A symbol of luxury and wealth. The brand owes its name to its creators - the Maserati brothers. There were six brothers in total: Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ernesto, Carlo and Ettore.

1881–1900

All brothers, with the exception of Mario, were devoted fans of technology, one way or another related to the construction of cars. Nevertheless, Mario, who was an artist, also left his mark on the formation of the brand. It is he who is the author of the well-known trident logo. According to the official version, the trident was borrowed by him from the statue of the sea god Neptune, which to this day occupies an honorable place in one of the squares of the brothers' hometown. There is also a second, unspoken legend that the trident is a symbol of three brothers, who subsequently founded the company: Ernesto, Alfieri and Ettore (Bindo joined them only in 1932 after Alfieri's death). Perhaps this is true, but the version is not very credible.

The first who became interested in technology was the older brother Carlo. At that time he worked in a bicycle factory near Milan and began to develop engines. He developed the single-cylinder engine that was successfully used in the bicycles of the Marquis Carcano di Anzano del Parco.

Carlo's passion for technology and racing were the main factors that allowed him to become the winner of several series of motorcycle races on a Carcano motorcycle. Carlo in 1900 was even able to set a speed record of 50 km / h on an engine that he himself designed.

1901–1914

In 1901, the Carcano company was closed, in connection with which Carlo moved to work at Fiat, and from 1903 at Isotta Fraschini, combining the position of a mechanic and a tester of constructed cars.

Carlo's reputation served well to Alfieri's younger brother, who was also recruited into the service of Isotta Fraschini, turning a blind eye to his 16-year-old age.

At the age of 29, Carlo dies due to a serious illness. By that time, he had already made a rapid career: he was already the CEO of Junior and created a workshop with his brother Ettore, which is automotive transformers.

A sense of moral duty to Carlo contributed to the fact that Alfieri purposefully and rapidly showed his leadership qualities and became not only a successful technical specialist, but also a racer. At the small car races held in the city of Depp, Alfieri, despite the malfunctions found in the carburetor of his car, was able to reach the finish line 17th. At the same time, Ettore and Bindo Maserati came to serve in Isotta Fraschini.

In 1914, Alfieri established an OJSC under the name Officine Alfieri Maserati in an office rented in central Bologna.

1914–1937

Diatto made a job offer to Alfieri. He will have to design and directly participate in them in racing tournaments. There was a period when Alfieri was disqualified due to violations in the technical equipment of a sports car. At this time, he came to grips with the activity of designing cars for racing.

In 1926, Alfieri left Diatto and designed his first car, the Tipo 26, which featured a trident, the company's future logo. The generally recognized date of birth, from which the history of Maserati begins, is considered to be April 25, 1926... Alfieri's car came first in the Targa Florio competition that day.

In 1929, Maserati developed the 16-cylinder V4, which held the record for a 10-kilometer C-class track at 246.069 km / h.

Alfieri died in March 1932. developed under his leadership were the 4CTR and 8C 2500.

He was succeeded by the brothers Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo. In 1933, Tazio Nuvolari became a member of their team. He brought technical improvements to the design of the cars and became the winner of the Grand Prix held in Montenegro, Belgium and Nice.

In 1936, Gino Rovere made a large financial investment in the company, and his representative Nino Farina became the chairman of the board. During the years of his leadership, the subcompact 6CM was published.

1937–1967

1937 was a watershed in the history of the brand... Then the brothers made a difficult decision to sell their brainchild to the Orsi family. The head office moved to Modena, where it works to this day. The brothers still stayed in their hometown and continued to work at Maserati until 1948.

During World War II, the company's activities were focused on the military industry. After the war ended, production of cars was resumed, the first of which was the A6 1500, belonging to the GranTurismo model class. It was he who became a participant and a dangerous rival, Talbot and Alfetta.

The increasing competition from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo made the 50s hard enough for the company. In 1953, Gioacchino Colombo came to the post of chief engineer, who became the author of the A6GCM model, the winner of the Italian Grand Prix.

The 50s brought honorary titles and models to the Maserati 250F. The 3500 GT was initiated in 1958.

In 1962, the first four-door Sebring was presented, and the following year, a four-door version of the Quattroporte model series with a V8 engine and a displacement of 4136 cc was presented. cm.

1968–1992

1968 - was a year of great changes for the company... Brand shares (France), however, Adolfo Orsi remained in the position of honorary chairman.

At the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, a model was presented, equipped with a Bora engine, which had a central location. Its creator was Giugiaro. Production was expanded with new Khamsin and Merak models.

In 1973 Citroen announces the liquidation of Maserati. The reason for this was the oil crisis, the first from which sports cars, which require impressive fuel costs, suffered a fiasco. Then the Italian government intervened in history, under the influence of the Association of Entrepreneurs, led by the goal of preserving jobs for the people. During these events, Maserati became the property of the state - the GEPI agency.

On August 8, 1975, the majority of the shares in Maserati Benelli were owned, and Alessandro de Tomaso, a former racer, became the CEO. He put in a lot of effort to rebuild the firm and create a novelty with the assistance of Giugiaro - the Kyalami model.

In the 80s, developments related to biturbo engines appeared, in connection with which a number of Biturbo models equipped with engines of this type saw the light. The model was kept in production until the end of the 20th century.

From 1993 to the present

In 1993, Fiat Auto became the owner of the entire Maserati stake. Literally a year later, the Quattroporte model was released, which became the first car under the new owner. Its creator, Marcello Gandini, adhered to the main traditions of the brand: refined taste combined with exceptional data.

On July 1, 1997, Fiat sold part of the company (50% of shares) to its eternal rival Ferrari. Then a complete re-equipment of the facilities with modern equipment was made in order to release the new 3200 GT model, the presentation of which took place at the Paris Motor Show.

The last decade of the 20th century was a period of positive changes for Maserati... At this time, the restructuring and expansion of production capacities continued, accompanied by installation. The boundaries of Maserati's presence in the automotive markets of the world were expanded, new car models were released, new tournaments were won.

The Quattroporte, which debuted in Frankfurt in 2003, has garnered consumer acceptance and has become the sales leader in its sector.

Video about the history of the Maserati brand:

In 2005, Maserati managed to become the record holder in the field of car sales - 5659 units. This number is 10 times higher than in 1998, when only 518 cars were sold.

2005 was the year of Maserati's return to Fiat, which also had a positive impact on the company's success - Maserati finally began to generate some kind of profit over the years.

In 2014, the Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati celebrates its 100th birthday. The brand, which is known for its logo (trident) over its 100-year history, is rich in various events, ranging from victories in races to changing the appearance of legendary cars.
Recently, Maserati finally remembered that it can make cars the best. So we again saw new cars that amaze with their technical "stuffing", surprise with their beauty and power. A change in approach to the design of new models allowed the company to declare itself again. So 2013 became the most successful in the history of the brand.
In honor of the anniversary of the Maserati company, we invite you to see the most significant and famous cars that have been produced throughout the 100-year history of the brand.

Maserati Tipo 26

The Tipo 26 is the first racing car produced by the Maserati brothers under their own logo. For this, a special "label" was developed, which is the trident of Neptune (the symbol of the city of Bologna). The car was equipped with an eight-cylinder 1.5 liter engine with 120 hp. The maximum speed is 200 km / h. It is worth noting that the sports car was not equipped with a front brake, which led to an accident in 1927 in which Alfieri Maserati was seriously injured. Five years later, one of the founders of the Maserati company died at the age of 44 from complications of injuries sustained in the accident. From 1926 to 1932, 27 Tipo 26 vehicles were produced.

Maserati 8CM

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The 8CM was the first to compete in the 1933 Grand Prix. The sports car was equipped with a three-liter eight-cylinder engine with a capacity of 240 hp. True, the car had an unreliable rear chassis. Therefore, a lightweight version of the model was subsequently released - 4cm.
In order to achieve success in racing, the company brought in Nuvolari from Ferrari, who made constructive changes to the 8CM, which allowed him to win the Grand Prix in Belgium in the first race. The serial version appeared only in 1935. Subsequently, the manufacturer increased the fashionability to 300 hp.

Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta

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A total of 4 copies of the Maserati A6 GCS were produced. The design was invented by the design studio Pininfarina. The goal was to build a racing car that can withstand bad weather. The car participated in the famous "1000 miles" races in 1953, which took place in a heavy storm and heavy rain. Under the hood of the sports car is a 2.0 liter six-cylinder engine with 170 hp. This allows the Maserati A6 GCS to accelerate to 235 km / h.

Maserati 250 F

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The car was produced from 1954 to 1957. The F 250 was produced for Formula 1 racing. This model holds the record for the number of races held. In the very first race at the Grand Prix in Argentina, the car took first place. In 1957, thanks to the F 250, driver Fangio became the Formula 1 World Champion.
In addition, the driver of the Stirling Moss car in 1955 took first place in the Italian Grand Prix and then became the winner in Monaco. As the driver later stated, the F 250 was the best car in Formula 1 racing thanks to its front engine design. The volume of the six-cylinder power unit was 2.5 liters, with a capacity of 270 hp. The maximum speed is 300 km / h.

Maserati 3500 GT

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The 3500 GT is the first model to be produced in large numbers. It was this car that helped the Maserati company get away from the financial troubles that were hanging over the brand at that time. Including the GTI and Spyder versions also helped improve the company's position. A total of 2,225 vehicles were produced. Due to the high demand for similar machines at the end of 1959, this model came to the market at the right time, which contributed to the success. At the expense of the engineer Giulio Alfieri, the company managed to pull the advantage from the English cars, to itself.
The model was equipped with an independent suspension, a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine producing 220 hp. and weighed 1440 kg. Later, the power was increased to 235 hp.

Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage

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This Maserati won the 1000 km race twice. in the Nurburgring. The car was based on special steel frames. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder power unit had a power of 200 hp, which allowed it to accelerate to a maximum of 200 km / h. Later, a model with a 2.9 liter engine with a capacity of 250 hp came out. The body was made of aluminum. From 1959 to 1962, 22 cars were produced, primarily for private US racing teams.

Maserati quattroporte

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In 1961, Maserati decided to break the 40-year tradition of producing sports cars for various races by starting production of sedans. Two years later, the Quattroporte was released. The car used a 4.1-liter V8 engine with four carburetors, which allowed it to develop 260 hp. Later, the model received a 4.7 liter eight-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 290 hp. It is noteworthy that in addition to a five-speed manual transmission, the company also offered an automatic transmission. For an additional fee, the luxury model could be equipped with power steering. Also, if desired, any customer could order an air conditioner for a surcharge. Subsequently, the interior cooling system began to be installed as a base.

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The front suspension received an independent spring system. At one time, it was the world's fastest city car. It is worth noting that all four wheels were equipped with disc brakes. With a full trunk and four passengers, the car could accelerate to 170 km / h.
The machine was made by hand. In total, 776 units were produced from 1963 to 1966.

Maserati Mistral

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The model was named after the strong south wind that occurs in France. The car is designed for sports racing and has no rear seats. This car is considered a masterpiece of automotive design and engineering.

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It was equipped with 3.7 and 4.0 liter six-cylinder engines with 220 and 265 hp. respectively. These power units were based on the engine from the Maserati GT 3500. From 1963 to 1969, 955 units were produced.

Maserati ghibli

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The first generation of the Ghibli was produced from 1967 to 1972. A total of 1280 units were produced. The car had a 4.7 liter V8 engine with 340 hp. (1969 version).

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In 1970, a version with a 5.0 liter power unit with a capacity of 330 hp appeared on the market. (modification Ss).

Maserati bora

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The Bora is the first to have a mid-engine design. The car was released in 1968. This year the company was already controlled by Citroen, which signed a contract with Maserati. The car was equipped with V8 4.7 and 4.9 liter engines with 310 and 320 hp. respectively.

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2 + 2 seater Bora could accelerate to 280 km / h. Despite the excellent characteristics of the car and stylish design, the demand for the new product was minimal due to the Oil Crisis. It should be noted that as a result of the crisis, all car companies producing sports cars experienced major financial problems. This led the Maserati company in 1975 to the fact that it could not pay off its debts. Thanks to Alessandro de Tomaso, the company was saved.

Maserati khamsin

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This model was the last project for which the chief engineer of the company, Giulio Alfieri Maserati, was personally responsible. The car was named after the wind in the Egyptian desert. Khamsin replaced the Ghibli model. The design of the four-seater car was developed by Bertone. The premiere of the model took place at the Paris Motor Show in 1973. Khamsin was powered by a 5-liter V8 engine producing 320 hp.

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Sales of this model left much to be desired. The fault is still the same world oil crisis. From 1974 to 1982, a total of 430 cars were produced.

Maserati biturbo

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In 1981, after a long stagnation, Maserati finally released the new Biturbo, designed from scratch. Initially, the model had quality issues with the 2.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. But later these shortcomings were eliminated. Surprisingly, this model became very popular and was produced until 1999, constantly receiving improvements several times.

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For export, the car was equipped with 2.5L and 2.8L engines. The most powerful version of the Biturbo had 223 hp. Acceleration from 0-100km / h in just 5.9 seconds. The maximum speed is 228 km / h.
In 1985, a charged version of the Zagato Biturbo Spyder appears on the market. The car received a 3.2 liter V8 engine with 326 hp. The exact same power unit was later installed on the Quattroporte IV and 3200 GT (in a modernized version).

Maserati Quattroporte IV

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From 1994 to 2001, the company produced the Quattroporte IV, which received various notable changes every year. Over the years, the car was equipped with six-cylinder 2.0 and 2.8 liter power units with a capacity of 287 hp. and 284 hp. respectively. In 1996, the model received a 3.2-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 335 hp. After Maserati's takeover by Ferrari in 1997, the Quattroporte IV was redesigned with the name “Evoluzione” in addition to the model name.

Maserati 3200 GT

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The 3200 GT is set to usher in a new era of Maserati cars in 1998. With this sporty coupe, the company wanted everyone to forget the brand's unlucky models before. The car received a 3.2 liter twin-turbo V8 engine with a capacity of 368 hp. From 0-100 km / h - 5.1 seconds. Rear wheel drive with electronic control. The model received a stylish design, especially the rear of the car. In 2001, Maserati released a version of the Assetto Corsa 3200. In three years, 4795 cars were produced. In 2001, the Spyder version appears (4.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine), but this was a completely new generation of cars, with new developments and technologies, although it is formally considered that this is a continuation of the legendary 3200GT model.

Maserati MC12

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In 2004, the company released the MC12 for racing. On the technical side, the car is based on the Ferrari Enzo. The car is equipped with a 6.0 liter V12 with a capacity of 632 hp. Conceived for participation in the FIA \u200b\u200bGT Championship, a total of 25 units were produced. MC12. But later, due to demand, another 25 pieces were produced. This model could accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 3.6 seconds. The maximum speed is 345 km / h. The initial cost of the car was 696,000 Euro.

Maserati Quattroporte V

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The 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show debuted the Quattroporte luxury sedan. New technologies, stylish luxurious design, large wheelbase (3.06 meters) surprised many experts in the car market. The air vents on the front fenders are particularly noteworthy. The grille is reminiscent of the first Maserati models. The car is equipped with a 4.2 liter V8 engine producing 400 hp. Thanks to the transmission, the Quattroporte has a body weight distribution of 47 to 53 percent. Many did not like the sequential gearbox, so in 2007 the car received a six-speed automatic transmission ZF.
Also, armored versions of the car were produced, which were supplied to the Italian Government. In 2008, the car received a reystaling. In 2009, the company offered a more powerful version of the Quattroporte GT, 441 hp. Unfortunately, at the end of 2012, the production of the luxury model was stopped.

Maserati Gran Turismo

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Gran Turismo appeared in 2007 and became the successor of the Maserati 4200 GT Coupe. Despite the continuity, the technical stuffing was based on the Quattroporte model. The body and interior were developed by Pininfarina. V8 engines 4.2 liter and 4.7 liter, 405 and 440 hp. respectively. It is worth noting that the power units are produced by the Ferrari brand. Since 2012, MC Stradale has been produced, with a capacity of 460 hp. Since 2009, the company has been producing a four-seater convertible (GranCabrio model).

Maserati Quattroporte VI

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The world saw the new sixth generation Quattroporte in 2013 once again, opening a new era for the Maserati company. By 2015, the manufacturer expects to sell about 50,000 units. cars, thanks to the good design and the price / quality ratio. The car has a length of 5.26 meters, which has increased the space for rear passengers. Ferrari engines (V6 and V8) that are installed on this model have a power of 410 hp. and 530 hp. respectively. Also for Europe, the car received a diesel engine with a capacity of 275 hp.

Maserati ghibli iii

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The latest generation of Maserati Ghibli is designated by the Roman numeral “three” - III. For the first time, this model is not a sports coupe. The main competitor is BMW's 5-series. The new Ghibli received a 3.0 liter V6 engine. Also, the car received for the first time a diesel power unit with a capacity of 275 hp. The two petrol engines have 330 hp. and 410 hp. In the maximum configuration, the Maserati Ghibli III is available with all-wheel drive.

Maserati levante

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This model will be the first car (SUV) in the history of the company, which should appear in the first half of 2015. The main competitor will be the Porsche Cayenne. The crossover will be equipped with: 3.0 liter V6 engine with 410 hp, 4.0 liter V8 engine with 530 hp. and a 3.0 liter V6 diesel with 275 hp. To surprise all of us, the Maserati developers used the latest know-how from Chrysler and Jeep. So Levanta is based on Jeep Grand Cherokee chassis.

Maserati alfieri

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This model was shown at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The model, which bears the name of the legendary designer Giulio Alfieri Maserati, is expected to begin production in 2016. The model will compete with cars such as the Jaguar F-Type, Mercedes-AMG GT and Porsche 911. The powertrain will be V6 engines with power from 400 to 520 hp. In addition, the company plans to release a convertible version and an all-wheel drive model. As a basis, the machine will be based on the current generations of Quattroporte and Ghibli.

Each of the Maserati brothers - Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto - contributed in varying degrees to the development of the company that still bears their name.

On December 14, 1914, Alfieri Maserati founded Officine Alfieri Maserati. The main activities of the new enterprise were the development and production of cars, engines and spark plugs. The company was based in Bologna, where a sculpture of Neptune by the sculptor Giambologna is installed in the main city square. Inspired by this work, Mario Maserati developed the company's trademark - a trident, which became the symbol of the future of the Maserati brothers' company.

After a break in work caused by the First World War, Maserati again took up the production of cars. The brothers created cars and racing cars for customers and participated in the races themselves.

But the birth of Maserati as a company and a world-famous brand took place on April 25, 1926, when the third of the Maserati brothers, Alfieri, presented and piloted the first production car, the Maserati Gran Prix 1500, bearing the trident on its hood at the Targa Florio competition.

The design of the engine was very progressive for its time - 8 cylinders in a row, with a volume of only 1500 cm3, but with a powerful compressor that increased the engine power to 130 hp. Alfieri brilliantly ran the race and became the winner, beating the cars of other competitors equipped with much larger engines.

In 1937, Maserati sold the company to the Orsi family, who in 1940 moved the company's headquarters to its hometown of Modena, where it is still located. The Orsi family relied on the production of exclusively sports cars. The brothers continued to work for the company as engineers on a ten-year contract.

After World War II, the Maserati brothers left the company, which they left their name and organized their own company OSCA (Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati) in their native Bologna. The new company began producing racing cars, but its cars did not gain the previous success and popularity.

The famous Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio raced in Maserati cars in the 1950s and won the Formula 1 World Championship in 1957 with a Maserati 250F.

After 1957, Maserati concentrated on building road cars. Chief designer Giulio Alfieri created the Maserati 3500 coupe with an aluminum body equipped with a six-cylinder engine. With only 242 units, this model is considered the most elegant of Maserati cars, according to designers and automotive connoisseurs.

In 1963, Maserati introduced the expensive high-speed sedans Mistral and Quattroporte to the world. In the UK, the new Quattroporte (translated from Italian as "four-door"), which had not only a luxurious interior, but also excellent dynamics and handling, cost more than Rolls Royce. Quattroporte became the first representative model of the company.

In 1968, the French concern Citroen bought a controlling stake in Maserati. The most notable result of the partnership between the French and Italians was the Indy (1104 units were produced).

In 1971, the Bora model was born - the first car of the firm of the GT class (gran turismo) with a mid-engine. With this vehicle the new concept of Maserati models began. From now on, the company begins to make not just super-fast cars. She gives her travel models even more comfort and luxury.

A short alliance with Citroen fell apart in 1975 and Maserati took over the famous Alejandro De Tomaso.

In 1976, Maserati renews its marketing strategy and decides to enter a new niche. To this end, the company enters into competition with Mercedes and BMW and produces the first executive class car in its history - the Quattroporte III.

In 1981, De Tomaso changes his strategy. The solution was Biturbo, a two-door sedan equipped with a new 6-cylinder 2-liter 2-turbine engine with 180 hp. All this was packaged in a small but luxurious body. A hit in Italy, Biturbo entered the world stage in 1986.

1989 saw the release of Shamal, the last representative of the De Tomaso era in the fate of Maserati, equipped with a new 3200 cc Biturbo 8-cylinder engine that gave this car 325 hp.

The Karif soon came out - a real sports car. Fitting a reliable 2.8 V6 to the Biturbo chassis, it is the fastest car in the Biturbo series.

From 1993 to 1995, the Italian giant Fiat bought 90% of Maserati's shares, and in 1996, under his tutelage, the premiere of the new Quattroporte IV Evoluzione - the Maserati of our time took place.

In 1995, under the patronage of Fiat, a series of races for the Ghibli Open Cup were held. The release of the road version known as the Ghibli Cup was timed to this event.

In 1997, Maserati merged with Ferrari (in fact, the management of the company passed to Ferrari). Since November 1997, to improve the quality and reliability of the Maserati range, the production of the Ghibli and Quattroporte has been suspended at the Modena factories for a year. The nearly $ 11.5 million modernization of the assembly plant was successfully completed in the fall of 1998 with the release of the new Maserati 3200 GT.

The new Spyder GT model came out in 2002.

Today Maserati is a major global automaker with operations in 57 countries. The main activity today is the production of comfortable sports cars with a spectacular appearance and high speed characteristics. The brand's products continue to be popular among connoisseurs and amateurs all over the world.

Maserati Factory Tour in Modena

Maserati has been based in Modena since 1940. Now it is one of the most modern and high-tech car factories in Italy. The modern production facility is built around a historic red brick building. The territory of the plant is over 40,000 sq. M. The main products are the Maserati Quattroporte, a four-door sports sedan and the Maserati GranTurismo, a four-seat coupe.

Maserati invites owners and buyers of the company's vehicles on a guided tour of the Modena plant. The excursion includes visits to assembly lines and other departments of the plant, inspection and study of the process of production and assembly of cars.

The business visit can be timed to coincide with the issuance of a new car to the owner in a spectacular showroom. Just contact your local dealer and they will arrange your trip at a time that suits you.

Maserati is an Italian company specializing in the production of comfortable sports cars with efficient looks and high dynamic performance. It is part of the largest Italian automotive corporation FIAT.

Each of the Maserati brothers - Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto - in one way or another, contributed to the development of the company that still bears their name.

Carlo, the eldest of the brothers, was the first in the family to take up cars. It was he who created the first Maserati car, equipped with a single-cylinder engine and a very simple chassis. But illness and the ensuing death of 29-year-old Carlo Maserati interrupted work.

On December 14, 1914, Alfieri Maserati founded Officine Alfieri Maserati. The main activities of the new enterprise were the development and production of cars, engines and spark plugs. The company was based in Bologna, where a sculpture of Neptune, by Giambologna, is installed in the main city square. Inspired by this work, Mario Maserati designed the company logo - a trident, which served as an omen of the future of the company of the Maserati brothers.

In 1925, Alfieri, Ernesto and Bindo, commissioned by the major Italian manufacturer and automaker Diatto, created a two-liter engine, which was equipped with a rather successful Grand Prix racing car.

But the birth of Maserati, as a company and brand known to the whole world, took place on April 25, 1926, at the start of the Targa Florio races. At these competitions, the third of the Maserati brothers, Alfieri, presented and piloted the first production car, the Maserati Gran Prix 1500, bearing the trident sign on its hood.

In 1927 Ernesto became the champion of Italy in Tipo 26. After several high-profile victories, the whole of Europe learned about the company. And from that moment on, the brothers decided to specialize in the production of exclusively racing cars. The collective genius of the Maserati brothers was focused on creating super-powerful motors. In 1929, racer Bakonin Borzacchini on a Tipo V4 set a new speed record at a distance of 10 km - 246 km / h.

From 1932 to 1939, after the death of Alfieri, all cars were created by the younger Maserati - Ernesto. During this period, he himself designed all the engines and himself led his cars to victory in races several times. In 1933 Ernesto Maserati was the first in Europe to use hydraulic brake booster in racing cars.

In 1938-1939, Maserati became part of the Orsi Gruppo. In 1939, the Orsi family moved the business from Bologna to Modenugda and is still present.

In 1939 and 1940, American Wilbur Shaw in a Maserati 8CTF (under the name Boyle Specials), winning the Indianapolis 500, helped Masеrati go down in the history of legendary American racing. The Maserati 8CTF, powered by the magnificent 8-cylinder 8CTF engines, are the only Italian cars to win these races in their history.

After the war, the remaining Maserati brothers left the company, which they left their name to and organized their own company OSCA (Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati) in their native Bologna. The new company started producing racing cars, but its cars did not have the previous success and popularity.

In 1947, the presentation of the first car of the GT class - A6 1500 with a body designed by Pininfarina took place. The racing version of the A6GCS, driven by Alberto Ascari, won several races in Modena and was a force to be reckoned with in the Mille Millia and Targa Florio races.

The road version of this car was produced in small series and was equipped with an almost racing chassis and a lightweight 6-cylinder 2-liter engine, which had, first, 1 camshaft and 1 plug per cylinder, and then 2 camshafts and 2 plugs per cylinder.

In 1954, the single Maserati 250F won the Formula 1 race in Argentina. In 1957, equipped with a powerful and reliable 6-cylinder engine, the 250F helped the famous Fangio win his fifth world title and the last title for Maserati. In the same year, Maserati officially announced its retirement from racing and transferred racing technology to production road cars.

At the same time, in 1957, the company's bestseller, the Maserati 3500GT, was presented - the first serial road model. It was equipped with a 6-cylinder twin cam engine (2 OHCs) with a displacement of 3.5 liters. The body was created by the Milan firm Touring. The 3500 series also had its own "highlight" - the Spyder coupe from the Vignale body shop. Designers and automotive historians consider this model, produced in only 242 pieces, to be the most elegant of all Maserati cars. In 1961, the car was equipped with a Lucas mechanical fuel injection system, which allowed the company to add the letters GTI to the 3500 name. The 3500GT thus became the first Italian car to be equipped with a fuel injection system. Production of the 3500GT was discontinued in 1964 after about 2000 vehicles were produced.

At the turn of the 50s and 60s, the production of the Maserati 5000 GT, a car that revived the luxurious pre-war tradition of building a car “to order”, began. Maserati supplied the engine and chassis, and the car bodies were “sewn” by Allemano, Michelotti, Bertone.

In 1963, another project was born on the drawing boards of the Vignale company, designed to replace the outdated by that time Touring design body. The new car, named the Sebring, after Maserati's North American racing victories, had a well-tuned and reliable engine in a modern and aggressive body. Release of its 2 main versions with a 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 3.7 liters. and 4.0 liters. lasted until 1969.

In 1963, Maserati's history took another turn that set the brand apart from the rest of the automakers. The world was introduced to the expensive high-speed sedans Mistral and Quattroporte. In the UK, the new Quattroporte (Italian for "four-door"), which had not only a luxurious interior, but also excellent dynamics and handling, cost more than a Rolls Royce. Quattroporte became the first representative model of the company. It was powered by a 4.2 liter version of the V8 engine first found in the 5000 GT. For those looking for the luxury of a Quattroporte but with a sportier body, Maserati has released the Mexico model.

1966 was marked for the company by the release of the Ghibli coupe, the body for which was created in the studio of the young Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was still working in Ghia at that time. This car became a real sensation of its time and served as Maserati's calling card in the turbulent 60s.

In 1968, the French Citroen bought a controlling stake in Maserati. The most notable result of the partnership between the French and Italians was the Indy model (1104 copies were produced), more than the alliance of the two car companies, which lasted until 1975, did not show itself in anything.

Despite Maserati's retirement from racing, its engines and cars continued to win races. Powered by a Maserati V-12 engine, the 300 Cooper won two world championships in a row - Mexico in 1966 and South Africa in 1967.

In 1968, Maserati acquired a French partner - Citroen (it can be called a partner at a stretch, since the French bought up a controlling stake in the Italian company in a difficult position). At the same time, the Indy 2 + 2 model premiered and production of the new V6 engine began.

In 1971, the Bora was born - the company's first GT car with a mid-engine. From this car, a new concept for Maserati models began to emerge. From now on, the company begins to make not just super-fast cars. She gives her travel models even more comfort and luxury.

The following year, the Maserati Merak premiered, which the Italians endowed with a V6 engine developed for the Citroen SM. Merak has become a worthy competitor to its classmates Ferrari 308 GT4 and Lamborghini Uracco. In 1976, the Merak SS arrived, equipped with a new modified 3-liter V6 version and a more elegant Bora dashboard.

At the end of the Citroen era in Maserati history, the Ghibli was replaced in 1973 by a new model - Khamsin, equipped with a body designed by Bertone. The car had a 4.9 liter V8 engine with a front positioning and had a remarkable design.

The short alliance with Citroen fell apart in 1975 and Maserati took over the famous Alejandro De Tomaso, who, deciding to refresh the Maserati range, created the Kyalami project. The car was produced in 2 versions - 4.2 liters. with a manual transmission and 4.9 liters. with a gun.

In 1976, Maserati renews its marketing strategy and decides to enter a new niche. To this end, the company enters into a competition with Mercedes and BMW and produces the first in its history executive class car - Quattroporte III with a body from Giugiaro.

In 1981, De Tomaso changes his strategy. The solution was Biturbo, a two-door sedan equipped with a new 6-cylinder 2-liter 2-turbine engine with 180 hp. All this was packaged in a small but luxurious body. A hit in Italy, Biturbo entered the world stage in 1986. The export versions were equipped with a modified 2.5-liter V6.

1989 saw the release of Shamal, the last representative of the De Tomaso era in the fate of Maserati, powered by a new 3200cc Biturbo 8-cylinder engine that gave this monster 325 hp.

The Karif soon came out - a real sports car. Fitting a reliable 2.8 V6 to the Biturbo chassis, they got the fastest car in the Biturbo series. And by removing the roof on the Spyder, Maserati engineers turned it into a real rocket.

From 1993 to 1995, the Italian giant Fiat Auto SpA bought 90% of Maserati's shares and in 1996, under his tutelage, the premiere of the new Quattroporte IV Evoluzione - the Maserati of our time took place.

In 1995, under the patronage of Fiat, a series of races for the Ghibli Open Cup were held. The release of the road version known as the Ghibli Cup was timed to this event. With just a 2-liter engine, these cars have a breathtaking 330 hp. - no production car, including the Mclaren F1, has such an output per 1 liter of fuel.

In 1997, Maserati merged with Ferrari (in fact, the management of the company passed to Ferrari). Since November 1997, to improve the quality and reliability of the Maserati range, the production of the Ghibli and Quattroporte has been suspended at the Modena factories for a year. The nearly $ 11.5 million modernization of the assembly plant was successfully completed in the fall of 1998 with the release of the new Maserati 3200 GT.

The new Spyder GT model came out in 2002.

In 1997, FIAT transferred a 50% stake in Maserati for long-term use by Ferrari (at that time also controlled by the FIAT concern). In 1999 Ferrari took full control of the company and transformed Maserati into the luxury car division. At the same time, a new plant was being built to replace the outdated 1940s.

In 2011, Maserati unveiled its first Kubang crossover concept car. "Kubang, a concept car that replaces the past while staying true to it, marking the path to a future of technological excellence that cares about an environment characterized by unmistakable design features," the official website says.

Official website: www.maserati.com
Headquarters: Italy

The Maserati family had six brothers: Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, Ernesto and Marco (Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, Ernesto, Marco). The latter devoted himself to art. Carlo began a successful career in auto and motorcycle racing, but died in 1910. Alfieri and Bindo worked for the Isotta-Fraschini car company. In 1914, Alfieri decided to open his own workshop in the vicinity of Bologna. Three younger brothers soon joined him.

During the First World War, the four brothers organized a spark plug company. In the early 1920s, Ernesto took part in races in a car of his own construction, the 4-cylinder engine of which they made from a half of an Isotta-Fraschini aircraft engine. Then Maserati continued to improve it and participated in races with the financial support of the Diatto company (Diatto). In 1925, the brothers built two more Grand Prix racing cars. With little success, they disappointed Diatto's management, which decided to stop funding their work. The brothers bought their cars and, having reduced the engine displacement to 1.5 liters, announced the creation of their own racing cars, which they called "Maserati-26". As an emblem, they chose the coat of arms of Bologna - the trident. The first success came already in 1926, when Alfieri Maserati won the Florio Cup.

This victory created a good reputation for the company, and Maserati began to assemble a wide variety of racing cars equipped with 4-, 6-, 8- and even 16-cylinder engines with a displacement of 1088 to 4995 cc. The V16 engine was assembled from two in-line 8-cylinder 26B engines with two crankshafts in a single crankcase connected by a gear transmission. In the 30s, the production of passenger cars and sports cars for widespread sale began, which were equipped with derated and simplified engines from racing cars.

Alfieri's death in 1932 was a heavy blow for Maserati. After 5 years, the management passed to the entrepreneurs Omer and Adolfo Orsi, who relied only on racing cars. The Maserati brothers continued to work at their firm, but did not receive full freedom of action. In 1941 the production facilities were relocated to Modena, the hometown of the new owners. In 1947, when the 10-year contract with Orsi expired, the brothers finally gained independence and founded the OSCA company. In the last months of work at Maserati, taking the racing 6CM as a basis, they developed a sports car of the A-6G model with engines of 1.5-2 liters, which became the basis for future cars.

In the post-war years, Maserati continued to manufacture mainly racing cars, the most famous of which was the 250F, developed in 1953 by engineer Gioacchino Colombo. Until 1958, he successfully competed in Formula 1 competitions. He was famed by such famous athletes as Moss, Hawthorn and Fangio.
In 1958, Omer Orsi decided to leave the big motorsport and limit production to sports cars "3500GT" with 6-cylinder engines with a working volume of 3485 cm3. Nevertheless, for several years Maserati built special sports models of the 200 (1994 cm3) and 300 (2890 cm3) series, which successfully performed in races.

In 1959, the sports "Maserati-SOOOGT" appeared with a 350 hp engine, which allowed speeds up to 274 km / h. It was followed in 1963 by the first 4-door luxury sedan, the Quattroporte. In 1963-1964, the sports "Mistral" and "Sebring" with 6-cylinder engines with a working volume of 3.5-4 liters were produced. Soon, the Mistral was replaced by the Ghibli, with a 5-liter V8 engine capable of reaching speeds of 280 km / h.

In 1968, Citroen acquired the rights to own Maserati for 1 billion lire. From that moment on, an average of 2 cars per day were assembled at the enterprise in Modem for several years. The main fruit of this collaboration is the luxurious Citroen-SM coupe with a 2.7-liter V6 engine. After Citroen got into a crisis and decided to close the Maserati plant, the famous designer Alehandro De Tomaso intervened and bought the company. In the 70s, the Maserati program consisted of well-known and prestigious models: the Merak coupe with a V6 engine with a displacement of 2965 cm3, the Bora with a V8 engine of 4719 cm3, the Khamsin with a V8 engine of 4930 cm3, as well as a luxury sedan "Quattroporte" also with a V8 engine of 4236 cm3.

Despite the broadest program in the company's history, Maserati's position has deteriorated steadily. On the initiative of de Tomaso in 1982, a new relatively cheap model "Biturbo" was created with a V6 engine equipped with a turbocharger. In parallel, a new version of "Quattroporte" with a V8 engine of 4930 cm3 was proposed. Since 1988, Maserati has supplied 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engines for the American Chrysler-TC.

Cars "Biturbo" were produced with bodies of coupe, convertible, 4-door sedan and were equipped with 2.0- and 2.5-liter V6 engines with turbocharging with a capacity of 190-205 hp. In 1987, a more powerful 2.8-liter engine appeared. On the basis of "Biturbo" in 1989, the sports coupe "Shamal" was developed with a 32-valve V6 engine of 3.2 liters and 326 hp. In 1992, it was followed by the new Ghibli coupe with a 2.0-liter 305 hp engine, which, together with the fourth generation of the Cuttroporte sedan, is now presenting the Maserati program.

In May 1993, Maserati became the property of FIAT, and since 1997 it has been managed by the Ferrari board, which leads to a gradual unification of the designs of both companies.