Maserati 222 E

Production period:	1988 to 1993
Class:	sports car
Body versions:	Coupe
Engines:	Gasoline: 2.8 litres
Power:	165-182 kW
Length:	4043 mm
Width:	1714 mm
Height:	1305 mm
Wheelbase:	2514 mm
Curb weight:	1172 kg

The Maserati 222 E and its enhancements 222 SE and 222 SR are two-door notchback coupes of the Italian car manufacturer Maserati, which were manufactured from 1988 to 1993. 

History

The Maserati 222 E belong to the so-called Biturbo family. The 222 E was the export version of the also introduced in 1988 coupe 222 and replaced as such the biturbo iE. He had a larger engine: Maserati combined the body of the 222 with the six-cylinder engine of the larger coupe 228. The SE and SR models were technically the same, but had a different presentation.

With the Maserati Biturbo, presented in 1981, the Argentine entrepreneur Alejandro De Tomaso, owner of the company since 1975, wanted to establish the traditional sports car manufacturer in the area of ​​series production. Until then, among other things, the Italian tax laws had opposed a wider use of the Maserati models, the cars with a displacement of 2000 cc and more, with a sales tax of 38 percent, while taxed vehicles with a smaller displacement only 19 percent. With the biturbo Maserati avoided this problem by the car received a just 2.0 -litre six-cylinder engine, which was equipped with two turbochargers to increase performance. In the original version, this engine produced 132 kW (180 hp).

The body of the Maserati 222 E was fully equivalent to the base version 222. This was self-supporting and took up the lines of the 1981 presented biturbo coupe that Pierangelo Andreani had designed with reference to a concept car named by Medici Giorgio Giugiaro . The structure had only been revised in some details. As with the regular 222, the front end was now a little rounder, and the radiator grille was smaller than its predecessor. On the trunk lid was a standard rear wing. The modifications went back to Marcello Gandini. In its first version, the engine had been equipped with a register carburettor; from autumn 1986 but included a fuel injection to the standard equipment.

The 222 E took over the role of the basic model in Maserati's export program with its introduction. Unlike the first series of Biturbo, Maserati offered initially no stronger versions for export. A direct successor to the Biturbo ES, there was no more so from 1988. That did not change until 1991. This year, a more powerful version of the export model appeared with a four-valve engine that was sold as 222 4v. Added to this were the models 222 SE and 222 SR. They had the sporty body of the 222 4v and the conventional three-valve engine of the 222 E.

From the beginning, the 222 E could be optionally equipped with a vehicle catalytic converter. The production of the 222 E without catalytic converter ended 1990. The version with catalyst remained as well as the 222 SR until 1993 in the program. The four-door counterpart to the 222 E was sold on international markets under the name Maserati 430.

The outside, rearview mirrors which can be electrically controlled from the inside  are characterised by their extremely aerodynamic shape to prevent annoying rustling sounds when traveling at high speeds.The excellent noise and vibration barrier is enhanced by a new German acoustical insulation system. This enables you to take long trips, even at high speed, in total relax.The Interior: it is given elegance by the anatomical design of the seats, the refined choice of materials leather and precious briarwood that lines the inside: these elements place the 222E at the intemational front in terms of style and comfort.The steering wheel can be adjusted both vertically and lengthwise. The dashboard, which is generously padded for protective reasons, and the side panels are covered with the same material. For maximum comfort, the 222E is fitted with an automatic air-conditioning system to ensure that the chosen temperature remains constant.

The chassis of the 222 also corresponded in its basic design of the original biturbo. All wheels were hung individually. In front there were MacPherson struts and wishbones, behind a trailing arm axle with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers.

 The biturbo was manufactured largely automated and could be offered cheaper than the previous Maserati models. He opened up new customer groups for the company: From 1982 Maserati regularly achieved four-digit production figures each year. From the original twin-turbo, the company developed a number of other models, including the Sport version S. For the markets outside of Italy, in which larger-capacity vehicles were taxed less high, Maserati developed an export version with a 2.5-liter variant of the six-cylinder engine. It was not more powerful than the Italian 2.0-liter version, but had a higher torque and was better mobile. The export version was called Biturbo E. It took along all development steps of the smaller engine, among other things also the introduction of a gasoline injection in the year 1986, whereupon the export version received the designation Biturbo iE. Especially in the early years, the twin-turbo, which had been immature at launch, suffered from numerous, sometimes serious flaws affecting the car's reputation. As a Maserati for model year 1988 undertook minor stylistic changes, the company to make all future models account for the name Biturbo decided. The successor to the Biturbo i was given the number code 222, whose meaning is not unequivocally clarified. The export version, which in turn received a larger engine, took over this code and received the suffix "E".

The special innovation of the 222 E was the engine, which bore the factory-internal name Tipo AM 473. While the previous export versions of the Biturbo were provided with the 2.5-liter version of the six-cylinder V-engine, the 222 E now had a 2.8-liter engine enlarged. This construction was released in 1986. At the time, it had been used exclusively in the large Gran Turismo 228, a two-door model based on the extended platform of the Biturbo sedans, which wanted to compete with the Maserati with BMW and Daimler-Benz.

The electronic fuel injection and ignition system fitted to the Maserati range ensure optimum performance with maximum fuel economy throughout the power curve of the engine. These advantages are achieved by the accurate metering Of the fuel/air ratio and by the optimum monitoring of the ignition timing.Maserati's electronic fuel injection is based on the Weber'"Speed-Density" system. combined values of the engine r.p.m., the air density and the air intake quality determine the precise volume of fuel required.The injectors - one for each cylinder - are fed in phased sequence. For a more accurate metering, the system is fitted with a progressive tibhn choke intake. electronic ignition system, as well as operating the ignition timing, constantly regulates the wastegates to prevent overboosting, allowing the excess gases to by-pass the turbochargers and flow to the exhaust system.The engine can, therefore, run constantly close to maximum boost, thus fully exploiting all the available.This new concept, as well as controlling overboosting, protects the engine by preventing pre-ignition and over-revving; the system is governed by the Marelli Microplex electronic processor control unit on which is stored data on ignition timing, overboost limit and maximum vibration levels.
protective measures allow an increase in compression ratio, producing maximum engine power with minimum fuel consumption, unlike normal turbocharged engines, which by necessity, have a low compression ratio to prevent pre-ignition, In addition, each time the r.p.m. safety limit is exceeded, the fuel injection electronic micro processor control unit momentarily interrupts fuel supply to the engine thus protecting it from over-revving.

For the 222 E Maserati took over the injection engine of the 228 unchanged. It was a six-cylinder V-engine with a cylinder bank angle of 90 degrees. The capacity was 2789 cc (bore × stroke = 94 × 67 mm). Like the 2.0-liter basic version, the 2.8-liter engine had three valves per cylinder, two exhaust valves and one intake valve. Each cylinder bank had an overhead camshaft driven by a common timing belt. Four-valve technology was initially not. A newly designed cylinder head with four valves appeared only in 1991 with the model 222 4v. The engine had two turbochargers from IHI, which were provided with an intercooler. The compression ratio was 7.8: 1. The mixture prepared an electronically controlled injection system from Magneti Marelli on. The engine produced a maximum of 182 kW (248 hp). The 222 E outnumbered the equipped with a 2.0-liter engine, sold in Italy 222 by 21 kW (28 hp). On models equipped with a catalytic converter, however, the output of 165 kW (225 hp) was almost at the 222 level.

STANDARD FEATURES
Power steering,Steering wheel lock, Vertical and longitudinal adjustment of steering wheel,Front seats with power-operated seat back.Headrests on front and rear seats,Folding arm-rest between rear seats,Electrically adjusted outside dual rearview mirrors,Dash mounted luxury clock, Front ashtray, lighter and cigarette box, Central door locking,Rear Spoiler,Remote power release fuel tank door,Remote power release trunk lock , Failure indicator.Open door safety lights Automatic climate control with ducting to front passenger windows and the rear passenger compartment
Light alloy wheel rims ,Power windows, Heated rear window,Rear window blinds,Pre-arrangement for radio, cassette and speakers , Halogen head lights, Reverse lights and rear fog lights,Safety belts on front seats pre-arrangement for rear seats,Hand-stitched leather seats , Spare wheel in retractable carrier.

Maserati 222 Special versions 

Maserati 222 SE 

The Maserati 222 SE appeared for the 1990 model year. It externally connected to the Maserati 2.24 v, which appeared in 1988 and was powered by a more powerful four-valve version of the 2.0-liter engine. Technically retained the 222 SE, however, the 2.8-liter three-valve engine of the 222 E unchanged. The 222 SE was offered for only one year.

Maserati 222 SR 

For the model year 1991, the 222 SR replaced the 222 SE. The concept remained the same: Maserati combined the conventional drive technology of the 222 E, now fitted as standard with catalytic converter and 165 kW (225 hp) strong, with the sporty body of the four-valve models. The main difference to the 222 SE was the redesigned front end. The 222 SR had the same lighting units as the Maserati Shamal , a combination of square and round headlights. In addition, there was a wind deflector below the windshield above the windshield wipers. Also, this design feature had introduced Maserati at the Shamal. The 222 SR remained until 1993 in the program. In two years, 210 copies of the model were created.