Modena Automobili Reimagines the Maserati Shamal as a 500bhp Restomod

The biggest talking point is the decision to replace the Shamal’s V8 with a contemporary 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 from the Maserati Ghibli S. Reworked to deliver 500bhp and 405lb-ft (550Nm) of torque, it represents a significant jump over the original’s 326bhp output. Another modernisation is the adoption of the Ghibli’s ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, though interior renders suggest a more traditional setup, as paddle shifters are absent.

Further driveline components – including the driveshaft, half-shafts and differential – have also been carried over from the Ghibli S. While the heart transplant might remove a key facet of the original, the benefits for the MA-01 Biturbo Shamal are hard to ignore – particularly in terms of reliability, efficiency and performance. Modena Automobili claims a rather conservative 0–62mph time of 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 180mph (291kph).

To cope, the Shamal’s suspension system has been overhauled, integrating a modern MacPherson setup at the front and a heavily revised version of the Shamal’s semi-trailing arm layout at the rear. While a semi-trailing arm design is known to have limitations in terms of camber changes under load – especially during hard cornering – it was a popular layout for performance cars of the 1980s. Suspension technology has come a long way, and Modena Automobili promises their revisions maximise stability and agility, much like Redux have with their reimagined E30 M3. The firm has even gone as far as designing an entirely new rear subframe, with development overseen by the project’s newly formed Technical Committee – a roll-call that includes Roberto Corradi, former Head of Product Development at Maserati, and Gianluca Di Oto, the engineer behind the Maserati MC20.

The brakes feature power-assisted ventilated discs – 345 x 28mm at the front with four-piston Brembo callipers, and 330 x 22mm at the rear. The car rides on 18-inch forged wheels, wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres measuring 225/40 R18 at the front and 265/35 R18 at the rear. While the front tyres match the original Shamal’s 225mm width, the rears have grown by 20mm, from 245mm to 265mm.

The new bodywork, crafted from a mix of carbon fibre and steel, is designed to improve both rigidity and weight distribution. Modena Automobili also claims a dry weight of under 1,300kg – a notable drop from the original’s 1,417kg. While the updated design retains the Shamal’s blunt aggression, tweaks to Gandini’s signature slash-cut arches may divide opinion among purists.

At the front, a reworked grille houses carbon-clad LED headlights, flanked by a prominent new splitter. The bonnet gains additional air vents and a raised central section, while the distinctive central pillar – which doubles as a roll bar – remains a defining feature. The rear fascia features a squared-off spoiler, updated tail lights and a diffuser with dual exhausts – all intended to improve airflow and high-speed stability.

Inside, the MA-01 blends Biturbo Shamal styling with modern technology. Recaro Classic LX seats are paired with a digital TFT instrument cluster – designed to echo the original analogue layout while accommodating the updated climate control and infotainment systems.

One familiar detail remains – the Maserati clock, now removable and wearable. The pedals, dashboard and shift knob have been reworked with clear inspiration from the original, while the restored rear seats help maintain a link to the past. A premium audio system – with options from Bose, JBL or Alpine – rounds off the interior upgrades.

The MA-01 is Modena Automobili’s first ‘Forever Icon’ and the first restomod to reinterpret a Maserati. Much like the original Shamal, it doesn’t shy away from dividing opinion – whether through its styling, specification or by swapping the twin-turbo V8 for a modern V6 mated to twice the number of ratios.

Limited to just 33 examples, each car will be fully customisable to the buyer’s specification, with prices starting at €585,000 (excluding taxes). Deliveries are expected by the end of Q1 2025.