New Shamal 2016?

The thing about the new V6 engines is that they're 60 degree and not 90.

So my question is if this going to cause a problem getting those engines into something more low slung like nicely designed Shamal replacement not what's in that picture?

They need to have Gandini design the new one anyway.

These all too similar body styles are getting as boring as BMWs.
Just being an Italian version of a BMW might not make it worth the inevitable bigger PITA owning one of these cars will be. When compared with a BMW or Audi that is.

The supposed $65K price tag for the new Ghibli III is a real plus though!

 

Really? Where have you been for the last 25 years????

 

Buying Maseratis! I only have two that similar - 1st series and the last series Ghibli Open Cup. But at least we had the Barchetta, Karif, Shamal QPIV and 3200GT developed on a poor mans budget which were very different looking from each other. Yeah the rest of the Bitrubos series were a single familiar theme with maybe Ghibli II being the best looking of those. Thank you Gandini.

 

If they build it that way - I want to get a contract...

 

Shouldn't make a difference, and you really don't want a V6 to be 90 degrees anyway as they are naturally a bit unbalanced. Alfieri only made the Merak/SM V9 90 degrees because it would be cheaper to produce. 60 degrees or better yet, inline, is the only way to do a 6. Getting it low slung will be a non issue so long as the crank is low and the oiling system is dry sump.

 

If the car is already tall anyway no it won't make difference from a packaging perspective.
Center of gravity ...

This looks pretty tall to me

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/enthusiast250/hisato_shanghai-18a.jpg

I can't tell if it's dry sump or not but there's plenty of low hanging fruit anyway.

I think all these drive trains are meant for GT coupe/sedans so Maserati won't have anything to fit in a low slung car without some further work.

 

That powertrain looks pretty good doesn't it.

Don't worry, Maserati will do something interesting with the new mid engined Alfa chassis. Hopefully they will name it Merak

 

Just another land yacht IMHO [very sad] and under the Ferrari thumb no less!

BTW - FWIW my AM 114 has a super smooth idle. Might have to post a video on the Youtube Merak Group Channel with a glass of water sitting on top of the air box. It's all in the tunning.

Ciao,
George

 

I hope you are right!

Ciao,
George

 

You know George, you do have to turn the engine for that to qualify as a valid test ...

 

I really, really don't like the flat edges around the wheel wells... Mercedes has them. Nissan has them. Toyota has them. I guess that the 'latest and greatest.' But, I sure don't like the way they look.

Mike

 

I think I read somewhere that it was a legal requirement for EU cars, appeared sometime around 2008 or so. Anyone know for sure, please correct me.

 

What would be the purpose of that?

 

Bad Google translation from the article but this much I understand. Maserati thinks their customer base is fat people. Nice ... So the Alfa 4C as a starting point is out.

The goals: to develop a new generation of sports cars
DISPLAY

Harald Wester medium term plans to develop a new generation of sports cars for Maserati. "Sharper seasoned, compact and lightweight, ideal motorized outstanding driving dynamics and with the six-cylinder", he describes the new car . The idea to derive the new sports car from the mid-engine coupe Alfa 4C is off the table - too expensive for a larger series, too small for the V6 too narrow for the somewhat older audience, too little compatible with the other models.

Instead, fiddled in Viale Cesare Menotti on an innovative front-mid-engine car that probably only in 2016 or 2017 is coming. Lightweight design is also paramount, but with aluminum instead of carbon as the main carrier material as in Figure 4C. Planned are a coupe and Spyder, both as a two-seater, nine-speed automatic with fast switching function, double-wishbone suspension and three levels of the double-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 330 hp (GTS), 410 hp (MC) and 460 hp (Stradale) . The envisaged Prices range 90000-120000 euros , the volume is expected to be 5000-8000 cars per year. Almost looks as if the era of blunt trident is finally over.

 

Here's a peak at their new engines.

Maserati Enthusiasts' Page

 

That drivetrain is 4wd, and it looks like the front diff is placed on the side of the engine, so the engine can't be positioned aft of the front axle.

Best,

Jack.

 

Hi ,

I don't believe this is anything more than a popular trend to make the wheelarches appear larger and more dominant. Its been overused a bit perhaps.
Only legal requirements that I'm aware of are to do with wheel coverage at 30 and 50 degrees which explains Mercedes add on plastic spats at the rear of their back wheel arches [ and used by us here at Holden Special Vehicles too for the same reason ]

Julian