The Maserati engine of the SM
The Maserati engine of the SM or an Italian heart in a French dress
The takeover of Maserati by Citroën enabled it to quickly and inexpensively have an engine that finally allowed it to exploit all the possibilities offered by the excellent road holding of Citroën models.
It is a super square 90° V-shaped 6-cylinder with 2 overhead camshafts per cylinder bank (type C114-1). Its engine capacity was voluntarily limited to 2670 cm3 to stay within the limit of 15 fiscal hp (Remember that cars with 16 fiscal hp and more were then heavily penalized, vignettes, super vignettes of 10,000 francs, etc.).
This engine block, in light alloy, is very compact (31cm long) and light (140kg only).
Power is supplied by 3 double-barrel Weber 42 DCNF2 carburettors. The power delivered is 170 bhp DIN at 5500 rpm.
On June 10, 1972, the release of a new version equipped with electronic injection was announced.
Citroën had indeed been the first with Porsche, in September 1969, to offer for sale a car equipped with electronic injection, the DS 21. It is this system that Citroën adapted with the help of Bosch to the Maserati engine. , increasing its power from 170 hp to 178 hp and the top speed from 220 km/h to 228 km/h.
In reality, the SM will gain above all in flexibility and ease of cold starting. The Maserati engine, in its electronic injection configuration, bears the number C114-03.
And the car is now shod with wider tires (205X15).
In the automatic version, the SM adopts a larger displacement engine (2965 cm3), still powered by three Weber carburettors.
This engine, type C114–1130, has a power of 180 hp at 5750 rpm and a torque much higher than that of 2.7 liters. This version, initially reserved for the American market, was offered in Europe from October 1972, under the SB mine type, SD series.
The V6 Maserati brings to the SM power, flexibility and noise that will be assets appreciated by customers.
