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  • Maserati Biturbo (1981-1994)

Maserati Biturbo

1981 to 1994
Maserati Biturbo
Overview
Manufacturer Maserati
Production 1981–1994
Assembly Modena, Italy
Designer Pierangelo Andreani Zagato (Spyder)
Body and chassis
Class Sports / Luxury
Body style 2-door coupé 4-door sedan 2-door cabriolet
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 2.0 L twin-turbo V6 2.5 L twin-turbo V6 2.8 L twin-turbo V6
Transmission 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 251 cm (98.8 in) (Coupé) 260 cm (102.4 in) (Sedan, 228) 240 cm (94.5 in) (Spyder)
Length 415 cm (163.4 in) (Coupé) 440 cm (173.2 in) (Sedan) 404 cm (159.1 in) (Spyder) 445 cm (175.2 in) (228)
Width 171 cm (67.3 in) (Coupé, Spyder) 173 cm (68.1 in) (Sedan) 186 cm (73.2 in) (228)
Height 131 cm (51.6 in) (Coupé, Spyder, 228) 136 cm (53.5 in) (Sedan)
Chronology
Predecessor Maserati Merak
Successor Maserati Shamal and Ghibli II

 

The Maserati Biturbo (Tipo 116) is a sports car introduced by Maserati in 1981. The Biturbo is a two-door, four-seater notchback coupé (of somewhat smaller dimensions than the BMW 3 Series of the time) featuring, as the name implies, a two-litre V6 engine with two turbochargers and a luxurious interior. The car was designed by Pierangelo Andreani, an engineer from the De Tomaso team, somewhat influenced by the design of the newer Quattroporte III (Italdesign Giugiaro), as can be observed on the front fascia.

All Maserati models from the Biturbo's introduction in 1981 until 1997 (except the Quattroporte III) were based on the original Biturbo architecture, among them the four-door 420/425 and 4.24v, the Spyder, the Karif, the 228 and 2.24v, the Maserati Racing and the later Shamal and Ghibli II, as well as Maserati Barchetta which used an ultimate version of the V6 engine.

History

When Alejandro de Tomaso acquired Maserati in 1976, he had ambitious plans for the marque. His plan was to combine the prestige of the Maserati brand with a sports car that would be more affordable than the earlier high-priced models that had traditionally made up the Maserati range. In fact, Maserati ceased making supercars like the ones developed under Citroën ownership altogether, like the Bora and Khamsin.

The Biturbo was initially a strong seller and brought Italian prestige to a wide audience, with sales of about 40,000 units. Sales figures fell in subsequent years. De Tomaso also used another of his companies, Innocenti, to produce Biturbo body panels and also to provide final assembly of Biturbos. De Tomaso later sold Maserati to Fiat, who grouped the company with their erstwhile rival Ferrari.

Export versions came initially with a 2.5L V6, after 1989 it was enlarged to 2.8 litres, while for Italy a two-litre high-performance version was originally produced (to avoid the 38% sales tax imposed at the time on cars displacing more than 2000 cc). The aluminum 90-degree SOHC V6 engine was roughly based on the 2.0 L Merak engine, itself based on earlier V8 Formula One Maserati engines, designed by Giulio Alfieri (1924–2002). The carbureted 2.5L engine produced 185 hp (138 kW) and 208 lb·ft (282 N·m) of torque in North American spec and slightly more elsewhere. Fuel injection was fitted in 1987 raising power to 187 hp (139 kW). In 1989 the 2.8L engine bumped power to 225 hp (168 kW) and 246 lb·ft (334 N·m) of torque for North America and 250 hp (186 kW) for Europe.

The Biturbo competed unsuccessfully in the British Touring Car Championship in the late 1980s, the European Touring Car Championship and the World Touring Car Championship (1987).

Biturbo engines

The Maserati Biturbo was the first ever production twin-turbocharged engine. The 2-litre version featured wet aluminium sleeves coated with Nikasil. The last street version featured over 150 hp/litre and 140 ft·lbf (190 N·m)/litre torque.

A V6 1996 cc DOHC 36-valve (6 valves per cylinder) engine was developed but never manufactured.

Series Displacement Head Fuel system Model
AM 452 2000 cc 18 valves carburetor Biturbo, Biturbo S
AM 453 2500 cc 18 valves carburetor Biturbo 2500
AM 470 2000 cc 18 valves injection Biturbo i
AM 471 2000 cc 18 valves injection Si, 2.22S, 2.22SR, 4.18, 4.30, Spyder
AM 472 2500 cc 18 valves injection Biturbo 2500i
AM 473 2800 cc 18 valves injection 4.30, 222SR, Spyder, Karif
AM 475 2000 cc 24 valves injection 2.24, 4.24, Spyder
AM 490 2000 cc 24 valves injection Racing, Barchetta Stradale
AM 495 2000 cc 24 valves injection Ghibli II
AM 496 2000 cc 24 valves injection Ghibli Cup
AM 477 2800 cc 24 valves injection 2.22 4V, 430 4V, Ghibli II
AM 501 2000 cc 24 valves injection Barchetta Corsa

Biturbo

The first Biturbo version was introduced in December 1981 as a two-door coupe. The Biturbo name disappeared when the car was significantly redesigned in 1988 and after 1994 became the Ghibli II.

Maserati Biturbo 2.8 engine

Versions:

Model Years Engine Displacement Power Fuel system Notes Units
Biturbo 1982–85 V6 ohc 1995 cc 180 hp carburetor, turbo Only Italy 9206
Biturbo E 1983–85 V6 ohc 2491 cc 185 hp carburetor, turbo   4577
Biturbo S 1983–86 V6 ohc 1995 cc 205 hp carburetor, turbo Only Italy 1038
Biturbo ES 1984–85 V6 ohc 2491 cc 205 hp carburetor, turbo   1480
Biturbo II 1985–87 V6 ohc 1995 cc 180 hp carburetor, turbo Only Italy (Biturbo)
Biturbo 2.5 S 1984–87 V6 ohc 2491 cc 196 hp carburetor, turbo Catalysator (Biturbo ES)
Biturbo 2.5 E II 1985–87 V6 ohc 2491 cc 185 hp carburetor, turbo Catalysator (Biturbo E)
Biturbo S II 1985–86 V6 ohc 1995 cc 210 hp carburetor, turbo Only Italy (Biturbo S)
Biturbo i 1986–90 V6 ohc 1995 cc 188 hp Fuel injection, turbo Only Italy 683
Biturbo Si 1986–88 V6 ohc 1995 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo Only Italy 992
Biturbo Si Black 1986–88 V6 ohc 1995 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo Only Italy 450
Biturbo 2.5 Si 1986–88 V6 ohc 2491 cc 188 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 430
2.24V 1988–92 V6 dohc 1996 cc 245 hp Fuel injection, turbo Only Italy 1147
222 1988–90 V6 dohc 1996 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator, Only Italy 1156
222 4v 1991–93 V6 dohc 2790 cc 279 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 130
222 E 1988–90 V6 ohc 2790 cc 250 hp Fuel injection, turbo   722
222 E 1988–90 V6 ohc 2790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator (222 E)
222 SE 1990–91 V6 ohc 2790 cc 250 hp Fuel injection, turbo   210
222 SE 1990–91 V6 ohc 2790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalytic converter in US (225 bhp) (222 SE)
2.24V II 1991–93 V6 dohc 1996 cc 240 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator, Only Italy 254
222 SR 1991–93 V6 ohc 2790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator (222 SE)
Racing 1990–92 V6 dohc 1996 cc 285 hp Fuel injection, turbo   230
 

420/425/430

Two years after Biturbo introduction was unveiled a four-door family version. This version has a longer wheelbase, 2.6 metres (100 in). The four-door version was replaced in 1994 with the Maserati Quattroporte IV.

Versions:

Model Years Engine Displacement Power Fuel system Notes Units
425 1983–89 V6 ohc 2491 cc 200 hp carburetor, turbo   2372
420 1985–86 V6 ohc 1995 cc 180 hp carburetor, turbo Only Italy 1686
420i 1986–88 V6 ohc 1995 cc 190 hp Fuel injection, turbo   1124
420 S 1985–87 V6 ohc 1995 cc 210 hp carburetor, turbo Only Italy 254
420 Si 1986–88 V6 ohc 1995 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo   524
430 1987–94 V6 ohc 2790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 995
425i 1987–89 V6 ohc 2491 cc 188 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 425
422 1988–92 V6 dohc 1996 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 978
4.18v 1990–92 V6 ohc 1995 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 77
4.24v 1990–92 V6 dohc 1996 cc 245 hp Fuel injection, turbo Only Italy 384
4.24v II 1991–93 V6 dohc 1996 cc 240 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 490
430 4v 1991–93 V6 dohc 2790 cc 279 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 291
 

Spyder

The Spyder (Tipo 333) version was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1984. The car was designed and built by Zagato, their first work for Maserati since the A6G/2000 of thirty years earlier. Also Carrozzeria Embo was commissioned to develop a four-seater cabriolet version of the Biturbo, but this never made it into production. The Spyder version has a shorter wheelbase, 2.4 metres (94 in). Still, since it is a strict two-seater with folding rear seats, the luggage space is larger than in the original Biturbo. On this shorter chassis the sporty hardtop Karif was later developed. Overall 3,076 were built over a ten-year period, setting a production record for Maserati Spyders.

Maserati Biturbo Zagato

Versions:

Model Years Engine Displacement Power Fuel system Notes Units
Spyder 2.0 1984–88 V6 ohc 1,996 cc 180 hp carburetor Only Italy 276
Spyder 2.5 1984–88 V6 ohc 2,491 cc 192 hp carburetor, turbo Catalysator 1,049
Spyder 2.0i 1986–87 V6 dohc 1,996 cc 185 hp Fuel injection, turbo   297
Spyder 2.0i 1987–88 V6 dohc 1,996 cc 195 hp Fuel injection, turbo   (Spyder 2.0)
Spyder 2.5i 1988–89 V6 ohc 2,491 cc 188 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator (Spyder 2.5)
Spyder 2.8i 1989–91 V6 ohc 2,790 cc 250 hp Fuel injection, turbo   603
Spyder 2.8i 1989–91 V6 ohc 2,790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator (Spyder 2.8i)
Spyder 2.0iE 1989–91 V6 dohc 1,996 cc 220 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator, Only Italy 122
Spyder III 2.0 1991–94 V6 dohc 1,996 cc 245 hp Fuel injection, turbo Only Italy 309
Spyder III 2.8 1991–94 V6 dohc 2,790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator 220
Spyder III 2.0 1991–94 V6 dohc 1,996 cc 240 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator, Only Italy 200

228

The Maserati 228 is a two-door Gran turismo model, targeting the same markets as had earlier bought 3500 GTs and Mexicos. The 228 was introduced at the 1986 Turin Motor Show, it uses the longer four-door chassis and the bigger 2.8-litre biturbo engine in a two-door coupe form with a more luxurious interior than the usual two-door cars. 469 examples of the 228 were built up until 1992.

Versions:

Model Years Engine Displacement Power Fuel system Notes
228 1986–92 V6 ohc 2790 cc 250 hp Fuel injection, turbo  
228 1986–92 V6 ohc 2790 cc 225 hp Fuel injection, turbo Catalysator

Maserati Biturbo Zagato rear

 1987 Maserati Biturbo 425i in Licence to Kill. Driven by Franz Sanchez 

1987 Maserati Biturbo 425i in Licence to Kill.007

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