Prototypesand Prototypesand ConceptCars

During its history Maseratihas inspired the worlds most important designers and coachbuilders to create some of their best designs. Some of the creations listed below were intended for production whilst others were meant as show cases strictly.

Simun(1967)

The Simun, named after a Sahara desert wind, was Giugiaro’slast work as head of design at Ghia. It was built on the mechanical basis of the Mexico but had a reduced wheelbase. The Simunwas meant to be Maserati’snext four-seaterGT car, with a less sporty nature than the current Ghibli. Yet its unremarkable design –it showed strong similarity with Giugiaro’sThor concept for Oldsmobile –led to the decision to choose the Michelotti-designed Indy for production instead. This car is currently part of the renowned Panini collection.

Boomerang (1971-1973)

Giorgetto Giugiaro stunnedthe world withthe Maserati Boomerang conceptof whicha non-functionalmodel wasdisplayedfirst at the 1971 Turinmotorshow. The fullyfunctional Boomerang waslaunchedat the 1973 Geneva motorshowand shareditsmechanical partswiththe Bora.

In 1966, Giugiaro enteredthe public eyewithhisdesignsforGhia, suchasthe stunning Maserati Ghibli, whichwasmostunconventionalforthe periodin itsuseof straightlines and large, flatsurfaces. Whenhecreatedhisowndesign company Italdesignin 1968, Giugiaro continuedtoexplorethisnew design medium. The Boomerang isbymany regardedasthe ultimate embodimentof Giugiaro’s design genius. Itwaswithoutany doubtone of the mostimportantconceptcarsof alltime and itstypicalwedgeshape influencedcardesign the nextdecades. The Boomerang haswonnumerousawards.

124 GT (1974)

Another prototype from Italdesignwas presented at the 1974 Turin motorshow, the 124GT (based on a Maserati124 type chassis, Giugiarocalled it GT) was clearly inspired by the Boomerang concept car.

This four-seaterGT car bas supposed to be an alternative to the Bertone-designed Khamsin, but its design was considered too avant-garde for its time by the Maseratimanagement and the car never made it to production. Just like the Simun, this car is on display at the Panini collection.

Medici I (1974) & Medici II (1976)

Together with the 124GT, Giugiaropresented what was his interpretation of the Maserati Quattroporte. The Medici –named after the famous Renaissance family –was a futuristic six seaterlimousine which was again inspired by the Boomerang. A modifiedversion was presented at the 1976 Paris motorshow, but none of both prototypes made it to production. Paradoxically, the third generation of the Quattroportewhich has been commissioned to Italdesignhad a very traditional styling.

Chubasco(1991)

In December 1990, Maserati presented the Chubasco, a sensational mid-enginedsports car. The work of designer Marcello Gandinican be easily recognised in the vehicle’s dramatic exterior. Production was intended for 1992 but the project never got further than the construction of one static prototype. The experience gained with the vehicle’s aluminium, single-tube chassis was crucial for the development of the later Barchetta model, which arrived in 1992. The only prototype is currently part of the famous Panini collection.

320S (2001)

The Maserati320S concept car, unveiled at the 2001 Genève motor show, is a sporty racing “barchetta”based on 3200GT mechanicals but with a shortened wheelbase and a racing set-up. Styling was a development by Italdesignand racing supplier Sparcowas involved in the project. This concept car expressed various themes of the Maseratibrand. On one hand it was with its traditional Camoradiwhite and blue colour scheme a homage to the great Maseratisport prototype racing cars of the past; on the other hand it was a prelude to Maserati’sfuture racing activities, Maserati’sreturn to the US and to the new Spydermodel which was to be unveiled later the same year.

Kubang(2003)

The Kubangconcept car, presented in 2003 at the Detroit motor show, was meant to answer to the new needs of mobility of the 21st century. This new vehicle, defined as GT Wagon, was the result of a collaboration between Maseratiand Italdesignand has been designed to combine true GT performance and driving pleasure with the versatility of a SUV. It has a 390 bhpV8 engine and all wheel drive, but the Kubangis not an off-road car, as such an interpretation would harm its Gran Turismoconcept. In the end, series production of the Kubangwas renounced.

Birdcage 75th (2005)

The Birdcage 75th by Pininfarinawas presented in 2005 in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the famous Turin-based coachbuilder. The prototype directly recalls the legendary Tipo63 racing car, nicknamed “birdcage”due to the radically triangulated tube construction of its chassis. This concept car, in homage to the spirit of the dream car era, is based on the road racing chassis of the MaseratiMC12 and seeks to capture the ultimate expression of speed, sensuality and elegance –to create a functional and dynamic automotive sculpture. The contrast struck between its organic fluidity and the severe tension of its mechanicals, creates a dynamism seldom realized.