Maserati Debuts 90th Anniversary Spyder in Paris

An Apropos 90 Examples of the 90th Anniversary Edition Will Come to North America

Of all the vehicles which Maserati brought to the Paris Motor Show, only one took to the elevated stage. Was it the 630 horsepower Ferrari Enzo-based MC12 or the ultra-luxurious Quattroporte luxury sedan? No. How about the GranSport coupe? Close, but no. The vehicle to take that honor was a special edition of Modenese carmakers staple vehicle, the Spyder. The model, aptly called the 90th Anniversary, was created to celebrate the companys 90th birthday which passed just a few months ago.

Unlike the regular Spyder or Coupé, both of which are available in broad range of colors (even wider should a clients pockets be deep), this special 90th Anniversary model is available only in the marques vivid Blue Anniversary livery. The bright and bold paintjob is contrasted by unique gray-painted headlight clusters, which are said to bring out the detailed hood-work which bowed with the 2005 model-year facelift.

Other aesthetic changes that have been made to Maseratis convertible sports car include the substitution of a new front spoiler incorporating additional vent slats, plus new moulded side skirts borrowed from the top of the line GranSport. The 90th Anniversary model also features plenty of mirror-finish chrome, found on the door handles, grille mesh up front and rear fascia in back, as well as on the glistening ball-polished 19-inch alloy wheels.

Other minor distinguishing trademarks include Titanium-silver painted calipers that clamp down on ventilated disc brakes, and special oval Trident logos on the front fenders which pay tribute to the 250F driven by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1957 World Championship.

The most noticeable change on the 90th Anniversary model is a new carbon fiber fairing which sits atop the tonneau cover and moulds to the arches of the rear rollover bar. Aside from reducing drag when the roof is retracted, it has been fashioned around the metal fairings which were featured on early-generation Maserati racing cars. The beautiful, natural look of the polished carbon fiber has been enhanced by the addition of matching blue polyester strands embedded into the weave.

This blue carbon fiber is also included throughout the cars cockpit, giving it a true sense of occasion. Accenting the upper and lower sections of the center console, it adds a racing car-like ambience while matching the blue and cream two-toned leather lined interior. Like the GranSport, the Spyder 90th Anniversary model features a grouped center console with blue-starter button and high-performance stereo system in place of the Maserati Info Center LCD display screen. A 90th Anniversary plaque with production number has been attached to the lower console.

Unlike the GranSport the 90th Anniversary edition features a stock motor and drivetrain, but by no means should this be a concern. The thoroughbred, Ferrari-designed 4.2 liter V8 engine produces a willing 390 horsepower, and features one of the worlds best sequential paddle-shift gearboxes as standard equipment. The V8 is capable of propelling the Spyder 90th Anniversary to 100 km/h in less than five seconds, topping out at a speed of 280 km/h, while the expert-tuned suspension and chassis are said to provide the balance and grip that only a top-pedigree supercar can deliver.

Maserati intends on producing 180 90th Anniversary models, which is apropos considering the vehicles 90th Anniversary nametag. How so? A total of 90 vehicles have been allocated for North American market sale, while 90 are available for the rest of the worlds Maserati fans to scrap over. Outside North America the allocation is split into 15 units featuring right-hand drive, primarily for Britain, and 75 for continental Europe and other markets.

Pricing has yet to be announced, but considering that this is an exclusive piece of Maserati history and the vehicle in question is essentially a GranSport Spyder without the power modifications, dont expect the price tag to be anything less than kingly. The 90th Anniversary Spyder is scheduled to become available as of spring 2005.