Following Maserati's tradition it was named after a wind: the Khamsin, a hot, violent gust blowing in the Egyptian desert for fifty days a year.

[1] The Khamsin was developed under Citroën's ownership for a clientele that demanded a front-engined grand tourer on the lines of the previous Ghibli, a more conventional proposition than the mid-engined Bora.

Despite the many improvements over its predecessor, the Khamsin did not replicate its success, partly due to the ongoing fuel crisis that reduced demand for cars with large displacement engines.

Design features such as the wedge body, glazed tail panel and the location of the fuel filler cap all carry Gandini's signature.

[2] The front-mid mounted engine gave the car a 50/50 weight distribution; it was pushed so far back towards the firewall that the full size spare tyre could be stored beneath the radiator in front of it, thus freeing up space in the boot.

Power was routed to the rear wheels through a 5-speed, all synchromesh ZF manual gearbox with a single-plate dry clutch; a 3-speed Borg Warner automatic transmission was also available on request.

An adjustable steering column (an innovative feature at the time), air conditioning, electric windows, a radio and full leather upholstery were standard.

At high speeds (approximately 80 mph/130 kmh in the Citroën SM) the centring force is at maximum, which makes the steering wheel very strongly resistant to being turned by the driver ("stiff").

[13] One Khamsin (chassis 1142) was professionally converted to a T-Top by Hurst Hatches on behalf of Bob Grossmann, the US west coast distributor of Maserati Automobiles in California.

[16] Khamsin models destined for the United States were subject to significant design alterations to comply with newly enacted legislation with respect to bumper height/strength and placement of tail lights.

Maserati and Bertone designer Marcello Gandini strongly objected to the NHTSA's decision prohibiting tail light assembly fitment in the rear vertical glass panel.

After a lengthy and unfruitful appeal process, Maserati ultimately capitulated to obtain federalization of the Khamsin and introduce it to their most vital export market.

The engine received revisions as well, gaining smog control equipment (air injection, thermal reactors in the exhaust manifolds, different carburettors and leaner fuel mixture) reducing its power output by 5 hp.