2017 Maserati Quattroporte Debuts,
PLAYS CATCH-UP WITH MORE LUXURY, MORE TECH
CARS
THE ITALIAN S-CLASS ALTERNATIVE ATTEMPTS TO RIGHT SOME
Despite being a key element in Maserati’s recent global sales
growth, the current, sixth-generation Maserati Quattroporte
sedan was decidedly behind the curve when it debuted in
2013. It lagged German competitors in available technology, and its interior borrowed a few too many obvious bits of
Chrysler switchgear for a six-figure Italian luxury car. Maserati is attempting to right these wrongs with an update for the
2017 model year.
The most obvious exterior change is a reshaped,
concave grille rather than the previous convex design. It
matches better the grille of the new Maserati Levante SUV,
while a bit of extra chrome trim gives the Quattroporte a
slightly richer look. Reshaped bumpers, along with new automatic grille shutters, purportedly reduce aerodynamic drag by
10 percent, while other changes to the side skirts and mirrors
are barely noticeable.
More important are the upgrades to the Quattroporte’s interior. The central touchscreen measures the same
8.4 inches as before, but it uses a newer version of the socalled “Maserati Touch Control Plus” interface and incorporates a new central control knob positioned behind the shifter.
Yes, MTC Plus is still a lightly disguised version of Chrysler’s
Uconnect system, but at least it now offers Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto connectivity. The climate-control buttons
also are revised and appear more logical than before, and the
center console is rearranged and incorporates a new storage
compartment meant to accommodate a smartphone.
The only active-safety features offered on the old
Quattroporte were blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert—not exactly cutting-edge when the newest Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7-series models can practically drive themselves when properly equipped. Maserati is
finally catching up to the herd with a new Advanced Driver As
sistance package that includes active cruise control,
lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning with
automated emergency braking. There’s also an available
360-degree surround-view camera system.
We didn’t have many complaints about the Quattroporte’s engines, so we’re not perturbed that the car’s V-6
and V-8 powertrains are unchanged. In the U.S., we’ll continue to get three models: the rear-wheel-drive S with a 404hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6; the S Q4 with the same engine
and all-wheel drive; and the GTS with rear-wheel drive and
a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine making 523 horsepower. As
before, an eight-speed ZF automatic is standard across the
range.
More choice is always better for discerning luxury
customers, so Maserati is introducing two new trim levels
for the revised Quattroporte: GranLusso and GranSport.
The luxury-oriented GranLusso (pictured in blue) incorporates a chrome-heavy exterior and a richer interior with Ermenegildo Zegna silk fabric inserts and open-pore Radica
wood for the dash. Options include four-zone climate control, heated rear seats, and an electric rear sunshade. The
more-aggressive-looking GranSport trim (pictured in white)
brings 21-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and black exterior
elements, along with piano-black trim for the interior and a
restyled steering wheel that’s trimmed in either carbon fiber
or leather.
GranLusso and GranSport trims are optional on the
S and the S Q4, while Quattroporte GTS buyers can choose
either of the two trim levels as standard. The updated Quattroporte will go on sale this month, although Maserati has
not yet announced prices. These may rise a bit compared
with those for the outgoing Quattroporte.
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