The Maserati Medici is a concept car developed by the Turin design firm Italdesign for Maserati. Two slightly different models, the Medici I and the Medici II were produced in 1974 and 1976. The design was led by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Medici's design had an influence on numerous other production vehicles in the 1970s. The Medici was named after the Florentine family of the same name, renowned for their power and patronage of the arts during the Renaissance.
Concept
The Maserati Medici was a design study for a luxury sports sedan. Both versions of the Medici were designed on the frame of the Maserati Indy as a four door fastback. Both versions had a longitudinally mounted 4.9 Liter V8, which was also borrowed from the Indy.
Medici I
The Medici I was built in the spring of 1974, and it shared many design elements with Giugiaro's previous Asso Di Picche concept. One influential feature of the Medici I was the trapezoidal C-pillar, which became wider as it ran down the side of the car. Giugiaro later used this design in many different cars, including the Lancia Delta I and the 1980 Audi Coupé. While the Medici's C-pillar was made of solid sheet metal, other vehicles such as the Audi 80 B2 and the Yugo Florida had an additional trapezoidal window in the C-pillar.
The front end of the Medici I was very similar to Giugiaro's 1974 Maserati Coupé 2+2 (also known as Tipo 124), which was the potential successor to the Indy. Alike the Medici, the Coupé 2+2's front fascia ended in a point and had pop-up headlights.
Inside, the Medici I was designed to have six seats. Behind the two front seats were two benches installed opposite each other; the passengers in the middle row sat opposite to the direction of travel. The space in the rear cabin was crowded, leading to changes for the Medici II.
The Medici I was first publicly displayed in April 1974 at the Turin Auto Show.
Source: Wikipedia
Body architecture: 4-door 6-seat
Overall dimensions (mm): length 5220, width 1860, height 1370
Wheelbase, front and rear track: 3100, 1510, 1470
Front and rear overhang: 1090, 1030
Engine position and drive: front longitudinal engine, rear drive
Engine: Maserati Indy V8 of 90°, 4931 cc/cm3, 320 HP at 5500 rpm
Source: unknown