Maserati 228

The Maserati 228 was sold in one generation (1986–1992) with two 2.8 MT versions. This piece compares those two cars on the numbers we have, so you can pick one without a second overview.

The catalogue lists one generation of the Maserati 228 Coupe, built from 1986-01-01 to 1992-12-31, and two versions that share the exact name 2.8 MT. They are not the same car. Distinguish them by power: 2.8 MT 225 hp and 2.8 MT 250 hp. Both are Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 3 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), Manual, 5 speeds, RWD.

The Maserati 228 was sold in one generation (1986–1992) with two 2.8 MT versions. This piece compares those two cars on the numbers we have, so you can pick one without a second overview.

# Which Maserati 228 version to buy

The catalogue lists one generation of the Maserati 228 Coupe, built from 1986-01-01 to 1992-12-31, and two versions that share the exact name 2.8 MT. They are not the same car. Distinguish them by power: 2.8 MT 225 hp and 2.8 MT 250 hp. Both are Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 3 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), Manual, 5 speeds, RWD. Both use 2790 cm³, both quote 5.8 s to 100 km/h and 235 km/h, both weigh 1240 kg kerb / 1800 kg gross, both carry an 82 L tank, and both list the same fuel figures. The buy decision is therefore about the 25 hp, 19 kW, 3 Nm, Turbo versus No, compression 7.4 versus 7.7, and peak-power rpm 5500 versus 6000 — not about body, gearbox, or generation.

There is no second generation to compare. If a listing says “later 228,” it is still this 1 generation window.

Specs that actually differ between the two 2.8 MT cars

Fuel grade in the data is 95 for both. Wheel sizes are not measured for both. CO2 and eco class are not measured for both. Engine position is not measured for both.

What the extra 25 hp buys (arithmetic on the given numbers)

2.8 MT 250 hp makes 25 hp more than 2.8 MT 225 hp (250 − 225). That is 11.1% more peak power on the same 2790 cm³ (25 / 225). In kilowatts the gap is 19 kW (184 − 165).

Torque barely moves: 373 Nm versus 370 Nm, a 3 Nm difference (0.8%). Both peaks are at 3500 rpm. If you buy the 250 hp car expecting a much fatter mid-range on paper, the data do not show it. The extra output is almost all at the top of the tachometer: peak power at 6000 rpm versus 5500 rpm.

Specific output:

• 2.8 MT 225 hp: 225 / 2.790 ≈ 80.6 hp per litre
• 2.8 MT 250 hp: 250 / 2.790 ≈ 89.6 hp per litre

The Turbo version extracts about 9 hp more per litre from the same displacement.

Power-to-weight (kerb 1240 kg on both):

• 2.8 MT 225 hp: 1240 / 225 ≈ 5.51 kg per hp
• 2.8 MT 250 hp: 1240 / 250 ≈ 4.96 kg per hp

That is 0.55 kg/hp less mass per horsepower on the Turbo car — about 10% better on this ratio — because the kerb figure does not change in the data.

Gross mass is 1800 kg on both, so payload by subtraction is 1800 − 1240 = 560 kg on both versions. Ground clearance is 135 mm on both. Tank is 82 L on both.

Compression: 7.7 on 2.8 MT 250 hp versus 7.4 on 2.8 MT 225 hp (+0.3). Both remain low-compression figures next to the same 94 × 67 mm bore and stroke. Boost is the labelled split: No on 225 hp, Turbo on 250 hp.

We do not have prices. “What the extra money buys” cannot be a currency answer. On the spec sheet, the extra 25 hp buys Turbo, +19 kW, +3 Nm, +0.3 compression, and a 500 rpm higher power peak — not a different gearbox, drive, body, tank, or claimed sprint.

Performance and mpg: the numbers that do not separate the versions

0–100 km/h is 5.8 s for 2.8 MT 225 hp and 5.8 s for 2.8 MT 250 hp. Top speed is 235 km/h for both. The catalogue does not give a quicker sprint or a higher Vmax for the Turbo car.

Fuel:

• City: 18.2 L/100 km both
• Highway: 9.2 L/100 km both
• Combined: 11.8 L/100 km both

Range on the combined figure and 82 L tank, if you treat combined as a constant: 82 / 11.8 × 100 ≈ 695 km on both. City-only: 82 / 18.2 × 100 ≈ 451 km. Highway-only: 82 / 9.2 × 100 ≈ 891 km. Those distances are the same whichever 2.8 MT you pick, because consumption and tank do not change in the data.

CO2: not measured (both). Eco class: not measured (both). Do not infer a cleaner Turbo or a dirtier naturally aspirated car from this file.

If a seller argues the 250 hp car is “much faster” using only these sheets, the 0–100 and top-speed rows contradict that. The measured difference is peak power and boost label, not the acceleration and economy lines.

Dimensions, weight, chassis: identical in the data

Kerb 1240 kg, gross 1800 kg, clearance 135 mm, tank 82 L, wheels not measured — all shared.

Suspension: Independent, spring front and Independent, spring rear on both. Brakes: Ventilated disc front, Disc rear on both (rear label as in the data). Manual 5, RWD, Coupe — both.

You cannot choose a “lighter 228,” a “higher 228,” or a “bigger tank 228” inside this model. Those fields do not split.

Generations: there is only one, so generation is not a filter

1 generation, 1986-01-01 to 1992-12-31, Coupe, 2 versions. Production years of both 2.8 MT rows are the same dates. There is no restyling generation in the data and no second body.

Choosing “an early 228” versus “a late 228” is not a generation choice here. Both versions are dated across the full window. Year of a particular car is not in these rows; only the generation span is.

Which version to choose

Choose 2.8 MT 225 hp (No boost) if you want the lower-stressed peak (225 hp / 165 kW at 5500 rpm, 370 Nm at 3500, compression 7.4) and you do not need the Turbo label. You give up 25 hp and 19 kW. You do not give up claimed 5.8 s, 235 km/h, 11.8 L/100 km combined, 1240 kg, or RWD Manual 5. Specific output is about 80.6 hp/L and mass/power about 5.51 kg/hp.

Choose 2.8 MT 250 hp (Turbo) if the point of the car is the higher peak: 250 hp / 184 kW at 6000 rpm, 373 Nm at 3500, compression 7.7, Turbo. You gain 25 hp, 9 hp/L, and 0.55 kg/hp on the power-to-weight ratio. You do not gain a better 0–100, a higher top speed, or lower L/100 km in this dataset. Torque is only 3 Nm higher.

Do not choose on mpg, tank, weight, clearance, or gearbox — those fields match. Do not choose on generation — there is one. Do not choose on wheels, CO2, eco class, or engine position — those are not measured.

Practical reading of the two 2.8 MT names: same displacement 2790, same 6 V-shaped, same 3 valves, same Distributed injection (multi-point), same Gasoline 95, same chassis numbers. The buy fork is Turbo versus No, 250 versus 225 hp. If a classified ad writes only “2.8 MT,” ask which power figure it is; the name alone does not identify the car.

Problems and reliability are not measured in this file. Any claim about which 228 lasts longer is outside these numbers.

Specs recap for a listing check

When you compare two cars both titled 2.8 MT:

1. Power must be 225 hp (165 kW @ 5500) or 250 hp (184 kW @ 6000). 2. Boost must be No or Turbo to match that split. 3. Torque should be 370 or 373 Nm, both @ 3500. 4. Compression 7.4 versus 7.7. 5. Everything else in the table above should match: 2790, Gasoline, 6 V-shaped, 3 valves, Manual 5, RWD, 5.8 s, 235 km/h, 18.2 / 9.2 / 11.8, 82 L, 1240 / 1800 kg, 135 mm.

If a car named 2.8 MT disagrees on those shared fields, it does not match this catalogue row.

That is the whole choice set for the Maserati 228 in these data: two 2.8 MT versions, 25 hp and a Turbo label apart, one Coupe generation from 1986-01-01 to 1992-12-31.