-litre AM479 twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder; a six-speed Getrag manual transmission was also fitted as standard. Although production of the Shamal commenced in 1989, Australian deliveries did not begin 1992.
Production of the Shamal was limited to 370 vehicles.
Dimensions
The Shamal was based on the Maserati Biturbo but was fitted with new body panels and had a unique rear section. As such, the Shamal was 4100 mm long, 1850 mm wide, 1300 mm tall and had a 2400 mm long wheelbase.
Suspension
The Shamal’s suspension used an interactive lever system (Maserati’s ‘Meccanica Attiva’) which linked the steering arm to the steering box to ensure the wheels remained square relative to the road surface and kept the lower suspension arm and steering arm in parallel. The suspension also included an electronic adaptive damping system – with four selectable settings – which continually adjusted damping forces according to road conditions. Furthermore, the Shamal was fitted with ‘Ranger’ differential which could transfer all power to a one halfshaft, leaving zero torque on the other if required.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamal | 3.2-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 | 6sp man. | 240 kW at 6000 rpm | 436 Nm at 4800 rpm |
Safety equipment
The Shamal was not fitted with safety equipment such as airbags or ABS.
Features
Standard features for the Maserati Shamal included 16-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 ZR 16 Michelin MXX tyres, a radio and cassette player, climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, front fog lights, central locking, power windows and an adjustable steering wheel.
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