Shamal owes its name to a wind from the Mesopotamian desert and its line to the genius of Marcello Gandini, who had already worked for Maserati for the Khamsin of 1972. Shamal, produced from 1990 to 1996, was a very dynamic car, with the 3217cc and 326 horsepower biturbo V8 engine. It was the first Maserati to be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.