Maserati
Birdcage 75th
The
Birdcage 75th is built on the carbon fiber chassis of a Maserati MC12 GT1 race
car and shares many components, most notably the engine. The Birdcage 75th is
powered by the Ferrari/Maserati F140 V12 engine from the MC12 and the Enzo, mid
mounted at 65°. The engine has been tuned for the Birdcage and as a result
produces around 700 brake horsepower.
The
car's body was designed by Pininfarina to celebrate the company's 75th
anniversary. A documentary called "Sleek Dreams" was filmed about the
six-month design process. The exterior is made of carbon fiber with diffusers
at the rear and two spoilers that automatically raise at speed. The windshield
is made of perspex and extends almost from the front to the back of the car;
this is a necessity because of the driver's low seated position—if the
windscreen ended higher, they would be unable to see the oncoming road. This
visibility problem is compounded by typical concept-car omissions like wing
mirrors.
The
Birdcage also lacks doors; instead, a bubble canopy composed of much of the
front bodywork can be raised, in a similar manner to the Bond Bug, Ferrari
Modulo and Saab's 2006 Aero X concept car. However, since the lone demonstrator
model lacks air-conditioning or any form of climate control, and the bubble
provides substantial 'glasshouse effect', journalists (including evo Magazine's
Harry Metcalfe) driving the vehicle were reportedly forced to keep the bubble
slightly open on hot days to cool the car's interior.
The
cabin has a head up display (HUD) which is projected on to a clear panel raised
in the centre of the dash. It shows information that would usually appear on
dashboard instruments, including the tachometer and speedometer. Also projected
is a digital image of Maserati's traditional analogue clock.
