The 2000 Maserati Buran by ItalDesign represents an experimental and luxurious concept car developed to embody Maserati's prestige and elegance. The large all-wheel-drive Buran, standing nearly 5 meters in length, presented a distinctive look with sliding rear doors for easy access to its sophisticated interior.
Powered by a 3217 cc, 370 hp V8 engine with permanent four-wheel drive, the Buran showcased a hatchback limousine configuration inspired by studies of the New York Taxi and the Megagamma. The interior, designed for optimal comfort during racing or cruising, featured lavish materials, drawing a parallel to Rolls-Royce cars.
Despite being considered too heavy for the dynamic Maserati profile, the Buran's interior luxury, trimmed with expensive materials, rivaled that of Rolls-Royce. The concept car's spacious interior, equipped with sliding rear doors, could easily accommodate a third row of seats, making it exceptionally roomy.
The Buran concept car marked an intriguing departure for Maserati, showcasing bold experimentation in design and interior luxury. It was built in the California studio of ItalDesign, emphasizing the collaborative effort between Maserati and the design company. While it didn't define Maserati's future direction, the Buran remained a noteworthy and ambiguous experiment, standing as one of Maserati's last truly bold ventures before the introduction of the Kubang conceptual crossover in 2003.
Source: Alexey Olefirenko - motor.ru;“THE GREAT MIGRATION” - Newspaper AUTOREVYU, No. 05-2000 :www.italdesign.it
Images: ItalDesign
