Shamal

Named after a Mesopotamian wind, the new Shamal was the most extreme evolution of the original Biturbo family. Like the Karif, it was based on the shorter Biturbo Spyder chassis, with the addition of two small rear seats. The body design was completely new: a muscular and aggressive design from the pen of Marcello Gandini, it could be instantly recognized by the distinctive shape of the rear wheel arches—a Gandini signature of the era. Even bigger news was found under the hood, where the V6 engine was replaced by a completely new, twin-turbocharged V8 engine with four camshafts and 32 valves. This was coupled to a new, manual six-speed gearbox from Getrag. Revolutionary and extreme, the Shamal was intended for skilled drivers and gave inspiration for the later Ghibli model.