The Enthusiasts' Page

All things 'Maserati'. News of forthcoming models, owner's cars, tips, 'Marque' reunions and the odd touch of humour! In fact anything of interest to the 'Maseratista'.

So if you have any news about Maseratis or have anything owners and enthusiasts should know, send details to enricomaserati@btinternet.com


Trident in the front grille of
the MC12 Versione Corse
 
You can click on some pictures for a better view!!

QUICK BROWSE - YOU ARE NOW ON PAGE 138
 
 
 
 
Enrico in the UK
 
 

"Saluti Maseratisti,

Sorry I have been out of action for a few days now, but my good friends at BT (British Telecom) have caused a few probleems with my old email address.

Please make a note of my new email address: enricomaserati@btinternet.com.

I have also been preoccupied updating and overhauling the web site of the Maserati Club UK. If you haven't already visited it, you really should, there are lots of interesting articles to be found!

Check out the article on the Maserati Formula Junior by Joel E. Finn in the articles section under Publications!!

I now have the time needed to update this web site and should have something for you within the next few days.

Best regards,

Enrico."

 
 
 
 
 
From edo Competition in Germany
 
 

Press information March 2008

Maserati MC12 Corsa – "Extreme athlete!"

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 3 seconds, 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in less than 7 seconds…

No, it’s not a Formula 1 car but nr. 8 of only 12 Maserati MC 12 Corsa race cars in the world.

Edo Karabegovic with co-driver Zahir RanaHere in Ahlen, super sports car tuner edo competition gives Canadian guest Zahir Rana the opportunity of a very special test drive in this limited production model. Rana is a successful sports car dealer of ZR auto exotic cars in Calgary and the first address for supercars and their modifications.

Normally one can only gauge the potential of this extreme athlete on a race track, but unfortunately they’re still closed in February. So, what to do?

Without further ado, a back road in Ahlen is closed off: length 2,800 meters (9200 ft), width 2.5 meters (8.2 ft). This is enough to get a small taste of what the super sports car developed for the FIA GT Championship is capable of. Road-legal status has been in preparation for 6 months. A sport suspension system including nose-lift functionality specially developed for edo Competition by KW was installed already. The factory carbon brakes were thrown out – too slow to get up to operating temperature – and replaced by a ceramic-composite braking system. A new high-flow exhaust, now adjustable in volume via remote, replaces the stock race exhaust system. New performance wheels, 19 in. in the front and 20 in. in the rear, along with road-legal tires developed in conjunction with tire-partner Michelin provide the necessary grip.

The fact that temperature-controlled radiator fans, an immobilizer, a lighting system and a horn were installed deserves a passing mention.

Edo competition is certain: The MC 12 Corsa will find a new owner soon. Will it be Zahir Rana?

The doors already display the Canadian flag and the driver’s name “Zahir Rana”. Edo Karabegovic was trying to surprise him with this treat.

Thursday, January 31st 2008: It’s a special day, and most important: It’s dry.

Track marshals and officialsTen track marshals position themselves at junctions and driveways to provide safety for the expensive test drive. A helicopter is on hand for filming, photographers and the local press are waiting; after all, an event like this has to be documented. The town of Ahlen was represented by Heino Hilbert, group leader for road construction and transportation, and deserves another thank you for the permission. More and more spectators are gathering to witness this unique event, which is a very different sight from the tractors and runners that are usually seen here.

Edo Karabegovic knows the car well. Last year the Maserati was driven extensively and the downforce levels were tested at Michelin’s Formula 1 test track in France. It does 326 km/h (203 mph) despite the short geared racing transmission. Therefore measuring the downforce is an absolute necessity for the future road rocket in order to permit driving at very high speeds.

After strapping into the custom-made ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber bucket seats using 6-point harnesses, everyone is ready for action.

Edo Karabegovic with co-driver Zahir Rana takes it easy at first. The Maserati bounces over barely visible bumps in the road. The suspension is adjusted. The top speed they’re able to achieve is not relevant, it’s the infernal acceleration that counts.

The low ambient temperature around the freezing point doesn’t exactly help minimize wheel spin upon acceleration. Only in 3rd gear can Edo Karabegovic get the throttle to the floor without having the car try to leave the narrow back road. The sequential racing transmission, lifted from F1 and installed in this monster, allows for sub-150ms shift times. The brutal acceleration provided by the 6-liter 755 hp engine taught the true meaning of “tunnel vision” to both occupants. Similar to rally footage on fast-forward, they’re shooting through space and time, the trees lining the road appearing like a solid wall. The Maserati zooms out of sight with rocket speed. No longer visible, but every shift is still clearly audible.

The car is not equipped with a heater, but neither of them is cold thanks to the adrenaline rush. The way even 5th gear still pushes you back into the buckets makes it seem like being launched out of a catapult can’t be any worse.

Zahir Rana is convinced. Having had the pleasure of driving the Maserati himself, he knows he’s come to the right place. He has never experienced anything like this before. Even Rana’s own yellow Ferrari Enzo in Canada, not exactly considered underpowered with 660 hp, does not accelerate in such a spectacular fashion.

After arriving at the turning point, a happy Zahir Rana gets out of the car. On thing is certain: after this impressive test drive, Edo Karabegovic will get two vehicles to modify. Whether or not he gets the MC 12 Corsa is questionable. After all, it’s owned by a customer and with a price tag of 1.4 million Euros it’s not a decision to make on a whim.

P.S. Meanwhile the police have joined us. They have to investigate a noise complaint from 6 km (4 miles) away.

Official support is vital. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the project, local residents and the town of Ahlen for their help in making this event possible.

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

Text and photos courtesy of edo Competition

 
 
 
 
 
From Enrico in the UK
 
 

Spotted this unusual, rare and politically incorrect item of Maserati memorabilia

 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
From Maserati at the Geneva MotorShow
 
Presenting the Maserati GranTurismo S

More power for Pininfarina's beauty!
 

A year after the unveiling of the GranTurismo, Maserati is back at the Geneva International Motorshow with yet another world premiere, the GranTurismo S, the ultimate expression of the Marque’s sportiness. The new interpretation of the perfect balance between sportiness and comfort shifts the emphasis onto performance and driving enjoyment.

The new 440 hp V8 4.7 engine, with a maximum torque of 490 Nm at 4750 rpm, electro-actuated gearbox with fast MC Shift, Transaxle layout, sporty exhaust and brakes made with dual-cast technology make the GranTurismo S the new flagship for Maserati sporting flair, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a maximum speed of 295 km/h, the highest ever reached by a production Maserati.

The compact and lightweight 4.7 litre V8 engine develops maximum power output of 440 hp at 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 490 Nm at 4,750 rpm, and ensures high specific power output and more torque at lower speeds as well, without affecting the capacity to up the revs quickly, typical of racing engines. The increase in power output and torque has not affected the versatility of the power unit, which continues to be readily harnessed even during everyday use. It sounds deep and throaty, but the exhaust valve pneumatic control can also be activated to make it discrete.

An electro-actuated 6-speed gearbox is paired with the 4.7 litre V8 engine, and has MC-Shift software which harnesses the new engine’s power output, ensuring new unbeatable gearshift performance in terms of the whole sports car range.

The gearshift solution known as MC-Shift is the most important innovation of the electro-actuated system on the Maserati GranTurismo S: this includes management software and special hardware components which give top performance in terms of gearshift times.

In conventional electro-actuated systems the three shift phases (cut in torque and opening of clutch; gear disengagement, selection and engagement; closing of clutch and restoration of torque) are carried out sequentially.

On the Maserati GranTurismo S the shift phases are partially overlapped: gear disengagement and engagement take place in advance of clutch opening and closing; this means that the shift time, interpreted and calculated as the break in acceleration, drops to 100 ms, whilst the single gear engagement phase reduces to 40 ms.

The fast MC-Shift is available only when shifting up and in Manual Sport mode, provided that the transmission control unit recognises when given parameters relating to engine and transmission temperature are achieved: the quick shift is possible above 5500 rpm and with the throttle at 80%.

Once these parameters have been achieved, the system enables fast shift and warns the driver through the MC-S indicator on the dashboard display, which lights up and stays on.

The engine and gearbox on the Maserati GranTurismo S are arranged in the Transaxle layout, typical of high-performance sports cars and representing the technological DNA of Maseratis. The front-mounted engine, and the gearbox, located to the rear, are rigidly connected by a tubular element containing the driveshaft. This solution gives excellent weight distribution, 47% over the front axle and 53% over the rear axle, which translates into excellent dynamics and top performance.

Looking through the spokes of the new 20” rims on the GranTurismo S you can see the high-performance brake system developed in collaboration with Brembo.

The system features front brake discs made with dual-cast technology — a dual casting of cast iron and aluminium, paired with aluminium mono-bloc 6-piston brake callipers.

This technology, introduced for the first time in the automotive field on the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S, optimises the braking system’s performance, by emphasising pedal feel and increasing fatigue-resistance in the most extreme conditions.

At the wheel, the Maserati GranTurismo S is more rigid and compact, thanks to the suspension layout developed specifically to support the new weight distribution. Vehicle roll has been reduced significantly as a result of the modified springs, bars and dampers, and this has benefited handling and performance.

On the outside the Maserati GranTurismo S is distinguished by a number of aesthetic modifications that, although discrete, are highly effective and serve to make the car body appear even sportier without abandoning the sleekness of the lines masterfully designed by Pininfarina. The integrated spoiler in the boot lid and the new-design side skirts help to improve the flows around the car. On top of that, the Maserati GranTurismo S boasts new specially designed 20” rims, which resemble the Trident, Maserati’s symbol.

The sporty look is complemented by the generously proportioned oval-section exhaust tailpipes. The radiator grille and headlight casings are black, while the Trident on the grille and the oval badge below the hood are embossed in red, in true Maserati racing tradition.

The interior upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather and Alcantara (used for the steering wheel and centre of the seat with the option to extend to the whole of the headlining) reflect the sporty flair of the Maserati GranTurismo S; the front and rear seats are distinguished by their new dynamic design with horizontal piping on the seats and seatbacks.

As an alternative to the standard leather/Alcantara, trim classic interiors are available in all Poltrona Frau leather, or in full-grain Pekary leather with a sporty and more refined look.

 

Trident on the grille is embossed in red

Generously proportioned oval-section exhaust tailpipes
 

Upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather and Alcantara
 
 
 
 
 
From Johan Stegny in Austria
 

"Hi Enrico,

Thought your readers would like to see some new Maserati models that I have for sale.

Regards,

Johan."

 

The Maserati GranTurismo S by BBR

The Maserati 5000GT 'Aga Khan' by ABC
 

The Maserati Spyder V6 by Alezan
 
 
 
 
 
From Coys at "Techno Essen" in Germany
 

A very nice Maserati 3500 GTI, along with two other lots that may be of interest to Maserati enthusiasts, come under the hammer at a sale by Coys at "Techno Classica" in Germany on Saturday 29th March 2008.

 
Lot 3 Maserati Wrist Watch

Estimate: €390-440

A gentleman's automatic watch with date and the Maserati script and logo at the 12 o'clock position. Black, genuine leather, strap and marked correctly as 'Maserati Official Timepiece'.




Lot 31 Maserati 4CL Profile

Estimate: €160-200

Hand-panted in wood, showing the Maserati 4CL profile, in deep red with a blue nose, length 120cm.
 

 
Lot 308 1962 Maserati 3500 GTi

Registration no: EU Taxes paid

Chassis no: AM1012458

Estimate: €52,000-58,000

Sold for €64,262

 
 

The 3500GT can lay claim to being the first true production Maserati, and was first shown at the 1957 Geneva Show. Beneath aluminium coupé coachwork by Allemano (later by Touring), the Maserati featured a tubular frame chassis. Suspension comprised independent coil springs and wishbones at the front and a leaf-sprung rear axle while brakes were alloy-finned drums all round. Power came from a 3,485cc, twin overhead camshaft, straight six engine; via triple Weber carburettors and twin spark plugs per cylinder it produced 230bhp at 5,500rpm which, allied to an all-synchromesh five-speed ZF gearbox, allowed a 144mph top speed and 0-60mph in around eight seconds.

Early in 1960 front servo-assisted disc brakes became standard, rear discs being added for 1962; later that year, power rose by 5bhp when Lucas fuel injection replaced the carburettors, the model being renamed the 3500GTi - it made Maserati the first Italian manufacturer to offer such an induction system and the first worldwide to use the 'GTi' suffix.

In the same ownership for over 20 years, this Touring-bodied 3500GTi was manufactured in October 1962 and is described by the vendor as being a very original and 'honest' motor car. Finished in dark blue with black leather trim, it comes with Swiss registration documents, proof that the European taxes have been paid and is said to be in very good condition and to drive extremely well.

 
 
 
 
 
From Gert in Belgium
 

"Ciao Maseratisti,

Whilst looking through my library of photos, I came across these images of the two Maserati Barchetta that took part in the Maserati Classic International at Spa-Francorchamps back in 2003.

The event coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Barchetta and it was hoped that all 16 examples would attend. Sadly the response was poorer than expected and only three Barchettas turned up. The three that did were rewarded with the challenge of one of the greatest motor racing circuits in the world, Spa-Francorchamps!

These photos were sent to me by Gert in Belgium and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Regards,

Enrico."

 

Thursday 26th June 2003 - Just the one!

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

Friday 27th June 2003 - Another Barchetta arrives!

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

Saturday 28th June 2003 - And then there were three!

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

Sunday 29th June 2003 - Time to go home!

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

But the 2003 Maserati Classic International wasn't just about Barchettas, Maserati enthusiasts from all over Europe attended the event, and fortunately for us, they brought their Maseratis with them!

You can see more photos HERE!

 
 
 
 

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