Modena Automobil Unveils Restomod Based on Maserati Biturbo Shamal
Modena Automobil is bringing one of Maserati’s finest creations back from the dead.
The shop has just pulled back the curtain on the new restomod based on the Italian automaker’s beloved grand tourer called Project MA-01. The boxy speedy machine is only a prototype right now, but it certainly sounds like it would make it to production.
Vehicle names don’t come much more descriptive than the Biturbo. The model, which was introduced at the beginning of the 1980s, wasn’t just the first Maserati to feature a twin-turbocharged engine, it was the first production car to do so. Unsurprisingly, it was a pretty potent vehicle, especially the exclusive Shamal coupé which was designed by Marcello Gandini-penned design.
Modena Automobil Project MA-01
Modena Automobil
Modena has, quite sensibly, not messed with the Shamal’s gloriously angular shape too much on the MA-01. The car’s stance and crisp lines are relatively unchanged, but a new body kit gives it a touch more bite. The front fascia is more aggressive, the inlets much bigger, and the wheel arches more prominent and sharp. Particularly striking are the new LED light package and the large spoiler coming off the rear. No images of the interior have been made available, but Motor1.com reports that it will likely feature a digital instrument cluster with an oval shape just like that on the original Shamal.
The biggest difference can be found under the hood. The MA-01 will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 from a present-day Ghibli that will make 500 hp. Needless to say, it’s much more powerful than the car it’s based on, which, in its last year on sale, had a twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder that made just 326 hp. Modena says the new car will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds and top out at a respectable 177 mph. Other mechanical features include a fully stripped down, rebuilt and reinforced chassis, a retuned suspension, and new Brembo brakes.
Modena Automobil
As of right now, the Project MA-01 is just a prototype, but it’s clear that Modena wants to put it into production. If it does, expect 33 to be built. It won’t come cheap, though. The starting price is $638,000, making it significantly more expensive than the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
