Skip advert
Advertisement

Maserati Biturbo Shamal gets a £500,000 restomod thanks to Modena Automobili

The angular shape of Maserati’s nineties sports car has been given a new lease of life

You might not have heard of Modena Automobili, but the firm is looking to make a statement in the restomod game with its new Maserati Biturbo Shamal. It’s known in-house as ‘Project MA-01’ and production is limited to just 33 units, with a wide array of alterations over the original. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Shamal was unveiled in 1989, with production starting in the nineties. As a rival to the BMW 850i, the Maserati had a twin-turbocharged V8 (instead of the regular Biturbo’s V6) that developed 326bhp. Modena Automobili’s car utilises a twin-turbocharged V6 from the Ghibli S, which boasts 500bhp and 550Nm of torque, and power is sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. 

Despite the significant increase in power, the performance figures aren’t all that different. The Shamal restomod can reach 0 to 62mph in five seconds (just 0.3 quicker than the original) and top out at 180mph (the old car managed 168mph). 

Modena Automobili hasn’t just fitted a more powerful engine and called it a day, though. There’s also a revised suspension set up with new MacPherson front and trailing rear arms, larger brakes with drilled discs and Brembo calipers, plus redesigned wheels that mimic the original Shamal’s and are fitted with Pirelli PZero tyres. 

The Marcello Gandini-styled exterior of the nineties car has been tweaked too. Using a combination of steel and carbon fibre to keep the weight down (a kerbweight figure hasn’t been revealed), there are wider wheelarches, with the angular rears slightly rounded off.  The front end features a lowered grille flanked by new LED headlights, plus a new splitter and enlarged air intakes. The bonnet’s air scoops and vents have been redesigned to accommodate the new V6 powerplant. At the rear you’ll find larger exhaust tips, a squared-off spoiler and typically retro lights sitting alongside a black horizontal band. 

A keyword for Modena Automobili while developing the MA-01 was “comfort”, so the original’s grand touring capacity has been retained. While the overall interior layout is similar to the Shamal’s, there are new Recaro sport seats and a modern digital instrument cluster to spruce it up. 

Pricing for the MA-01 Biturbo Shamal starts from 585,000 Euros (excluding taxes), making it almost half a million pounds.

Which car would you like to see get the restomod treatment? Tell us in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Monterey Car Week 2024: full show round-up and all the exclusive, luxury and performance cars
Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance

Monterey Car Week 2024: full show round-up and all the exclusive, luxury and performance cars

Some of the most iconic car brands lined up to unveil new metal in Monterey
News
20 Aug 2024
New Maserati MC20 halo model to drop at Monterey Car Week 2024
Maserati's new halo car derived from the MC20 - front

New Maserati MC20 halo model to drop at Monterey Car Week 2024

Maserati’s brilliant MC20 supercar will channel its motorsport siblings through a new halo model to be revealed at The Quail car show
News
6 Aug 2024
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024: new cars and highlights
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 - MG sculpture

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024: new cars and highlights

2024’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was a celebration of over 130 years of engine tech, but it also looked well into the future
News
17 Jul 2024
Super-luxury Maserati electric SUV to arrive in 2027
Maserati badge

Super-luxury Maserati electric SUV to arrive in 2027

The Italian firm plans to make its cars more luxurious than ever
News
30 Jan 2024

Most Popular

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
New Jaguar logos unveiled as big concept reveal moves closer
New Jaguar logo 1

New Jaguar logos unveiled as big concept reveal moves closer

Jaguar has revealed its new logos and styling details ahead of its transition into a luxury EV brand
News
19 Nov 2024