02 Mar 05
Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Pininfarina has presented a concept called Birdcage 75th, based on the chassis of Maserati's MC12. An extreme sports prototype, it follows in the tradition of previous Maserati-Pininfarina collaborations, including the A6 GCS of 1954, as well as the legendary Birdcage Tipo 63 racer and other radical show cars such as the Ferrari Modulo of 1970. It is "a futuristic extension of the Maserati brand," says Pininfarina, "and at the same time it serves to reinforce the Tridente.s potent design heritage, and continues its grand tradition of advanced technology enveloped in sporting elegance."
Using the 700bhp-plus 6.0 V12 racing engine necessitated certain mechanical and aerodynamic demands, and determined the teardrop-style shape with tapering passenger cell. The engine can be seen through the transparent roof and cover, and as on the MC12 racing cars, the wheels - 20-inch up front and 22-inch at the rear - are fastened with a single central locking nut. The entire car is just one metre high; it is built around a carbonfibre and Nomex chassis with aluminium sections, with carbonfibre panels: most of its materials are said to be sustainably-sourced and recyclable.
Showcasing new LED headlight technology, the Birdcage's light housings are milled from a solid block of aluminium, and double as cooling ducts. The rear diffuser spoiler aids downforce, along with active panels which raise and lower at speed, revealing further cooling vents, and the LED taillights also incorporate air ducts. The cabin features a head-up display and Motorola-supplied telecommunications kit, plus an alcantara-upholstered sled-style seat. It is kitted out with a series of cameras to project images onto the head-up display, and communications functions such as internet access, paging and telephones are controlled via a centrally-mounted interface device. The complete car weighs around 1500kg and is finished with a full suspension system, Brembo brakes and a six-speed sequential-shift gearbox. It's unlikely, however, to become more than a show car or an advert for motorsport sponsors Motorola.
