Body style: Coupé (two-door)
Segment: Premium Coupe
Production years: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
Developed under Citroen's ownership during the early '70s, the Merak was Maserati's second mid-engine sportscar, and it stood on the market for over a decade.
Introduced in 1972 at the Paris Auto Show, this car was more of a spin-off from the Bora. However, unlike its bigger sibling, this Giugiaro-designed sportscar was aimed at wealthier customers.
Giorgetto Giugiaro was hired to pen the car's lines based on the Bora. Citroen had a good idea when it did that since, by using the same platform, it could create two different vehicles. Thus, the Merak came on the market with a restyled front fascia that sported a rubber bumper and a chromed trim adorned it. From its sides, the mid-engined sports car showed a low profile with a short greenhouse. The rear windscreen was vertical and short. But the designer imagined two opened flying buttresses that visually extended the car's roof. At the back, the engine cover featured two rows of vents that helped to cool the engine.
The Merak's interior was offered with various trim levels. While the base models featured cloth upholstery, the higher grades were leather-wrapped. Regardless of the version, all were fitted with bolstered seats that provided good lateral support. In addition, a rear seat was placed behind the driver for tax reasons. The owners couldn't place anything larger than a purse in there. The dashboard was filled with gauges and dials, which told everything about the engine's status. As for the trunk, that was at the front and could fit just a couple of overnight bags.
The V6 engine behind the seats was not exactly something to brag about. The base version had only two liters of displacement. It was made to comply with strict European regulations from Italy, Greece, and Portugal. At the other end of the scale, the three-liter version provided better performance. But still, not enough to call the Merak a supercar.
ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L V6 5MT RWD (160 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 1999 cm3 |
Power: | 118 KW @ 7000 RPM 160 HP @ 7000 RPM 158 BHP @ 7000 RPM |
Torque: | 131 lb-ft @ 5700 RPM 177 Nm @ 5700 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetors |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 137 mph (220 km/h) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 VR15 // 205/70 VR15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171 in (4343 mm) |
Width: | 70.2 in (1783 mm) |
Height: | 45.2 in (1148 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.2/57 in (1,453/1,448 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 102.5 in (2604 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2976 lbs (1350 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 3.0L V6 5MT RWD (190 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 2965 cm3 |
Power: | 140 KW @ 6000 RPM 190 HP @ 6000 RPM 188 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 188 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 255 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetors |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 7.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 (Front) - 205/70 (Rear) |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171 in (4343 mm) |
Width: | 70.2 in (1783 mm) |
Height: | 45.2 in (1148 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.2/57 in (1,453/1,448 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 102.5 in (2604 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3423 lbs (1553 kg) |
ENGINE SPECS - 3.0L V6 SS 5MT RWD (210 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 2965 cm3 |
Power: | 155 KW @ 5800 RPM 210 HP @ 5800 RPM 208 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 188 lb-ft @ 5000 RPM 255 Nm @ 5000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetors |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 155.3 mph (250 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 7.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 VR15 (Front) - 215/70 VR15 (Rear) |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171 in (4343 mm) |
Width: | 70.2 in (1783 mm) |
Height: | 45.2 in (1148 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 57.2/57 in (1,453/1,448 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 102.5 in (2604 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3086 lbs (1400 kg) |