Machine brand with trident logo. Maserati - brand history. Maserati range

Each of the Maserati brothers - Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto - contributed in varying degrees to the development of the company that still bears their name.

On December 14, 1914, Alfieri Maserati founded Officine Alfieri Maserati. The main activities of the new enterprise were the development and production of cars, engines and spark plugs. The company was based in Bologna, where a sculpture of Neptune by the sculptor Giambologna is installed in the main city square. Inspired by this work, Mario Maserati developed the company's trademark - a trident, which became the symbol of the future of the Maserati brothers' company.

After a break in work caused by the First World War, Maserati again took up the production of cars. The brothers created cars and racing cars for customers and took part in the races themselves.

But the birth of Maserati as a company and a world-famous brand took place on April 25, 1926, when at the Targa Florio competition, the third of the Maserati brothers - Alfieri - presented and piloted the first production car, the Maserati Gran Prix 1500, bearing the trident mark on its hood.

The design of the engine was very progressive for its time - 8 cylinders in a row, with a volume of only 1500 cm3, but with a powerful compressor that increased the engine power to 130 hp. Alfieri brilliantly ran the race and became the winner, beating the cars of other competitors equipped with engines of much larger volume.

In 1937, Maserati sold the company to the Orsi family, who in 1940 moved the company's headquarters to its hometown of Modena, where it is still located. The Orsi family relied on the production of exclusively sports cars. The brothers continued to work for the company as engineers on a ten-year contract.

After World War II, the Maserati brothers left the company, which they left their name to and organized their own company OSCA (Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati) in their native Bologna. The new company began producing racing cars, but its cars did not gain the previous success and popularity.

The famous Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio raced Maserati cars in the 1950s and won the Formula 1 World Championship in 1957 with a Maserati 250F.

After 1957, Maserati concentrated on building road cars. Chief designer Giulio Alfieri has created a six-cylinder Maserati 3500 coupe with an aluminum body. With only 242 units, this model is considered the most elegant of Maserati cars, according to designers and automotive connoisseurs.

In 1963, Maserati introduced the expensive high-speed sedans Mistral and Quattroporte to the world. In the UK, the new Quattroporte (Italian for "four-door"), which had not only a luxurious interior, but also excellent dynamics and handling, cost more than a Rolls Royce. Quattroporte became the first representative model of the company.

In 1968, the French concern Citroen bought a controlling stake in Maserati. The most notable result of the partnership between the French and Italians was the Indy (1104 units were produced).

In 1971, the Bora model was born - the first car of the firm of the GT class (gran turismo) with a mid-engine. With this vehicle the new concept of Maserati models began. From now on, the company begins to make more than just super-fast cars. She gives her travel models more comfort and luxury.

The short-lived alliance with Citroen fell apart in 1975 and Maserati took over the famous Alejandro De Tomaso.

In 1976, Maserati renews its marketing strategy and decides to explore a new niche. To this end, the company enters into competition with Mercedes and BMW and produces the first executive class car in its history - the Quattroporte III.

In 1981, De Tomaso changes his strategy. The solution was the Biturbo, a two-door sedan powered by a new 6-cylinder 2-liter twin-turbo engine with 180 hp. All this was packed in a small but luxurious body. A hit in Italy, Biturbo entered the world stage in 1986.

1989 saw the release of Shamal, the last representative of the De Tomaso era in the fate of Maserati, powered by a new 3200cc Biturbo 8-cylinder engine that gave this car 325 hp.

Soon the Karif came out - a real sports car. Fitting the reliable 2.8 V6 to the Biturbo chassis, the result is the fastest car in the Biturbo series.

From 1993 to 1995, the Italian giant Fiat bought 90% of Maserati's shares, and in 1996, under his tutelage, the premiere of the new Quattroporte IV Evoluzione - the Maserati of our time took place.

In 1995, under the patronage of Fiat, a series of races for the Ghibli Open Cup were held. The release of the road version known as the Ghibli Cup was timed to this event.

In 1997, Maserati merged with Ferrari (in fact, the management of the company passed to Ferrari). Since November 1997, to improve the quality and reliability of the Maserati range, the production of the Ghibli and Quattroporte has been suspended at the Modena factories for a year. The nearly $ 11.5 million modernization of the assembly plant was successfully completed in the fall of 1998 with the release of the new Maserati 3200 GT.

The new Spyder GT model came out in 2002.

Today Maserati is a major global automaker with offices in 57 countries. The main activity nowadays is the production of comfortable sports cars with a spectacular appearance and high speed characteristics. The brand's products never cease to be popular among connoisseurs and amateurs all over the world.

Maserati Factory Tour in Modena

Maserati has been based in Modena since 1940. Now it is one of the most modern and high-tech automotive factories in Italy. The modern production facility is built around a historic red brick building. The territory of the plant is over 40,000 sq. M. The main products are the Maserati Quattroporte, a four-door sports sedan and the Maserati GranTurismo, a four-seat coupe.

Maserati invites owners and buyers of the company's vehicles on a guided tour of the Modena plant. The excursion includes a visit to the assembly lines and other departments of the plant, inspection and study of the process of production and assembly of cars.

The business visit can be timed to coincide with the issuance of a new car to the owner in a spectacular showroom. Just contact your local dealer and they will arrange your trip at a time that suits you.

In 2014, the Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati celebrates its 100th birthday. The brand, which is known for its logo (trident) for its 100-year history, is rich in various events, ranging from victories in races to changing the appearance of legendary cars.
Recently, Maserati finally remembered that it can make cars better than anyone else. So we again saw new cars that amaze with their technical "stuffing", surprise with their beauty and power. The change in approach to the design of new models allowed the company to declare itself again. So 2013 became the most successful in the history of the brand.
In honor of the anniversary of Maserati, we invite you to see the most significant and famous cars that have been produced throughout the century's history of the brand.

Maserati Tipo 26

The Tipo 26 is the first racing car produced by the Maserati brothers under their own logo. For this, a special "label" was developed, which is the trident of Neptune (the symbol of the city of Bologna). The car was equipped with an eight-cylinder 1.5 liter engine with a capacity of 120 hp. The maximum speed is 200 km / h. It is worth noting that the sports car was not equipped with a front brake, which led to an accident in 1927 in which Alfieri Maserati was seriously injured. Five years later, one of the founders of the Maserati company died at the age of 44 from complications of injuries sustained in the accident. From 1926 to 1932, 27 Tipo 26 vehicles were produced.

Maserati 8CM

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The 8CM was the first to compete in the 1933 Grand Prix. The sports car was equipped with a three-liter eight-cylinder engine with a capacity of 240 hp. True, the car had an unreliable rear chassis. Therefore, a light version of the model was subsequently released - 4cm.
In order to achieve success in racing, the company invited Nuvolari from Ferrari, who made constructive changes to the 8CM, which allowed him to win the Grand Prix in Belgium in the very first race. The serial version appeared only in 1935. Subsequently, the manufacturer increased the fashionability to 300 hp.

Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta

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A total of 4 copies of the Maserati A6 GCS were produced. The design was invented by the design studio Pininfarina. The goal was to build a racing car that can withstand bad weather. The car took part in the famous "1000 miles" races in 1953, which took place in a heavy storm and heavy rain. Under the hood of the sports car is a 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 170 hp. This allows the Maserati A6 GCS to accelerate to 235 km / h.

Maserati 250 F

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The car was produced from 1954 to 1957. The F 250 was produced for Formula 1 racing. This model holds the record for the number of races held. In the very first race at the Grand Prix in Argentina, the car took first place. In 1957, thanks to the F 250, driver Fangio became the Formula 1 World Champion.
In addition, the driver of the car Stirling Moss took first place in the Italian Grand Prix in 1955 and then became the winner in Monaco. As the driver later stated, the F 250 was the best car in Formula 1 racing thanks to its front engine design. The volume of the six-cylinder power unit was 2.5 liters, with a capacity of 270 hp. The maximum speed is 300 km / h.

Maserati 3500 GT

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The 3500 GT is the first model to be produced in large numbers. It was this car that helped the Maserati company get away from the financial troubles that hung over the brand at that time. Including the GTI and Spyder versions also helped improve the company's position. A total of 2,225 vehicles were produced. Due to the high demand for similar machines at the end of 1959, this model came to the market at the right time, which contributed to the success. At the expense of the engineer Giulio Alfieri, the company managed to pull the advantage from the English cars, to itself.
The model was equipped with an independent suspension, a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 220 hp. and weighed 1440 kg. Later, the power was increased to 235 hp.

Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage

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This Maserati won the 1000 km race twice. in the Nurburgring. The car was based on special steel frames. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder power unit had a power of 200 hp, which allowed it to accelerate to a maximum of 200 km / h. Later, a model with a 2.9 liter engine with a capacity of 250 hp came out. The body was made of aluminum. From 1959 to 1962, 22 cars were produced, mainly for the private racing teams in the United States.

Maserati quattroporte

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In 1961, Maserati decided to break the 40-year tradition of producing sports cars for various races by starting production of sedans. Two years later, the Quattroporte was released. The car used a 4.1-liter V8 engine with four carburetors, which made it possible to develop an output of 260 hp. Later, the model received a 4.7 liter eight-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 290 hp. It is noteworthy that in addition to a five-speed manual transmission, the company also offered an automatic transmission. For an additional fee, the luxury model could be equipped with power steering. Also, if desired, any customer could order an air conditioner for a surcharge. Subsequently, the interior cooling system began to be installed as a base.

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The front suspension received an independent spring system. At one time, it was the world's fastest city car. It is worth noting that all four wheels were equipped with disc brakes. With a full trunk and four passengers, the car could accelerate to 170 km / h.
The car was manufactured by hand assembly. In total, 776 units were produced from 1963 to 1966.

Maserati mistral

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The model was named after the strong south wind that occurs in France. The car is designed for sports racing and has no rear seats. This car is considered a masterpiece of automotive design and engineering.

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It was equipped with 3.7 and 4.0 liter six-cylinder engines with 220 and 265 hp. respectively. These power units were based on an engine from the Maserati GT 3500. From 1963 to 1969, 955 units were produced.

Maserati ghibli

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The first generation of the Ghibli was produced from 1967 to 1972. A total of 1280 units were produced. The car had a 4.7 liter V8 engine with 340 hp. (1969 version).

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In 1970, a version with a 5.0 liter power unit with a capacity of 330 hp appeared on the market. (modification Ss).

Maserati bora

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The Bora is the first to have a mid-engine design. The car was released in 1968. This year, the company was already controlled by Citroen, which signed a contract with Maserati. The car was equipped with V8 4.7 and 4.9 liter engines with 310 and 320 hp. respectively.

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2 + 2 seater Bora could accelerate to 280 km / h. Despite the excellent characteristics of the car and stylish design, the demand for the new product was minimal due to the Oil Crisis. It should be noted that as a result of the crisis, all car companies producing sports cars experienced major financial problems. This led the Maserati company in 1975 to the fact that it could not pay off its debts. Thanks to Alessandro de Tomaso, the company was saved.

Maserati khamsin

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This model was the last project for which the chief engineer of the company, Giulio Alfieri Maserati, was personally responsible. The car was named after the wind in the Egyptian desert. Khamsin replaces the Ghibli model. The design of the four-seater car was developed by Bertone. The premiere of the model took place at the 1973 Paris Motor Show. Khamsin was powered by a 5-liter V8 engine producing 320 hp.

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Sales of this model left a lot to be desired. The same global oil crisis is to blame. From 1974 to 1982, a total of 430 cars were produced.

Maserati biturbo

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In 1981, after a long stagnation, Maserati finally released the new Biturbo model, designed from the ground up. Initially, the model had quality issues with the 2.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. But later these shortcomings were eliminated. Surprisingly, this model became very popular and was produced until 1999, constantly receiving improvements several times.

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For export, the car was equipped with 2.5L and 2.8L engines. The most powerful version of the Biturbo had 223 hp. Acceleration from 0-100km / h in just 5.9 seconds. The maximum speed is 228 km / h.
In 1985, a charged version of the Zagato Biturbo Spyder appears on the market. The car received a 3.2 liter V8 engine with a capacity of 326 hp. The exact same power unit was later installed on the Quattroporte IV and 3200 GT (in a modernized version).

Maserati Quattroporte IV

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From 1994 to 2001, the company produced the Quattroporte IV, which received various notable changes every year. Over the years, the car was equipped with six-cylinder 2.0 and 2.8 liter power units with a capacity of 287 hp. and 284 hp. respectively. In 1996, the model received a 3.2 liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 335 hp. After Maserati's takeover by Ferrari in 1997, the Quattroporte IV was redesigned to be given the name “Evoluzione” in addition to the model name.

Maserati 3200 GT

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The 3200 GT is set to usher in a new era of Maserati cars in 1998. With this sporty coupe, the company wanted everyone to forget the brand's unlucky models before. The car received a 3.2 liter twin-turbo V8 engine with a capacity of 368 hp. From 0-100 km / h - 5.1 seconds. Rear wheel drive with electronic control. The model received a stylish design, especially the rear of the car. In 2001, Maserati released a version of the Assetto Corsa 3200. In three years, 4795 cars were produced. In 2001, the Spyder version appears (4.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine), but this was a completely new generation of cars, with new developments and technologies, although formally it is considered that this is a continuation of the legendary 3200GT model.

Maserati MC12

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In 2004, the company released the MC12 for racing. On the technical side, the car is based on the Ferrari Enzo. The car is equipped with a 6.0 liter V12 with a capacity of 632 hp. Conceived to compete in the FIA ​​GT Championship, a total of 25 units were produced. MC12. But later, due to demand, another 25 pieces were produced. This model could accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 3.6 seconds. The maximum speed is 345 km / h. The initial cost of the car was 696,000 Euros.

Maserati Quattroporte V

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The 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show debuted the Quattroporte luxury sedan. New technologies, stylish luxurious design, large wheelbase (3.06 meters) surprised many experts in the car market. The air vents on the front fenders are especially noteworthy. The radiator grille is reminiscent of the first Maserati models. The car is equipped with a 4.2 liter V8 engine with a capacity of 400 hp. Thanks to the transmission, the Quattroporte has a body weight distribution of 47 to 53 percent. Many people did not like the sequential gearbox, so in 2007 the car received a six-speed ZF automatic transmission.
Also produced and armored versions of the car, which were supplied to the Government of Italy. In 2008, the car received a reystaling. In 2009, the company offered a more powerful version of the Quattroporte GT, 441 hp. Unfortunately, at the end of 2012, the production of the luxury model was stopped.

Maserati Gran Turismo

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Gran Turismo appeared in 2007 and became the successor of the Maserati 4200 GT Coupe. Despite the continuity, the technical stuffing was based on the Quattroporte model. The body and interior were developed by Pininfarina. V8 engines 4.2 liter and 4.7 liter, 405 and 440 hp. respectively. It is worth noting that the power units are produced by the Ferrari brand. Since 2012, MC Stradale has been produced, with a capacity of 460 hp. Since 2009, the company has been producing a four-seater convertible (model GranCabrio).

Maserati Quattroporte VI

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The world saw the new sixth generation Quattroporte in 2013 once again, opening a new era for the Maserati company. By 2015, the manufacturer expects to sell about 50,000 units. cars, thanks to the good design and the price / quality ratio. The car has a length of 5.26 meters, which has increased the space for rear passengers. The Ferrari engines (V6 and V8) that are installed on this model have a power of 410 hp. and 530 hp. respectively. Also for Europe, the car received a diesel engine with a capacity of 275 hp.

Maserati ghibli iii

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The latest generation of Maserati Ghibli is designated by the Roman numeral “three” - III. For the first time, this model is not a sports coupe. The main competitor is BMW's 5-series. The new Ghibli received a 3.0 liter V6 engine. Also, the car received for the first time a diesel power unit with a capacity of 275 hp. The two petrol engines have 330 hp. and 410 hp. In the maximum configuration, the Maserati Ghibli III is available with all-wheel drive.

Maserati levante

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This model will be the first car (SUV) in the history of the company, which should appear in the first half of 2015. The main competitor will be the Porsche Cayenne. The crossover will be equipped with: 3.0 liter V6 engine with 410 hp, 4.0 liter V8 engine with 530 hp. and a 3.0 liter V6 diesel with a capacity of 275 hp. To surprise all of us, the Maserati developers used the latest know-how from Chrysler and Jeep. So the Levanta is based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee chassis.

Maserati alfieri

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This model was shown at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The model, which bears the name of the legendary designer Giulio Alfieri Maserati, is expected to begin production in 2016. The model will compete with cars such as the Jaguar F-Type, Mercedes-AMG GT and Porsche 911. The powertrain will be V6 engines with power from 400 to 520 hp. In addition, the company plans to release a convertible version and an all-wheel drive model. As a basis, the machine will be based on the current generations of Quattroporte and Ghibli.

Maserati, an Italian company specializing in the production of comfortable sports cars with efficient looks and high dynamic performance. It is part of the largest Italian automobile corporation FIAT.

Each of the Maserati brothers - Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto - contributed in one way or another to the development of the company that still bears their name.

Carlo, the eldest of the brothers, was the first in the family to start working on cars. It was he who created the first Maserati, equipped with a single-cylinder engine and a very simple chassis. But illness and the ensuing death of 29-year-old Carlo Maserati interrupted work.

On December 14, 1914, Alfieri Maserati founded Officine Alfieri Maserati. The main activities of the new enterprise were the development and production of cars, engines and spark plugs. The company was based in Bologna, where a sculpture of Neptune, by Giambologna, is installed in the main city square. Inspired by this work, Mario Maserati designed the company's trademark - a trident, which served as an omen of the future of the company of the Maserati brothers.

In 1925, Alfieri, Ernesto and Bindo, commissioned by the major Italian manufacturer and automaker Diatto, created a two-liter engine, which was equipped with a rather successful Grand Prix racing car.

But the birth of Maserati, as a company and brand known to the whole world, took place on April 25, 1926, at the start of the Targa Florio races. At these competitions, the third of the Maserati brothers, Alfieri, presented and piloted the first production car, the Maserati Gran Prix 1500, bearing the trident sign on its hood.

In 1927 Ernesto became the champion of Italy in Tipo 26. After several high-profile victories, the whole of Europe learned about the company. And from that moment on, the brothers decided to specialize in the production of exclusively racing cars. The collective genius of the Maserati brothers was focused on creating super-powerful motors. In 1929, racer Bakonin Borzacchini on a Tipo V4 set a new speed record at a distance of 10 km - 246 km / h.

From 1932 to 1939, after the death of Alfieri, all cars were created by the younger Maserati - Ernesto. During this period, he himself designed all the engines and himself led his cars to victory in races several times. In 1933 Ernesto Maserati was the first in Europe to use hydraulic brake booster in racing cars.

From 1938 to 1939, Maserati became part of the Orsi Gruppo. In 1939, the Orsi family moved the business from Bologna to Modenugda and is still present today.

In 1939 and 1940, the American Wilbur Shaw in a Maserati 8CTF (under the name Boyle Specials), having won the Indianapolis 500, helped Masеrati go down in the history of legendary American racing. The Maserati 8CTF, powered by the magnificent 8-cylinder 8CTF engines, are the only Italian cars to win these races in their history.

After the war, the remaining Maserati brothers left the company, which left their name and organized their own company OSCA (Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati) in their native Bologna. The new company started producing racing cars, but its cars did not have the previous success and popularity.

In 1947, the presentation of the first car of the GT class - A6 1500 with a body designed by Pininfarina took place. The racing version of the A6GCS driven by Alberto Ascari won several races in Modena and was a force to be reckoned with in the Mille Milia and Targa Florio races.

The road version of this car was produced in small series and was equipped with an almost racing chassis and a lightweight 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 2 liters, which had, first, 1 camshaft and 1 plug per cylinder, and then 2 camshafts and 2 plugs per cylinder.

In 1954, the single Maserati 250F won the Formula 1 race in Argentina. In 1957, equipped with a powerful and reliable 6-cylinder engine, the 250F helped the famous Fangio win his fifth world title and the last title for Maserati. In the same year, Maserati officially announced its retirement from racing and transferred racing technology to production road cars.

At the same time, in 1957, the company's best-selling Maserati 3500GT, the first serial road model, was presented. It was equipped with a 6-cylinder twin cam engine (2 overhead camshafts) with a displacement of 3.5 liters. The body was created by the Milan firm Touring. The 3500 series also had its own highlight - the Spyder coupe from the Vignale body shop. Designers and automotive historians consider this model, produced in a circulation of only 242 pieces, to be the most elegant of all Maserati cars. In 1961, the car was equipped with a Lucas mechanical fuel injection system, which allowed the company to add the letters GTI to the 3500 name. Thus, the 3500GT became the first Italian car to be equipped with a fuel injection system. Production of the 3500GT was discontinued in 1964 after about 2,000 vehicles were produced.

At the turn of the 50s and 60s, the production of the Maserati 5000 GT, a car that revived the luxurious pre-war tradition of building a car “to order”, began. Maserati supplied the engine and chassis, and the car bodies were “sewn” by Allemano, Michelotti, Bertone.

In 1963, another project was born on the drawing boards of the Vignale company, designed to replace the outdated by that time Touring design body. The new car, named the Sebring, after Maserati's North American racing victories, had a well-tuned and reliable engine in a modern and aggressive body. The release of its 2 main versions with a 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 3.7 liters. and 4.0 liters. lasted until 1969.

1963 saw another turnaround in Maserati's history that set the brand apart from the rest of the automakers. The world was presented with expensive high-speed sedans Mistral and Quattroporte. In the UK, the new Quattroporte (Italian for "four-door"), which had not only a luxurious interior, but also excellent dynamics and handling, cost more than a Rolls Royce. Quattroporte became the first representative model of the company. It was powered by a 4.2 liter version of the V8 engine first found in the 5000 GT. For those looking for the luxury of a Quattroporte but with a sportier body, Maserati has released the Mexico model.

The year 1966 was marked for the company by the release of the Ghibli coupe, the body for which was created in the studio of the young Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was still working at Ghia at that time. This car became a real sensation of its time and served as the hallmark of Maserati in the turbulent 60s.

In 1968, the French Citroen bought a controlling stake in Maserati. The most notable result of the partnership between the French and Italians was the Indy model (1104 copies were produced), more than the alliance of the two car companies, which lasted until 1975, did not show itself in anything.

Despite Maserati's retirement from racing, its engines and cars continued to win races. Powered by a Maserati V-12, the 300 Cooper has won 2 consecutive World Championships - Mexico 1966 and South Africa 1967.

In 1968, Maserati acquired a French partner - Citroen (it can be called a partner at a stretch, since the French bought up a controlling stake in an Italian company that was in a difficult position). At the same time, the Indy 2 + 2 model premiered and production of the new V6 engine began.

In 1971, the Bora was born - the company's first GT car with a mid-engined engine. From this car, a new concept for Maserati models began to emerge. From now on, the company begins to make more than just super-fast cars. She gives her travel models more comfort and luxury.

The following year, the Maserati Merak premiered, which the Italians endowed with a V6 engine developed for the Citroen SM. Merak has become a worthy competitor to its classmates Ferrari 308 GT4 and Lamborghini Uracco. In 1976, the Merak SS appeared, equipped with a new modified 3-liter V6 version and a more elegant Bora dashboard.

At the end of the Citroen era in Maserati history, the Ghibli was replaced in 1973 by a new model - Khamsin, equipped with a body designed by Bertone. The car had a front 4.9 liter V8 engine and a remarkable design.

The short alliance with Citroen fell apart in 1975 and Maserati took over the famous Alejandro De Tomaso, who, deciding to refresh the Maserati range, created the Kyalami project. The car was produced in 2 versions - 4.2 liters. with a manual transmission and 4.9 liters. with a gun.

In 1976, Maserati renews its marketing strategy and decides to explore a new niche. To this end, the company enters into competition with Mercedes and BMW and produces the first executive class car in its history - the Quattroporte III with a body from Giugiaro.

In 1981, De Tomaso changes his strategy. The solution was the Biturbo, a two-door sedan powered by a new 6-cylinder 2-liter twin-turbo engine with 180 hp. All this was packed in a small but luxurious body. A hit in Italy, Biturbo entered the world stage in 1986. Export versions were equipped with a modified 2.5-liter V6.

1989 saw the release of Shamal, the last representative of the De Tomaso era in the fate of Maserati, equipped with a new 3200 cc Biturbo 8-cylinder engine that gave this monster 325 hp.

Soon the Karif came out - a real sports car. Fitting a reliable 2.8 V6 to the Biturbo chassis, they have the fastest car in the Biturbo series. And by removing the roof on the Spyder, Maserati engineers turned it into a real rocket.

From 1993 to 1995, the Italian giant Fiat Auto SpA bought 90% of Maserati's shares and in 1996, under his tutelage, the premiere of the new Quattroporte IV Evoluzione - the Maserati of our time took place.

In 1995, under the patronage of Fiat, a series of races for the Ghibli Open Cup were held. The release of the road version known as the Ghibli Cup was timed to this event. With just a 2-liter engine, these cars have a breathtaking 330 hp. - no production car, including the Mclaren F1, has such an efficiency per 1 liter of fuel.

In 1997, Maserati merged with Ferrari (in fact, the management of the company passed to Ferrari). Since November 1997, to improve the quality and reliability of the Maserati range, the production of the Ghibli and Quattroporte has been suspended at the Modena factories for a year. The nearly $ 11.5 million modernization of the assembly plant was successfully completed in the fall of 1998 with the release of the new Maserati 3200 GT.

The new Spyder GT model came out in 2002.

In 1997, FIAT transferred a 50% stake in Maserati to the long-term use of Ferrari (at that time also controlled by the FIAT concern). In 1999 Ferrari took full control of the company and transformed Maserati into a luxury car division. At the same time, a new plant was being built to replace the outdated 1940s.

In 2011, Maserati unveiled its first Kubang crossover concept car. "Kubang, a concept car that replaces the past while remaining true to it, marking the path to a future of technological excellence that cares for an environment characterized by unmistakable design features," the official website says.

In 1914, an Italian company was founded, named after three brothers, who founded a small workshop, on the basis of which the company was founded - "Maserati". In the same year, Mario Maserati, who was engaged in art and did not see himself as an engineer, saw a statue of Neptune in the square of Bologna. This is how the emblem of the brand appeared, which later became the trademark of the company.

In 1926, with the financial support of the Diato company, the first car of its own design, Maserati, was created, which was a sports coupe with power units with 4, 6 and 8 cylinders. In the same year, Maserati's most powerful model, the Grand Prix 1500, won a number of sports competitions throughout Italy. Thanks to the success of the first sports model of the brand, the Maserati brothers completely transferred their production towards sports cars. In 1929, the Maserati Type was introduced, equipped with a four-cylinder engine.

However, by 1937, the young company experienced a serious crisis and was sold to the Orsi family of industrialists, who retained their posts for the Maserati brothers. In 1940, the company moved to the city of Modena, where in just 3 months a new model was developed for participation in the Indy 500 racing competition, which immediately submitted to the Italian company.

During the Second World War, unlike other Italian automakers, by order of Mussolini, Maserati began to develop a luxury car for Benito himself, and one of the project leaders was Ferdinand Porsche, who had already managed to create a number of cars for the leadership of the Third Reich ...

After Italy's withdrawal from hostilities, the Maserati firm resumed the production of sports cars, presenting the Maserati A6, equipped with a sixteen-cylinder power unit. In addition, the brand's engineers began to actively develop cars for Grand Prix racing, which preceded the modern Formula 1. However, after the founding of this most prestigious racing championship today, the Maserati factory team became one of its first participants. From 1950 to 1960, the team actively fought for victories, having won a landslide victory in 1957 with Juan Manuel Fangio, who became the five-time world champion. However, due to the rapid decline in sales of serial cars, the Maserati company is curtailing its participation in racing competitions and is concentrating on the development of new models. In the same year, the Maserati 3500GT was introduced.

In 1968, the Maserati company was sold to the French brand Citroen, which retained the leadership positions for the Orsi family. However, there was a major modernization of production and a change in the company's policy.

In the same year, the Maserati Indy 2 + 2 model was introduced, and the production of the brand's engines came under the control of Citroen engineers. The next model of the brand was Maserati Bora, which entered the automotive market of the United States of America and Great Britain. In 1975, another experiment with an eight-cylinder power unit presented the latest model "Maserati", developed under the leadership of the French concern Citroen, so Maserati Kamsin was presented, which had a 4.9-liter V8 engine.

After the start of the global oil crisis, Citroen, which had previously experienced financial problems, got rid of the no longer profitable Maserati division, which led to stagnation in the Italian brand. This was followed by 18 years of leadership of the wealthy industrialist Alexandro De Tomaso, who tried to create a number of new cars, but not with the help of his own technologies, but using the developments of other companies, including the American Chrysler. At this time, talented specialists came to the company, such as Aurelio Bertoki, who were able to develop worthy models, one of which was the legendary Quattroporte of the 3rd generation, the design for which was developed in the Giugiaro studio.

In 1993, the Maserati company was sold to the largest Italian auto concern FIAT, which decided to expand its production to the largest in Europe, and this required another premium brand. In 1996, the Maserati Quatraporte IV was introduced, equipped with a power unit developed by another FIAT division, Ferrari. A year later, it was in the Ferrari that Maserati was included, which served as the key to the revival of the brand.

Under the leadership of Ferrari's CEO, Luca di Montezemolo, the modernization of Maserati's production facilities was carried out. And also the new model 3200 GT, presented in the same 1998, saw the light. Under the hood is a Ferrari 98 engine, a derated engine for Formula 1 racing, and the design of the model was developed by the ItalDesign studio.

The entire model range of Maserati is gradually being updated, and in 2004 the MC12 model, built on the basis of Ferrari Enzo, was presented. The new hypercar from Maserati took part in a whole series of sports competitions, and also goes into serial production with a circulation of 25 cars annually.

In 2009, the company presented a unique development - the first 4-door convertible GranCabrio. It was equipped with a 4.7 liter engine and had an aluminum body. Visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show were the first to see it.

This was followed by a slight lull, which was interrupted by the release in 2011 of the concept car of the first off-road vehicle Maserati Cubang, built on the basis of Jeep Cherokee, since the Chrysler concern passed under the control of the FIAT brand. Under the hood of the SUV there is a power unit from "Ferrari".

At the beginning of 2012, it became known about the upcoming release of the new Maserati Quattroporte, the presentation of which was planned by the company in 2013. There is information that the car will be released in two versions at once - a sports car and a sedan. In March, it became known about another upcoming new product - GranTurismo Sport, which Maserati will show at the Geneva Motor Show. The management shared their plans for the next few years. According to their hopes, the production of cars should have increased significantly, as evidenced by the regular presentations of concepts and updated models. Maserati decided to become the best global brand, displacing Porsche and other brands from the leadership positions.

Long before the start of the Paris Salon, it became known about the presentation of a new convertible. The Maserati GranCabrio MC car, according to the designers, was considered the most powerful representative of Maserati at that time. Among other things, the company took advantage of the Paris exhibition to unveil its immediate plans. In particular, they talked about the release of three new cars - a crossover, a sedan and an SUV.

An ode of new products saw the light a few months later - at the Detroit Auto Show 2013. The Maserati Quattroporte has been talked about for several years in the circles of motorists and the release of the model was more than expected. The next promised model - Maserati Ghibli - the company decided to show in Shanghai. As the manufacturers planned, the release of these two models significantly raised Maserati's ratings and tripled the percentage of sales. Rejoicing in the success, they immediately unveiled the updated Maserati Quattroporte with a diesel engine. The second novelty of this year also did not go unnoticed, having won 5 stars in the Euro NCAP rating and received the Top Safety Pick award in the USA.

The 2014 Geneva Motor Show started as expected with the presentation of new products. The Alfieri coupe, named after the founder of the company, was shown. The same year marked the centenary of the company's foundation. To mark such a grand event, it was decided to open an exhibition with 21 cars. Each of them was the best of its kind and symbolized the historical development of the company.

Despite the fact that earlier there was a desire to increase the volume of car sales, in August 2014 it became known that the number of produced models was reduced to 75 thousand per year. Thus, it was planned to leave the status of an exclusive supplier for the brand. At the same time, in January 2015 it became known that the percentage of sales increased significantly compared to 2013. According to rough estimates, the company managed to sell 169% more cars than two years before.