MASERATI is enjoying a 21st Century renaissance with its latest Quattroporte range. Artistic, poetic and finely sculptured with Italian engineering, the Quattroporte is the embodiment of a Michelangelo masterpiece.
It's probably the most stylish grand tourer Maserati has ever made, and with a comfortable cabin spacious enough for four adults, it is one of the most practical – whisking its occupants and luggage to their destination with grace and pace to the soundtrack of the superb all-alloy, quad-cam, 32-valve 4.2-litre V8 engine.
Maserati has come a long way since my last experience when I described the car as a 'Fiat in an expensive overcoat'. It wasn't that bad, but it was let down by some Stiloesque trim, ie sunvisors.
Well you won't be disappointed in the new Quattroporte, I guarantee. Available are the far-from-basic Quattroporte, Executive GT (luxurious) and the Sport GT (sportiest). And, with the creation of an all-new six-speed automatic transmission, in contrast to the same-cost six-speed manual DuoSelect version, new Quattroporte gives discerning drivers more flexibility with their driving style.
Automatic and DuoSelect transmissions are available in each model. Both types, although sharing elements of each other, are quite different with the placement of the engine, gearbox and weight distribution – which slightly favours the rear for better handling.
Driving the engaging Sport GT DuoSelect with its Formula One-derived technology, I was totally bowled over by its sheer power and handling. It is a racing car at heart and the acceleration is almost sickening. I was able to take the car to 140mph in less than a mile – and stop before the tarmac ran out. With a racing driver at my side telling me when to change gear (7,200rpm) and when to stop, my heart was in my mouth.
Putting my foot on the brake the car effortlessly stops within what seems like just a few yards, without the nose dipping or the wheels screeching. The stopping power is phenomenal – like a small jet coming in to land. The roar of the engine and the smell of burning breakpads is something to savour.
Being a passenger during a hair-raising ride with former Ferrari F1 driver Ivan Capelli (director of Maserati's Master GT driving course) proved this car is more than a match for any genuine racing driver or track-day enthusiast.
However it was the Executive GT Automatic – il Divino – I was truly smitten with. This car is equally at home on the open road and the race track and, like the DuoSelect, acceleration is awesome with a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds. Surely this is encroaching on supercar territory.
Maserati has opened up the grand touring market to more drivers with this Automatic option. You still have your sportscar-cum-luxury saloon but with less effort than with the DuoSelect (which you operate with F1-style paddles on the steering wheel). However, the fact that it is a luxury saloon means your friends can come along for the ride.
And what a fantastic ride it is. I cannot emphasise how comfortable this car is and how superbly it handles. You could really believe this car is on rails, which is probably why Maserati has named its suspension technology 'Skyhook'.
Named like technology of the future, Skyhook constantly monitors the surface of the road and electronically adjusts the dampers to suit. You can choose sports or comfort settings to match the situation, but whichever you choose puts the car on an invisible cushion of air (how I would describe it), which is perfectly balanced in corners and particularly when braking.
Few luxury saloons can compare themselves to this style of driving – unless you're paying a whole lot more money. One minute you're a racing driver, the next you're chauffeuring friends or family across Europe for hundreds of miles.
Nouveau-classique looks and race car technology aside, Maserati's attention to detail is second to none. Inside the spacious cabin you will find all the limousine comforts imaginable and all perfectly placed and exquisitely detailed.
Maserati knows that what is happening on the outside must reflect what is going on inside – and vice-versa. And the interior refinement perfectly complements the style and finish of the bodywork – like a finely stitched Armani suit with a pure silk lining.
From the gorgeous hide trim to the walnut dashboard and chrome switchgear, the package is flawless. There are more colours and trim options than you can shake linguine at. I particularly like the orange and black trim, which probably has a fancy name like 'pumpkin and dark chocolate'. Everything – from stitching to switchgear, bezels to brake-pedal and glass to gloss – is unique to the Modenisi marque.
Maserati has done Italy proud with this latest model. It offers the best of both worlds, whether you favour the fast lane or savour a Sunday saunter – or both.
If owning the car is simply not enough for you, there's a host of exclusive accessories and branded goods with equal attention to detail and refinement, available through your local Maserati dealership or online, not to mention the superb driving courses and customer events.
With Maserati la dolce vita!
MASERATI Quattroporte
V8 Auto (same cost DuoSelect)
Top speed: 167mph
0-62mph: 5.6 seconds
Max power: 400 bhp at 7,000 rpm
Max torque: 460 Nm at 4,250 rpm
Combined economy: 19.2 mpg
CO2 emissions: 345 g/km
£77,090 Quattroporte
£83,290 Sport GT
£85,990 Executive GT
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