Announced today by Maserati AU the Quattroporte which has always been the grand daddy bread earning luxurious grand tourer in the Maserati line-up has been updated to keep it with the times. The new model brings a host of new minor technology changes along with a little styling refining from Italian styling house Pininfarina to boot.
The exterior has not been played with too much by fitting a new grille with vertical chrome inserts (Black on the Sport GT model) proudly supporting the Maserati three pronged badge and slightly reshaped side skirts and bumpers. Front and rear LED lights have been designed in now, which seems to be the current car design ‘fashion’ across most prestige brands.
Still un-ashamingly smart
On the interior they have redesigned the center console with the addition of a new Maserati Multimedia system with improved satellite navigation features and of course supporting connection to you favourite portable music player and Bluetooth connection to your favourite mobile. Lastly the seats have been given a going over to try and provide both a bit more support and comfort; these can now be opted in two new shades of leather, Marrone Corniola and Sabbia, lovely.
Lashings of wood for the Executive spec, Carbon fibre for the GT spec
The engine for the new model comes in two flavours, Automatic or DuoSelect, this is actually the gearbox type that comes with the car and the colour of the cylinder heads of the engine, Blue for Automatic and Red for the DuoSelect shows the version fitted. Both versions are a V8 outputting 298 Kw (400 HP) of power at 7000 rpm and 460 Nm of torque at a not overly low 4250 rpm.
The automatic box gives a smoother driving style whilst the Red headed DuoSelect uses a clutchless gear system derived from Maserati’s successful track cars. Performance of this 2 ton heavy tourer comes in at a 0-100 kph time of 5.7 seconds approx, not exactly fast by today’s standards. If it’s a fast Maserati you’re after then your eyes, and lead weighted foot should be looking at the gorgeous GranTurismo S model.
The V8’s Red cam covers showing the DuoSelect version
To further complicate your buying decisions once you have chosen between Automatic or DuoSelect gearboxes there is a further Executive spec giving increased levels of driver and passenger comfort all round and a Sport GT spec that fits carbon fibre parts to the interior, larger 20″ wheels, sports setup suspension and cross-drilled brakes.
On the safety side, the front airbags are now of the more advanced two-stage type and there are 6 curtain airbags fitted all round for front and back passengers.
The new model is tipped to be released in spring but by the time it reaches our Australian shores, will likely be next year before you can get your mitts on one.
Source Maserati AU