Very rare in this close to mint condition Italian vehicle from 1984, only approx. 150 made in this S-series Purchased in 1984 by a Maserati collector, first registered in 1994 and kept in that same collection until 2012 Only 18 vehicles made with these Missoni seats Very low mileage: only 6552 km (4071 miles) driven! The Maserati Biturbo was launched in 1981, under the wing of Alessandro De Tomaso with the aim of saving Maserati from bankruptcy. De Tomaso's goal was to bring a sporty family car to the market that could be produced in large quantities. Maserati was already known for its luxury and that did not change at all. The arrival of the Biturbo also meant the introduction of some unprecedented technologies that made the engine's power almost go off the charts. Alessandro De Tomaso is an Italian racing driver, and founder of the sports car brand De Tomaso, with Argentinian roots who took over Maserati from Citroen in 1975. He was the man who aimed to generate revenue in the nearly bankrupt Maserati. His plan was to develop a sporty, luxurious, yet affordable family car that the public would crave, ultimately saving Maserati from collapse. Dictum factum: in 1981 the Maserati Biturbo hit the market. It was an accessible family car with a 'small' 2.0-liter V6 engine that was cheap to buy and low on taxes in Italy. Neighbouring countries had significantly lower road taxes, which is why Maserati designed larger V6 engines for export. The engine incorporates unprecedented and innovative technology. Each cylinder was equipped with three valves that maintained high gas speeds at a low RPM, which were then complemented by two turbochargers that responded early during acceleration. In the S-version (sportier model), the turbochargers' effect is amplified by the intercooler, which is a radiator-like system that sends more air and fuel to the engine to create more power. Fellow car manufacturers were left speechless: at a time when they were still experimenting with turbochargers, Maserati had already launched a car with two turbochargers and an intercooler. The name Biturbo refers to the fact that the engine is equipped with these two power-boosting turbochargers. The fashionable interior, which reveals that this car is of Italian origin, is also worth mentioning. The seats were designed by the famous Italian fashion house Missoni, and the meticulously finished leather centre console is equally impressive. Together, they create a stunning and very comfortable whole that exudes Italian luxury and elegance. In 1994, it was decided to end the production of this guardian angel for Maserati. The total number of produced units stands at around 37,000, and the consensus is that it was a success story. Maserati had been saved from bankruptcy, and it can be argued that this car was responsible for it. Maserati Biturbo S The Maserati Biturbo S is the sporty version of the already sporty Maserati Biturbo and was available from 1983 to 1984. This S-version was exclusively produced for the Italian market and delivered 25 more horsepower than the regular Biturbo. For export, an equivalent was designed under the name Maserati Biturbo ES, the only difference was a bigger engine capacity. Apparently only 150 units of this Italian S-version were made. Four decades after production, it is unclear how many of them are still in good condition, but the fact remains that this car was already rare when it was new and is becoming increasingly rare. It is guaranteed to be a rewarding investment! Technical information: Body work Length (cm): 415 (164 inch) Width (cm): 171 (67inch) Height (cm): 131 (51 inch) Wheelbase (cm): 251 (99 inch) Weight (kg): 1086 (2394 lbs) Mechanics Engine: 2.0L V6 front-engine with 2 IHI turbos and an intercooler Valve gear: 18 (3 for each cylinder) Fuel system: 1 Weber twin-choke carburettor Gear box: 5-speed manual Transmission: RWD Left-steered power: 205 hp (151 kW) at 6500 t/m torque: 253 Nm at 3200 t/m Top speed: 221 km/h (137 mph)