Maserati Biturbo 420

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Maserati
Maserati Biturbo 420 i
Maserati Biturbo 420 i
Biturbo 420
Biturbo 420 S
Biturbo 420 i
Biturbo 420 Si
Production period: 1985-1988
Class : Sports car
Body versions : limousine
Engines: Gasoline engine :
2.0 liters
(136–162 kW)
Length: 4400 mm
Width: 1730 mm
Height: 1360 mm
Wheelbase : 2600 mm
Empty weight : 1187 kg
successor Maserati 422

The Maserati Biturbo 420 and the further developed versions 420 S , 420 i and 420 Si are four-door sedans from the Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati , which were in the range from 1985 to 1988. Maserati built the vehicles on the technology of the two-door Coupé Biturbo . The 420 models, intended exclusively for the Italian market, complemented the Maserati Biturbo 425 , which had been presented two years earlier and had a larger engine and was primarily exported. The 420 series is part of the extensive biturbo family .

History of origin

After Alejandro De Tomaso took over Maserati in 1975, he pursued the idea of ​​establishing the company, which had previously only produced high-quality, very expensive sports cars by hand, as a series manufacturer. For this, future models had to be significantly cheaper than the previous sports cars. De Tomaso's concept therefore envisaged a compact, automated vehicle that was powered by a comparatively small engine. With this, Maserati reacted to the Italian tax legislation, which imposed a sales tax of 38 percent instead of 19 percent on automobiles with a displacement of 2000 cc and more. On this basis, the Maserati Biturbo was born, which was presented to the public in December 1981 after three years of development. It had a nearly 2.0 liter six-cylinder engine that was equipped with two turbochargers to increase performance. However, from 1983 onwards, Maserati offered a version enlarged to 2.5 liters on export markets. The manufacturer developed both the export and the Italian version of the Biturbo step-by-step in the following years: In 1983 Maserati added a performance-enhanced S variant to both versions (Biturbo S for Italy, Biturbo ES for export); From 1986 an electronically controlled gasoline injection was installed instead of the outdated carburetor. The injection models were given the additional designation "i" (for iniezione ).

At the end of 1983, Maserati added a four-door sedan to the series that had previously only consisted of two-door coupés and used the - extended - floor assembly of the two-door coupé with its drive technology. The body was similar to that of the coupé, but had no identical parts. The four-door model initially appeared only as an export model, the Biturbo 425, with the 2.5-liter variant of the six-cylinder engine, because Maserati was of the opinion that the larger and slightly more powerful 2.5-liter engine was better suited to the higher weight of the sedan. It was not until 1985 that Maserati added a 2.0-liter version to the range of sedans for the Italian market. The Italian 420 series was more versatile than the export variant 425. While Maserati only offered one output level of the 2.5-liter engine in the non-Italian markets, there was a basic engine and a more powerful S in Italy for both the carburettor and the injection version -Version. The engine of the Biturbo 420 therefore corresponded to that of the two-door Biturbo Coupé in the Italian version.

At the end of the 1987 model year, Maserati ceased production of the Biturbo 420 and the Biturbo Coupé. The coupé was replaced on the Italian market by the Maserati 222 , when its four-door versions of the 422 and 4.18 succeeded the Biturbo 420. They all renounced the model name Biturbo, which had come into disrepute in recent years due to numerous quality defects. In the 422, the drive unit of the previous 420 Si sports model became the basic engine.

Model description

The Biturbo 420 was externally and with the exception of the engine also technically identical to the Biturbo 425 presented in 1983. The stylistic changes that Maserati had introduced in 1985 in the Coupé and were reflected there in the model name Biturbo II, were in all 420 sedans from the beginning as part of the standard equipment. There was therefore no addition "II" to the 420 sedans.

Platform and body

Maserati 420: high rear end

Like the 425, the Biturbo 420 used the extended platform of the Biturbo Coupé presented in 1981. However, the wheelbase was extended by 85 mm to 2600 mm. The sedan was around 100 kg heavier than the coupé version with the same engine.

The body of the Maserati 420 corresponded to that of the Biturbo 425. Its shape was the work of the former Pininfarina designer Pierangelo Andreani . Andreani was based on the body of the coupé, but the structure of the sedan was a new design. Due to the changed dimensions of the sedan, which was both longer and higher, no body part of the coupé could be taken over. Stylistically and in terms of dimensions, the 430 was similar to the four-door version of the contemporary 3-series BMW .

engine

Like the biturbo coupés destined for the Italian market, the 420 was powered by a six-cylinder V-engine with a displacement of 2.0 liters. The engine block was made of aluminum, the cylinder bank angle was 90 degrees. Each cylinder had two intake valves and one exhaust valve. For each row of cylinders there was a camshaft that was driven by a common toothed belt. The cylinder surfaces were coated with Nikasil . To increase performance, the engines were equipped with two exhaust gas turbochargers from IHI . A charge air cooler was installed as standard . During the production time of the model, there were different forms of mixture preparation:

  • In the first 1985 featured version of the 420 as well as the bi-turbo coupe had a carburetor of Weber (type 42 DCNVH). The engine was named Tipo AM 452. This system was already criticized as out of date when it was introduced. As with the Coupé, there were two different output levels: a basic version with 185 hp (136 kW) and a sporty S version with a ratio of 7.8: 1 instead of 7.4: 1 with 210 hp (154 kW).
  • From 1986 Maserati replaced the carburetor with an electronically controlled gasoline injection. This version was also available in two power levels: the basic version (Tipo AM 470) developed 138 kW (188 hp), the more powerful Si version (Tipo AM 471) delivered 162 kW (220 hp). The injection system improved the starting properties of the engine at high temperatures and the responsiveness at low speeds. This eliminated the main points of criticism of the early biturbo models.

Power transmission

All biturbo models were equipped with a manual five-speed transmission from ZF as standard . An automatic three-speed transmission from BorgWarner was optionally available. The rear wheels were driven by a split cardan shaft .

landing gear

The front and rear wheels were suspended individually . At the front and rear, coil springs and hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers were used, at the front as MacPherson struts and at the rear together with trailing arms . There were stabilizers on both axles . The delay was achieved with servo-assisted disc brakes from ATE. Contemporary test reports criticized the chassis as being overwhelmed; it is not appropriate to the engine power. Oversteer set in early, and "strong load change reactions" were criticized.

inner space

Interior: seats with Missoni covers

The interior of the Biturbo 420, like that of the 425, was considered to be of particularly high quality. The dashboard was covered with synthetic leather; the instrument panel had a semicircular shape, as it was introduced at the same time in the coupés and replaced the previously angular unit there. The seats had a fabric cover designed by Missoni as standard . Seat covers made of gathered leather were optionally available at an additional cost.

The individual models

Maserati had the Biturbo 420 in its range for three years, in four different versions. A total of 4766 copies of all variants of the biturbo were produced. The smaller motorized Italian version of the Biturbo sedan was thus more successful than the export version Biturbo 425, of which only half as many were produced between 1983 and 1987 with a total of 2,372 vehicles.

Biturbo 420

The Biturbo 420 was the basic version of the Italian Biturbo sedans. It had the 185 hp carburettor engine in the low-compression version (Tipo AM 452). The model was produced in 1985 and 1986. During this time, 2810 vehicles were built.

Biturbo 420 S

The Biturbo 420 S was the four-door parallel model to the two-door Biturbo S. Both vehicles had the higher compression version of the Tipo 452 engine, which made 210 hp in the sedan, 5 hp more than in the coupé. The 420 S was part of the range alongside the regular 420. The top speed of the sports model was 220 km / h. Maserati also adopted the external design features of the two-door Biturbo S for the four-door 420 S. Here, too, the bonnet had additional air inlets that were functionless and were only used for appearance. The 420 S was also painted in two colors at the factory; the lower half of the car flanks were black on each copy. From 1985 to 1986, 254 copies of the Biturbo 420 S were built.

Biturbo 420 i

In the 1986 model year, the 188 hp Tipo AM 470 injection engine replaced the previous basic engine with carburettors. The Biturbo 420 then became the Biturbo 420 i. Technically and stylistically there were no changes. The model remained in the program until the end of 1987. A total of 1142 vehicles of this variant were built in two years.

Biturbo 420 Si

The Biturbo 420 Si was the four-door version of the two-door Biturbo Si. The 420 Si was offered in parallel with the regular 420 i. With the 220 hp Tipo AM 417 injection engine, the sedan had a top speed of 228 km / h, according to the factory. Maserati built a total of 524 copies of this model by the end of 1987.

literature

  • Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 .
  • Gianni Cancellieri: Maserati. All the cars. Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone 2015, ISBN 978-88-7911-609-1
  • Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 .
  • Anthony Pritchard: Maserati. The history of racing , Delius Klasing, Bielefeld, 1st edition 2003, ISBN 978-3-7688-2513-9
  • David Sparrow, Iain Ayre: Maserati Heritage . Osprey Classic Marques. Auckland 1995. ISBN 1-85532-441-5 .

Web links

Commons : Maserati Biturbo Sedans  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ There were no four-valve versions in the biturbo models; they did not appear until 1988 with the successors 2.24 and 222 4v , which officially no longer bore the name Biturbo.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 60.
  2. ^ Gianni Cancellieri: Maserati. All the cars. Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone 2015, ISBN 978-88-7911-609-1 , p. 235.
  3. ↑ a b c d Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 66.
  4. ↑ Brief portrait of Pierangelo Andreanis (accessed on September 21, 2017).
  5. ^ Gianni Cancellieri: Maserati. All the cars. Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone 2015, ISBN 978-88-7911-609-1 , p. 237.
  6. ↑ Description of the Maserati Biturbo on the website www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk (accessed on August 27, 2017).
  7. ^ Klaus Finkenburg: Maserati Biturbo model check . In: Motor Klassik Kaufratgeber Italienische Klassiker, 2017, p. 145.
  8. ^ Gianni Cancellieri: Maserati. All the cars. Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone 2015, ISBN 978-88-7911-609-1 , p. 234.
  9. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 62.
  10. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 64.
  11. ^ Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 , p. 139.
  12. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 63.
  13. ^ Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 , p. 136.
  14. ↑ Auto Motor und Sport, issue 24/1983 from November 30, 1983.
  15. ↑ a b c d Gianni Cancellieri: Maserati. All the cars. Giorgio Nada Editore, Vimodrone 2015, ISBN 978-88-7911-609-1 , p. 238 f.