Maserati Ghibli (Tipo AM336)

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Maserati
Maserati Ghibli II (1994)
Maserati Ghibli II (1994)
Ghibli
Production period: 1992-1997
Class : Sports car
Body versions : Coupe
Engines:
Petrol engines : 2.0-2.8 liters
(206-225 kW)
Length: 4223 mm
Width: 1775 mm
Height: 1300 mm
Wheelbase : 2514 mm
Empty weight : 1350-1375 kg
Previous model Maserati 222
successor Maserati 3200 GT

The Maserati Ghibli , presented in spring 1992, is a sports car from the Italian car manufacturer Maserati . The internal model name is Tipo AM336 ; in the press the car is sometimes referred to as the Ghibli II . It was the second model of the brand to bear this name after the Ghibli, which was built from late 1966 to late 1973 . The new vehicle, which was only available as a coupé, belonged to the biturbo family and had nothing to do with the sports car of the 1960s. There was a street version of the Ghibli and a less common racing version.

background

After the Argentine Alejandro de Tomaso took over the insolvent sports car manufacturer Maserati in the summer of 1975, he changed the direction of the traditional company in the early 1980s. The Coupé Biturbo, developed under his leadership and presented in 1981, which conceptually was reminiscent of the BMW 3 Series , made Maserati a series manufacturer. In the following years, other models based on the biturbo structure were created: a convertible, a four-door sedan and a coupé each with a shortened and an extended wheelbase. There were also new versions of the engines almost every year: six-cylinder engines with displacements from 2.0 to 2.8 liters and various carburetor and injection versions with outputs between 206 and 225 kW (280 - 306 hp). De Tomaso's model policy made a “haphazard” or “desperate” impression on observers at the beginning of the 1990s. Most recently, the 222, 2.24v, 222 SE, 222 4v and Racing competed in the field of two-door coupés with a regular wheelbase. There were also short coupes such as the Karif or the Shamal .

In 1989, the Italian car company Fiat initially acquired a minority stake in Maserati, and four years later Fiat took over the company completely. As a result, Fiat increasingly influenced Maserati's model policy, which resulted in a gradual streamlining of the range. The Coupé Ghibli, presented in 1992, was the first new model to be developed under these auspices. It was again a variation on the biturbo theme, but stylistically more independent than its predecessor. With its introduction, the production of all other two-door coupé versions with regular wheelbase ended, so that the Ghibli replaced all variants of the 222 as well as the Racing. The last copies of these models were sold parallel to the Ghibli until 1994.

Model history

High rear: Ghibli II
interior
Maserati Ghibli Cockpit.jpg
Maserati Ghibli trunk lid.jpg
Maserati Ghibli side view.jpg

body

The new Ghibli was clearly based on elements of the biturbo models. The floor pan and the body structure were taken from the Biturbo; therefore the dimensions of the Ghibli and those of its immediate predecessor 222 were the same. The doors, roof and parts of the glazing were also taken from earlier Biturbo models.

The outer sheet metal parts were largely redesigned. Marcello Gandini was responsible for the design , who shortly before had designed another biturbo offshoot, the Shamal. Accordingly, the Ghibli was a "stylistically less aggressive" further development of the Shamal; occasionally he was referred to as the "domesticated version of the Shamal". Maserati took over the Shamal's front bumpers and the eye-catching cover of the wiper shafts and vents at the bottom of the windshield. The fenders of the Ghibli were also heavily exposed; However, they did not reach the dimensions of the Shamal fenders. The headlight units - one round and one square headlight - were the same, but they were now behind a glass cover, which many observers perceived as a stylistic improvement. After all, like the Shamal, the Ghibli had a higher trunk lid, which, however, was designed differently in detail. With this style element, the Ghibli cited the contemporary BMW M3 . The interior was characterized by Connolly leather and real wood applications.

Drive technology

The Ghibli was initially powered exclusively by a two-liter V6 engine with two parallel turbochargers (biturbo) and 228 kW (310 hp), which transmitted its power to the rear wheels via a five-speed gearbox. This engine was developed in 1990 for the short-lived Maserati Racing sports car . In 1993, a version with 209 kW (284 hp) output 2.8-liter V6 came into the range for export markets, which was optionally available with a manual transmission or an automatic transmission with four forward gears from ZF .

Facelift 1994

At the end of 1994 there was a facelift with wider bumpers, a changed Maserati logo in the radiator grille, new 17-inch wheels and wider tires. There were also modifications in the area of ​​technology: Maserati changed the chassis geometry and introduced electronically adjustable shock absorbers. The revision also replaced the manually shifted five-speed gearbox with a six-speed gearbox.

Ghibli Cup

In 1994 the special model Ghibli Cup appeared , of which 75 or 86 copies were made, depending on the source. The Cup was the street version of the Ghibli Open Cup racing car. It had a 2.0 liter engine whose output had been increased to 246 kW. The model was sportily equipped with special wheels, Momo steering wheel and aluminum pedals.

Ghibli primatist

At the end of 1996 the Ghibli Primatist was created , the name of which is reminiscent of a sports boat of the same name made by the Italian manufacturer Bruno Abbate . In autumn 1996, a Primatist boat set a new world record in the 5000 cm³ class for motor boats for a flying kilometer on Lake Lugano . Regardless of the Ghibli engine's displacement of just two liters, the decision was made to use this drive unit because of its excellent acceleration performance, compact dimensions and low weight. The goal was reached on November 4, 1996 on Lake Lugano at an average speed of 216.703 km / h.

The Ghibli Primatist was similar to the Ghibli Cup, whose successor it was. It had a 2.0 liter six-cylinder engine with a regular output of 225 kW (306 hp). The vehicles were painted blue. They had an interior made of leather, in which light and dark blue colors were combined, with light root wood. A special lettering on the side panels between the door and the rear wheel arch, which was provided with a stylized racing boat and the inscription Ghibli Primatist, is another distinguishing feature from the normal Ghibli variant. According to the works, 34 copies of the Primatist were made; some sources doubt this.

Sports version: Ghibli Open Cup

For the Ghibli brand cup held in 1995 and 1996, Maserati developed the Ghibli Open Cup . The racing model presented in December 1994, which was built 22 times, had a two-liter V6 with an output of 239 kW (325 hp), aluminum wheels with quick-release fasteners, slicks, sports suspension, racing brakes, roll bars and a slimmed-down interior.

Scope of production

A total of 2,183 units of the second generation Ghibli had been built by the end of 1997. On the German market, the Ghibli cost 99,850 DM when it was launched in April 1992.

rating

The Ghibli is considered the best and most sophisticated version of the Maserati Biturbo. With him, the influence of Fiat is noticeable, which has led to continuous improvements in the construction. Some consider the Ghibli to be a "domesticated shamal".

“ Although (its) quality did not come close to that of the German competition, the Ghibli offered a fresh, heartfelt alternative in the uniform world of perfectly boring German competitor models. The car was fast and fun, and there were buyers who were drawn to its quiet design and convenient four-seat layout. "

Technical data and performance

Maserati: Ghibli 2.0 Ghibli 2.8 Ghibli Cup
Motor type: 6 cylinder V front engine with two turbochargers
Displacement: 1996 cc 2790 cc 1996 cc
Bore × stroke: 82.0 x 63.0 mm 94.0 x 67.0 mm 82.0 x 63.0 mm
Performance at 1 / min: 225 kW (305 hp) at 6250 206 kW (284 hp) at 5500 246 kW (330 hp) at 5500
Torque at 1 / min: 373 Nm at 4250 431 at 3750 371 at 4000
Dimensions length / width / height: 4223/1775/1300 mm
Wheelbase: 2514 mm
Empty weight: 1365 kg
Chassis front axle: Wishbones , MacPherson strut , anti-roll bar
Chassis rear axle: Semi-trailing arm , spring-damper unit , anti-roll bar
V max : 265 km / h 260 km / h 269 ​​km / h
0-100 km / h: 5.7 s 5.5 s
Consumption: 11.5 l / 100 km 11.9 l / 100 km 11.5 l / 100 km
Tank capacity: 80 l

literature

  • Georg Amtmann, Halwart Schrader : Italian sports cars. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-613-01988-4 .
  • Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 .
  • Gianni Cancellieri et al. (Ed.): Maserati. Catalog raisonné 1926–2003. Automobilia, Milan 2003, ISBN 88-7960-151-2 .
  • Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 .
  • Maurizio Tabucchi: Maserati. All Grand Prix, Sports and GT vehicles from 1926 until today. Heel, Königswinter 2004, ISBN 3-89880-211-6 .

Web links

Commons : Maserati Ghibli (Tipo AM336)  - Collection of images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 71.
  2. ^ Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 , p. 143.
  3. ↑ Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 74.
  4. ^ A b c Georg Amtmann, Halwart Schrader: Italian sports cars. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-613-01988-4 , p. 309.
  5. ^ Long: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. 1993, p. 74.
  6. ↑ The Maserati Ghibli Primatist on the website www.maseratighibli.co.uk (accessed October 16, 2015).
  7. ^ A b c Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 , p. 147.
  8. ↑ a b Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 , p. 75.