Maserati 3200 GT (1998 to 2001)

Maserati returned to its roots in 1998 with the launch of the all-new 3200 GT at the Paris motor show. Pre-dating the return of Maserati to North America, the 3200 series was never sold in the US or Canada, but was the platform from which the later 4200 series was developed – cars that as the Coupe, Spyder and GranSport brought the return of Maserati to North America. The elegant 3200 four seater coupé was styled by Italdesign, whose founder, Giorgetto Giugiaro, had already penned the classic Ghibli, Bora, Merak, Quattroporte III and several one-off special Maseratis. The 3200 GT's 104.8 inch wheelbase was just a centimeter longer than that of the Quattroporte IV, which explains its class-leading cabin space. The 3200 GT shared the sedan's twin-turbo 3.2 liter V8, revised and tuned to produce 370 hp (271 kW) at 6,250 rpm and mated to a six-speed gearbox. Mixed flow turbines allowed response times that were 20% quicker compared to conventional turbo set-ups. To provide the highest manufacturing standards, the assembly line at the historic Modena factory was completely modernized for the 3200.

Performance lived up to the Maserati legacy, highlighted by a 280 km/h top speed (174 mph) and a 0 to 100 kph time of just over 5.1 sec. The sleek body returned a 0.34 Cd. Besides its pace, the 3200 GT's opulent interior added to its appeal, and the introduction of the extensive Officine Alfieri Maserati personalization program meant that every car could be made to order, above and beyond the 14 standard colors available. In June 1999, Group President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo could already celebrate the 1000th 3200 GT to roll off the production line. The following year a coast-to-coast promotional trip was organized across Canada with two 3200 GTs, each covering 10,000 miles, giving North Americans a preview of what was to come in 2002.

Technical Specifications