The oft-lambasted Maserati Biturbo finally gets a revival arc from Italian upstart Modena Automobili.
To those who are familiar with Maserati brand, you might know of the Biturbo… and how it was to be the black sheep of the trident marque.
Now truth be told, the Biturbo wasn’t exactly a bad car per say when it first came out in the early 80s. But its subsequently developed reputation of poor quality and reliability pretty much sunk the automaker’s good name into the mud for the next two decades, until Ferrari bailed them out in the early 2000s.
Though to paraphrase the saying that even the most unloved duckling can eventually blossom into a beautiful swan (if given enough time and money), even the Biturbo can be made into something desirable again too. And the one has been busy with the scalpel this particular time is Italian upstart Modena Automobili, who has recently just pulled the covers off its Biturbo Shamal Restomod concept.
Before diving into the details of this restomod though, it is perhaps worth paying some attention to its name here. Those in the know will probably recognise that the Shamal is in essence the top-end twin-turbocharged V8-powered variant of the Biturbo. Modena Automobili’s restomod actually starts with a normal Biturbo, but has its exterior aesthetic be heavily influenced by the arguably more aggressive design cues of the Shamal.
And in speaking of that more aggressive look, this can most clearly be seen from this Biturbo Restomod having since gained a set of flared fender extensions and squared-off arches for a much more butch stance. Also borrowed from the Shamal on the profile of this modded Maserati is the central black pillar accent and the slight kink observed on its rear window line, which works in concert with a hoop of a rear spoiler and updated LED taillights to conceal the somewhat aesthetically awkward notchback rear third-quarter of the original car.
Focusing up front meanwhile, this restomod retains the twin-square headlight look of the original Biturbo, but now gains LED units in carbon fibre housings replacing the old halogen stock. New too on its visage is to be a larger grille, wider intakes, and deeper bumper complete with a carbon fibre splitter.
True to its original name here, this restomod still features a pair of turbos under its bulging hood, though this time said pair of snails are attached to a modern-day 3.0-litre V6 lifted straight from a Ghibli S. Modena Automobili has also been breathed on it slightly too, with that Italian lump been given a power bump from the stock 404 hp to 500 hp, while retaining the same 550 Nm of torque.
In terms of the rest of its driveline on the other side hand, all that 500 horses is to be sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and differential also sourced from the aforementioned Ghibli. Modena Automobili is currently quoting for this Biturbo restomod to clock the century sprint in a shade under 5 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h, which is to be notably speedier than even the V8-powered Shamal back in the day.
Elsewhere under its heavily reworked skin, the steel monocoque chassis of the Biturbo has been given carbon fibre reinforcements to stiffen it up somewhat. The original suspension system of this 80s Maserati has since been also brought up to date with retuned springs and struts for thee MacPherson front and semi-trailing arm rear setup, with it to further be hiding uprated braking system comprising of ventilated discs with Brembo calipers behind the significantly larger 18-inch alloy wheels shod in Pirelli P Zero rubber.
Modena Automobili has unfortunately not released any official renderings of this Biturbo restomod’s cabin yet, but it has nevertheless promised a comprehensive overhaul focused on luxury and customization. Highlights will include a new set of Recaro Classic LX seats with adjustable headrests and a reskinned rear bench, with it to also be packing some modern tech like a digital instrument cluster and a new (now presumably functional) climate control system.
According to Modena Automobili, this Maserati restomod project started in 2022 and is currently in the “advanced stages of design, assembly, and certification”. The first real-life prototype from this endeavour is currently expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2025, with a 1983 Maserati Biturbo Coupe as a donor vehicle.
There are apparently plans by Modena Automobili to produce 33 of these Biturbo Shamal Restomods, with each to command a not-insignificant starting price of around €585,000 (RM 2.76 million) before taxes. The order books are incidentally still open for those who are interested in one of these retro-futuristic Italian stallions, with estimated delivery times between 8 and 10 months.
