Re: Winter 2014/15 | Page 98

Quattroporte The flagship of the Maserati product range, the globally acclaimed Maserati Quattroporte is spacious, nimble, luxurious and practica. Oh and very quick. With a 190mph top speed, it’s as fast as most two-door supercars. The sixth-generation Quattroporte not only sets a high-technology tone but also remains faithful to Maserati’s long history in luxury sports saloons. The powerful engine and large cabin at the core of the Quattroporte’s design, dominated by a long, powerful nose and a concave Trident grille, provide a clear link to the GranTurismo. The V8 twin turbo makes it not only the fastest four-door Maserati ever built but also the most powerful and most fuel efficient too. The direct-injection engine family boasts a 3.8-litre V8 and a 3.0-litre V6, twin turbo charged, designed by Maserati Powertrain and assembled by Ferrari at Maranello. The 3.8-litre V8 engine delivers 62mph in just 4.7 seconds and a pulse-racing 190mph top speed. It is faster than the Quattroporte Sport GTS, with up to 200Nm more torque as well. The V6 twin turbo doesn’t lack in performance though with a top speed of a mere 177mph. With an eight-speed automatic transmission and both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations (V6 only), it is also the most secure all-weather performance car in Maserati’s history. 98 The Quattroporte’s architecture ensures exquisite handling, thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution, a double-wishbone front suspension and a state-of-the-art five-link rear suspension. Quality is evidenced in every area, from design and development to fabrication and process controls. The production combines Maserati’s traditions of craftsmanship with cuttingedge technologies that guarantee outstanding quality by controlling even the tiniest details. Traditional hand-crafted detailing continues in the Quattroporte’s spacious cabin, which offers both four and fiveseat layouts. Technological luxuries include the Maserati Touch Control screen, reversing camera and the optional 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, as well as WLAN-based WiFi and compatibility with most modern mobile phone systems. With the original Quattroporte in 1963, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports saloon and the current model continues to be the benchmark for high-quality engineering, supercar performance and comfort. This kind of luxury comes with a price tag that could make your eyes water with the GTS model starting at £80,095 and the V8 at £108,160. If you see this distinctive Trident grille in your rearview mirror... get out of the way. By Jason Edge