Maserati Barchetta

{{Infobox automobile

| image = Maserati Brachetta (51971438050) (cropped).jpg

| name = Maserati Barchetta

| manufacturer = Maserati

| production = 1991–1992
(17 units produced)

| class = Racing car

| body_style = 2-door speedster

| engine = {{cvt|1996|cc|L|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} 90°, 24-valve twin-turbocharged AM501 V6

| transmission = 6-speed ZF manual

| length = {{convert|4050|mm|in||abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1965|mm|in||abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|930|mm|in||abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|775|kg|lb||abbr=on}}

| wheelbase = {{convert|2600|mm|in||abbr=on}}

| layout = Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

| predecessor =

| aka = Barchetta Corsa (racing)
Barchetta Stradale (road) one unit only

| designer = Carlo Gaino at Synthesis Design{{cite web|url=https://www.automotivedesignconference.com/portfolio/carlo-gaino/|title=Carlo Gaino|website=automotivedesignconference.com|accessdate=11 January 2020}}

| related = De Tomaso Guarà
Maserati Biturbo

}}

The Maserati Barchetta is a mid-engine racing car,Maserati since 1926 by Maurizio Tabucchi ed. ETAI like the 350 and 450S, that was designed by Carlo Gaino{{in lang|it}} [http://www.synthesisdesign.it/rassegna_stampa.html List of articles on Carlo Gaino involvement in projects at Synthesis Design] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804191644/http://www.synthesisdesign.it/rassegna_stampa.html |date=2009-08-04 }}{{in lang|it}} [http://www.carlogaino.it Carlo Gaino website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004125410/http://www.carlogaino.it/ |date=2008-10-04 }} of the Synthesis Design,{{cite web |url=http://www.synthesisdesign.it/barchetta.html |title=Synthesis design - Maserati Barchetta |publisher=Synthesisdesign.it |date= |accessdate=2009-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219022229/http://www.synthesisdesign.it/barchetta.html |archive-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead }} an Italian design house.

The Barchetta was designed and developed for the one-make racing series Grantrofeo Barchetta{{cite web|url=http://www.maserati-indy.co.uk/alfieri03.htm |title=Maserati Barchetta and Grantrofeo Monomarca |publisher=Maserati-indy.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-08-30}} which was held 1992 and 1993 throughout Italy and Europe. It featured sixteen races in total, most of them in Italy. The Barchetta had a backbone chassis made of aluminium which was unusual for a Maserati automobile for a time considering that the cars offered by Maserati had a steel unibody construction. It had a Formula 1 suspension geometry and body panels made of carbon fibre which resulted in a total weight of {{cvt|775|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The Barchetta was one of the last Maserati models built under De Tomaso ownership.{{cite web|url=https://www.maserati.com/maserati/international/en/brand/our-story/maserati-classic-cars/specials/barchetta|title=Barchetta|work=Maserati|accessdate=2019-04-24}}

File:1991 Maserati Barchetta.jpg

16 examples of the racing model{{cite web|url=http://www.maserati.com/maserati/en/en/index/passion/company/panini-museum.html |title=Panini Museum on |publisher=Maserati.com |date= |accessdate=2012-08-30}} were produced by hand at the De Tomaso factory in Modena, plus two prototypes (one racing-corsa, one street-stradale model). It featured a mid-mounted Maserati AM501 V6 engine displacing 1,996 cc and was shared with the local 2.0 L engine offered in the Italian market on the Biturbo and the Ghibli. The engine had a peak power output of {{cvt|319|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 7,250 rpm. The engine was mated to a 6-speed manual transmission manufactured by ZF Friedrichshafen and having straight cut gears. These modifications allowed the car to attain a top speed of {{cvt|180|mph|kph|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}. Having a true open top design, driver protection was provided only by a small air deflector.{{cite web|URL=https://petrolicious.com/articles/the-maserati-barchetta-is-the-90s-track-car-you-totally-forgot-about|title=The Maserati Barchetta Is The ’90s Track Car You Totally Forgot About|date=2016-02-11|first=Michael|last=Banovsky|publisher=Petrolicious|accessdate=2019-04-24}}

The central-frame concept was carried over in the De Tomaso Guarà, but the frame was around {{Convert|130|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} longer because it was fitted with a larger V8 engine.

This was thought as a way to inject much needed excitement and enthusiasm for Maserati that saw its reputation badly ruined by years of exciting but maintenance sensitive products,cf. e.g. Car & Driver, Dec. 1998 issue (Vol. 44, No.6), page 88 eventually culminating in Maserati's withdrawal from the North American market at this time.