Maserati Birdcage.

                                              Maserati Birdcage. 

The Maserati Birdcage 75th was a concept car created and designed by a Pininfarina design team led by Lowie Vermeersch, including Jason Castriota and Giuseppe Randazzo under the direction of Ken Okuyama. It was first introduced at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show.
The Birdcage 75th featured a large curving transparent screen this was another deliberate echo of the original where much of the complex lattice of tubes which made up the chassis were visible through a long low screen. Pininfarina chose to keep the mechanicals of the concept car  from the pushrod suspension to the 6-liter V12 engine on show.

Based on the chassis of the Maserati MC12, the goal of the Birdcage 75 is to stretch the boundaries of design and techniques. For example, the Birdcage 75 was built as a single object, instead of a sequence of parts and was designed to convey a futuristic representation of sultry lines and power. To that end, the concept features Maserati’s 700-horsepower V12 engine tucked into a teardrop shell with a “floating” center that is purposely uncluttered and smooth, a streamlined design intended to facilitate air flow, and, as a result, speed. The wheels are 20 inches up front ,22 inches in back and the chassis is made of carbon fiber.
The interior of the vehicle plays an important role in the visual impact and historic ties to Maserati. True to the concept of the car, the interior is an extension of the car itself, seamlessly integrated in the carbon fibre chassis.

Glancing through the canopy, one can see the large carbon fibre structure of the nose section, which tapers rearward to embrace the passenger cell. Inserted into the cell is an independent passenger sled partially upholstered with Alcantara and the suspended head up display that doubles as the IP. It is here at the centre of the car that we see how the car brings together two worlds: the future oriented technology of Motorola combined with the pure and sometimes raw race DNA and heritage of Maserati.

The floating central cell is seamlessly divided into two halves, the upper portion being transparent, and the lower portion serving as a structural aerodynamic skirt. The large transparent area of the upper surface not only grants its occupants outstanding visibility, but allows all of the Maserati mechanicals, from its pushrod suspension to the beautifully crafted carbon fibre inlet trumpets of its V12 engine to be showcased and appreciated.

the exterior surfaces are kept as low and uncluttered as possible only to ebb and flow into the four independently pronounced fenders which house the massive alloy wheels. The alloy wheels, which measure an impressive 20" (front) and 22" (rear) in diameter respectively, are specifically designed to recall the Tridente's logo, and as on the racing cars, are attached via a single center locking wheel nut. The low undulating exterior has a natural but purposeful fluidity, appearing as if mercury was merely poured over the mechanics. The result is a powerful yet elegant form which, at a mere meter tall, gives the impression of movement even at a standstill.

The showcase of Pininfarina's design capabilities and Maserati-Ferrari's almost overwhelming potential for performance, electronics powerhouse Motorola has integrated its Seamless Mobility technology, allowing the Birdcage 75th full Internet access, and more.