| Maserati Medici | |
|---|---|
 Maserati Medici II | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Maserati |
| Production | 1974, 1976 (Concept car) |
| Assembly | Italy |
| Designer | Giorgetto Giugiaro atItaldesign |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-doorfastbacksaloon |
| Layout | FR |
| Platform | Maserati Indy[1] |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.9 LDOHCV8[1] |
| Transmission | 5-speed + reverseManual transmission |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 5,220 mm (205.5 in)[1] |
| Width | 1,860 mm (73.2 in)[1] |
| Height | 1,370 mm (53.9 in)[1] |
TheMaserati Medici is aconcept car developed by theTurin design firmItaldesign forMaserati. Two slightly different models, theMedici I and theMedici II were produced in 1974 and 1976.[1] The design was led byGiorgetto Giugiaro.[2] The Medici's design had an influence on numerous other production vehicles in the 1970s.[3] The Medici was named after theFlorentinefamily of the same name, renowned for their power and patronage of the arts during theRenaissance.[2]
The Maserati Medici was a design study for a luxury sports sedan.[2] Both versions of the Medici were designed on the frame of theMaserati Indy as a four door fastback. Both versions had alongitudinally mounted 4.9 Liter V8, which was also borrowed from the Indy.[1]
The Medici I was built in the spring of 1974, and it shared many design elements with Giugiaro's previous Asso Di Picche concept.[4] One influential feature of the Medici I was the trapezoidalC-pillar, which became wider as it ran down the side of the car.[3] Giugiaro later used this design in many different cars, including theLancia Delta I and the 1980Audi Coupé.[3] While the Medici's C-pillar was made of solid sheet metal, other vehicles such as theAudi 80 B2 and theYugo Florida had an additional trapezoidal window in the C-pillar.
The front end of the Medici I was very similar to Giugiaro's 1974 Maserati Coupé 2+2 (also known asTipo 124), which was the potential successor to the Indy. Alike the Medici, the Coupé 2+2'sfront fascia ended in a point and had pop-up headlights.[5]
Inside, the Medici I was designed to have six seats. Behind the two front seats were two benches installed opposite each other; the passengers in the middle row sat opposite to the direction of travel. The space in the rear cabin was crowded, leading to changes for the Medici II.[3]
The Medici I was first publicly displayed in April 1974 at theTurin Auto Show.[2]
In 1976, Giugiaro presented Medici II. Unlike the Medici I, it was a four-seater. The interior was fully redesigned, and the benches were replaced by two chairs. The rear also included a bar, refrigerator, desk, and file holder, as well as a television and a radiophone which were futuristic for the time.[6] The main difference in the styling of the Medici II was in the front fascia. Instead of the semi-pointed front of the Medici I, the Medici II carried a higher front end, allowing for four high-set square headlights and a square, chrome-framed grille.[3]
The Medici II is considered the stylistic predecessor of theMaserati Quattroporte III, which was produced starting in 1979.[3]
The Medici II was exhibited at the 1976Paris Motor Show[1] and sold in 1977 toMohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Persia, who had a fondness for Maserati models.[7] The car now resides in the Louwman Collection.[8]
A marque ofStellantis | |||||||||||||||
| Road cars |
| ||||||||||||||
| Racing cars |
| ||||||||||||||
| Concept cars | |||||||||||||||
| See also | |||||||||||||||
