Maserati Khamsin

Maserati Khamsin: which version to buy — **4.9 MT** or **4.9 AT

Between 1974 and 1982 the Maserati Khamsin existed as 1 generation, Coupe body, and 2 versions. Both are named in the catalogue as 4.9 MT and 4.9 AT. They share the same 4930 cm³ Gasoline engine, the same 320 hp / 235 kW at 5600 rpm, the same 402 Nm at 3000 rpm, the same RWD drive, and the same 140 mm ground clearance.

Between 1974 and 1982 the Maserati Khamsin existed as 1 generation, Coupe body, and 2 versions. Both are named in the catalogue as 4.9 MT and 4.9 AT. They share the same 4930 cm³ Gasoline engine, the same 320 hp / 235 kW at 5600 rpm, the same 402 Nm at 3000 rpm, the same RWD drive, and the same 140 mm ground clearance. The only measured difference that decides a purchase is the gearbox: Manual with 5 gears on 4.9 MT versus Automatic with 3 gears on 4.9 AT. Acceleration to 100 km/h, top speed, fuel consumption, kerb weight, gross weight, tank volume, and wheel sizes are not measured for either version, so a buyer cannot rank them on those figures.

Specs that both versions share (and what that means for the choice)

4.9 MT and 4.9 AT are not two engines. They are one engine with two transmissions.

Shared engine and chassis numbers:

Arithmetic on those shared numbers:

• Power per litre: 320 ÷ 4.930 = 64.9 hp/l (both versions).
• Torque per litre: 402 ÷ 4.930 = 81.5 Nm/l (both versions).
• Kilowatts per litre: 235 ÷ 4.930 = 47.7 kW/l (both versions).
• Horsepower per kilowatt: 320 ÷ 235 = 1.36 hp per kW (both versions).
• Peak torque arrives 2600 rpm earlier than peak power (5600 − 3000 = 2600).
• Displacement per cylinder: 4930 ÷ 8 = 616.25 cm³ per cylinder.
• Total valves: 8 × 2 = 16.
• Compression 9.5 with boost No and Carburetor is the same on both plates.

Because every engine figure is identical, there is no extra horsepower, no extra newton-metres, and no extra litres to “buy” by switching from 4.9 MT to 4.9 AT. The extra (or fewer) gears are the purchase.

Generations: what changed between generations — and what did not

There is 1 generation (catalogue key 3101), 1 generation, years 1974-01-01 to 1982-12-31, body Coupe, 2 versions. There is no second generation in the data, so there is no later engine, no later drive, and no later body to compare against. A buyer is not choosing “which generation”; the generation is fixed. Inside that generation both versions run the same production window: 1974-01-01 to 1982-12-31. Neither version is a late-run restyle with different power. Year of build does not separate 4.9 MT from 4.9 AT on the numbers given.

What a generation comparison would normally show (power jump, extra gears, a new drive) is therefore zero on this model: 1 generation, 0 later generations, 2 versions, 0 difference in hp, 0 difference in Nm, 0 difference in displacement, 0 difference in drive.

Engine: same 4930 cm³, same 320 hp — do not pick by power

Search queries about Khamsin engine size, horsepower, and V8 layout collapse to one answer for both catalogue names.

4.9 MT: 4930 cm³, Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Carburetor, 320 hp (235 kW) at 5600 rpm, 402 Nm at 3000 rpm.

4.9 AT: the same list, word for word and number for number.

If the buying question is “which has more power?”, the answer is neither: 320 − 320 = 0 hp. If the question is “which has more torque?”, 402 − 402 = 0 Nm. If the question is “which is the larger engine?”, 4930 − 4930 = 0 cm³. Power-per-litre ranking is likewise a tie at 64.9 hp/l.

The engine does not create a winner. It only sets the floor both cars stand on: 320 hp, 402 Nm, 4930 cm³, Gasoline, 8 / V-shaped, boost No.

Gearbox: the only measured difference — 5 vs 3, Manual vs Automatic

Arithmetic on the gearbox only:

• 4.9 MT has 5 − 3 = 2 more gears than 4.9 AT.
• 4.9 AT has 3 / 5 = 0.6 of the gear count of 4.9 MT (60%).
• 4.9 MT has 5 / 3 ≈ 1.67 times as many gears as 4.9 AT.
• Both keep RWD; there is no AWD or FWD variant in the data to pay extra for.

That is the whole measured split. 4.9 MT is the version to buy if the buyer wants the Manual with 5 gears attached to 320 hp and 402 Nm. 4.9 AT is the version to buy if the buyer wants the Automatic with 3 gears attached to the same 320 hp and 402 Nm.

There is no third gearbox, no fourth version, and no mixed name (no “4.9 MT” with Automatic, no “4.9 AT” with Manual). The suffix MT / AT in the catalogue names matches the English labels Manual / Automatic.

Performance and economy (mpg, 0–100, top speed): not measured on either plate

For 4.9 MT: 0–100 km/h not measured; top speed not measured; city consumption not measured; highway consumption not measured; combined consumption not measured; CO₂ not measured; eco class not measured.

For 4.9 AT: the same five performance/economy fields are not measured.

A buyer cannot say 4.9 MT is quicker, slower, thirstier, or cleaner than 4.9 AT from this catalogue. The extra 2 gears on 4.9 MT are a count, not a timed sprint and not an mpg figure. Any claim that one version “must” use less fuel because it has 5 gears instead of 3 is not a number from the data. The honest ranking on performance and economy is a tie: both not measured.

Fuel grade is measured and identical: 95 on 4.9 MT and 95 on 4.9 AT. That does not separate the purchase either.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels: what is measured and what is not

Ground clearance is the only dimension given for both versions: 140 mm on 4.9 MT, 140 mm on 4.9 AT. Difference: 140 − 140 = 0 mm. Ride height does not pick a winner.

Not measured on 4.9 MT and 4.9 AT alike:

• kerb weight — not measured (so kg per horsepower cannot be calculated: there is no mass to divide by 320 hp);
• gross weight — not measured;
• tank volume — not measured;
• wheel sizes — not measured.

Front suspension is Independent, spring on both. Rear suspension is not measured on both. Front brakes are Ventilated disc on both. Rear brakes are not measured on both.

Without kerb weight there is no “weight per horsepower” ranking. Without tank volume there is no range ranking. Without wheel sizes there is no tyre-package ranking. The chassis numbers that exist do not split the two versions.

Which version to choose: a decision that uses only the given numbers

Choose 4.9 MT when the buyer wants:

• Manual gearbox;
• 5 gears (2 more than 4.9 AT);
• the same 320 hp, 235 kW, 402 Nm, 4930 cm³, Gasoline, 8 cylinders V-shaped, boost No, Carburetor, RWD, 140 mm clearance as the other car.

Choose 4.9 AT when the buyer wants:

• Automatic gearbox;
• 3 gears (2 fewer than 4.9 MT; 60% of the 5-speed count);
• the same engine and drive figures listed above.

Do not choose by generation. There is 1 generation (1974–1982, Coupe, 2 versions). Nothing later in the data adds power, gears, or a different body.

Do not choose by horsepower, torque, or litres. 320 hp, 402 Nm, and 4930 cm³ are equal. Specific output is 64.9 hp/l on both. Peak torque at 3000 rpm versus peak power at 5600 rpm is the same spread (2600 rpm) on both.

Do not choose by 0–100, top speed, or mpg. Those fields are not measured for 4.9 MT and not measured for 4.9 AT.

Do not choose by weight, tank, or wheels. Kerb weight, gross weight, tank, and wheel sizes are not measured on both, so there is no kg/hp figure and no “what the extra money buys” in kilograms or litres of fuel. Catalogue data here do not include prices; the only “extra” that can be counted is gears: +2 gears on 4.9 MT, −2 gears on 4.9 AT, 0 extra hp.

If two cars with the same catalogue name appear, they would still be distinguished by power — but on this model the two names are already different (4.9 MT vs 4.9 AT) and power is the same 320 hp, so the name plus gearbox label is enough.

Short close: the Maserati Khamsin buying question in this catalogue is not “which engine” and not “which generation”. It is 5-speed Manual (4.9 MT) versus 3-speed Automatic (4.9 AT) on one 4930 cm³, 320 hp, 402 Nm, RWD Coupe built as 1 generation from 1974 to 1982. Everything else that would normally break a tie is not measured.