Maserati Shamal I (Tipo 339) gallery (1990–1996)

The Maserati Shamal was unveiled in late 1989 and entered production in 1990, serving as the ultimate high-performance flagship of the De Tomaso era. Built on a heavily reinforced, shortened derivative of the Biturbo chassis sharing the 2,400 mm wheelbase of the Karif and Spyder, the Shamal offered exceptional agility and a compact footprint. Its striking and aggressive exterior was penned by master designer Marcello Gandini, featuring his signature asymmetrical rear wheel arches, an integrated center roll-hoop, and a distinctive aerodynamic spoiler mounted at the base of the windshield to direct airflow. Under the hood lay an all-new 3.2-liter 32-valve 90-degree V8 engine (Tipo AM 479) equipped with four overhead camshafts, Weber-Marelli electronic injection, and twin water-cooled IHI turbochargers with twin intercoolers. Delivering 326 hp and 432 Nm of torque, this powerhouse was paired exclusively with a robust Getrag six-speed manual gearbox and a Ranger intelligent torque-sensing limited-slip differential. The car came fitted with an electronically adjustable Koni active suspension system allowing drivers to toggle damping rates directly from the cockpit. The driver-focused cabin blended supple leather upholstery, deeply bolstered sport seats, and the signature gold Maserati oval timepiece. Only 369 units were handcrafted before production concluded in 1996.