· The Quattroporte has been around for seven years, with minor facelifts—something unusual for such a brand. Hence, when most up-market customers browse around for their luxury cars, about seventy percent overlook the Quattroporte, for S600s, 760Lis, A8 W12s, or even Panameras. Under the presence of upcoming competition, we come to see what makes the Quattroporte so good for Maserati to be able to keep up with the heat.
· Design & Engineering:
The Quattroporte has always been, and will always be a car fit for every occasion. It is a car respected at every hotel, club, bar, the streets of Paris, London, New York—even Shanghai. From the front, the Maserati crest rests proudly on the somewhat amused face of the vehicle, as the curves on the bonnet help to accentuate the power packed engine. Portholes on the side rest on top of the cursive chrome words: Pinifarina, the exclusive Italian designer responsible for the exterior of the car. Once again, the Maserati crest rests proudly on near the rear doors. At the rear, the lights seem to be a misfit, but nevertheless get their job done. The only items that hint towards the hidden power under the luxury cruiser are four chrome tipped exhausts at the rear, along with portholes on the sides…
· Interior
Just getting into the car is a pleasure as one feels the supple Poltrona Frau leather, wooden clad steering wheel, leather wrapped dash; the list goes on. Everything about the Italian car is oddly German to the touch, from the buttons, to the way the steering weights in the hands. Even when cruising at insanely high speeds, one will always feel comfortably settled into the well bolstered seats. Personally speaking, I dislike the ancient like steering wheel (not including the F1 style flappy paddles), the neon green colour the buttons turn into at night, along with the gawky colour screen. At the rear, luxury is endorsed to the next level with the help of the standard BOSE speakers, buttons on the air conditioning system, spacious legroom, and for instance, a button in the center armrest, which allows the front passenger seat to move forward. After a while, one starts to savour the attention to detail placed into the vehicle.
· Ride & Handling
The heart of the Quattroporte is a Ferrari derived 4.2 V8 engine, producing one of the most envious sounds around town. Mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, 0-100km/h takes a mere 5.6 seconds—mind you, the Quattroporte will sail towards 270km/h with ease. Out on the corners the four-wheel drive system kicks into place, allowing the Maserati to gobble up the corners smoothly. One would never imagine that a luxury barge mated to a Ferarri derived V8 engine would still possess a Sport button. Hit the Sport button, and a series of cogs change up, allowing a melodious Formula 1 sound to fly out of the four Tubi exhuaust.
· Verdict
Excellence through passion—almost.
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