MoneywebDRIVE: Driving
FeatureImpressions
The engine is a three-litre V6,
turbocharged as all diesels are
these days. From Maserati’s perspective, its Active Sound system gives an “emotional sound
signature” to the diesel mill. Two
sound activators, fitted near the
tailpipes are said to accentuate the engines most distinctive
tones, modulating them accord-
ing to the way the car is driven.
Hmmm…
A diesel is a diesel and that
means it has lots of torque, or
grunt if you like, when punching the throttle, but as diesels
rarely manage to rev beyond
5 000rpm they tend to run out
of steam at about 4 000. Such
is the case of this twin-turbo
V6 unit, but the way the eightspeed ZF gearbox manages all
this is quite impressive.
Drive, as the slots are not clearly defined and you spend some
time fishing to engage the right
direction of motion.
What I didn’t like about the
gearbox is the rather fiddly activation when manoeuvring the
car at parking speeds, going
from Park to Reverse and then
As this car was specced as a
“fleet” example, it has electric
actuation for the seat squab,
but a manual adjustment for the
backrests up front. The steering
Tail lights are good looking, not something all stylists achieve these days. Maserati spend
14
many hours giving the diesel engine an emotional exhaust note and the grille, badge and
Trident logo caused lots of oohs and aahs in our neighbourhood