Maserati Inc. - The 2013
Maserati Quattroporte performs with some of the verve of a sports car, and aims
to make new converts from those who drive stodgy luxury cars.
The
Quattroporte--the name means "four doors" in Italian--pairs a roomy
interior and nice proportions with a sleek shape penned by the design house
Pininfarina. By design, the Quattroporte is arguably more coupe-like than any
other four-door--even in these days of seemingly countless four-door coupes.
Its
silhouette is recognizable from a distance, and even piecemeal, many of the
details like its shark-like front end, aggressively raked windshield and
smoothly sculpted roofline all look directly borrowed from a grand-touring
sports car.
The elegant tail is a welcome contrast in a world of
rising-beltline sedans, and it accentuates the long-and-low elegance.
The
Quattroporte's interior stands out from the luxury-car norm as well, with a
richness that's simply lacking in all the German alternatives, with fine detail
work, real wood veneers, soft, lightly processed leather upholstery, and
leather piping. Additionally, doors open with a softened electric assist.
The phrase
"four-door sports car" has been used elsewhere in the market, but it
really applies here. From the driver's seat, the Quattroporte feels dynamic and
engaging, and much more like a four-door sports car than a luxury cruiser, or
even than a well-honed German sport sedan, and even though the QP has four real
doors it tends to meet sporty coupes halfway in the game of compromise. Quattroporte
Sport models get a 434-horsepower, 4.7-liter Ferrari-derived V-8, while the
Quattroporte Sport GT S model gets a 444-hp version.
The GT S posts an official 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 178 mph. In either case, the engine sounds and revs like exotic sports-car material, loping along at idle but sounding a bit savage at the low and mid revs, then hitting a smooth sonorous high at 7,500 rpm. We recommend the Skyhook air suspension, as it tends to make the car feel just as buttoned-down while greatly improving ride comfort.
The GT S posts an official 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 178 mph. In either case, the engine sounds and revs like exotic sports-car material, loping along at idle but sounding a bit savage at the low and mid revs, then hitting a smooth sonorous high at 7,500 rpm. We recommend the Skyhook air suspension, as it tends to make the car feel just as buttoned-down while greatly improving ride comfort.
In addition to very limited trunk space and tight back-seat space, there are
some cabin materials and fits that may be below the standard for a $140k+
vehicle, although with build-to-order options and boutique-level service those
are really minor quibbles.
With a wide
range of options and features, including upholstery finishes, colors, and trim,
it's quite easy to drive the Quattroporte's price much higher. Key differences
in the Sport GT S model include Trofeo Design "Active Shifting"
paddles, a more aggressive program for the transmission, a sport suspension,
special Poltrona Frau leather with Alcantara (faux-suede) inserts, and a sport
exhaust that sounds even better.
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