Updates bring Italian sedan up to speed
The Maserati Quattroporte is the Italian brand’s top sedan and it gets looks everywhere it goes, but with so many heavy hitters in this segment, is it good enough?
The previous model was lacking a few important features, but this new Quattroporte gets some big updates that help bring it up to speed (not literally, because it’s already pretty quick), giving it more tech and convenience to go with its speed and style.
But the main reason anyone gets a Maserati is the powertrain, and the Italian automaker upped the ante there, too. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 makes 424 ponies and can be paired with Maserati’s allwheel-drive system, otherwise, the power is sent to the rear wheels. There’s also a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 that makes 523 horsepower, which is only offered with a rear-wheel-drive setup.The engines, designed and manufactured by Ferrari, are the centrepiece of the Quattroporte, with the eight-cylinder allowing for a 4.7-second sprint to highway speeds, and a top speed in excess of 305 kilometres/hour. The all-wheeldrive 424-horsepower six-cylinder model is also plenty quick, doing the sprint in 4.8 seconds and managing a top speed of nearly 289 km/h.
VRROOOOOMM
The speed and power are one thing, but the noise is another, and it’s something that’s hard to describe in words. If your outof-office automatic email replies had a noise to go along with it, the Maserati exhaust note would be the perfect fit. It’s like an exclamation mark or a mic-drop. Simply put, it’s the perfect noise to leave behind as you depart in a fashionably fast manner.
Every gear change is accompanied by even more perfect noise, and the same goes with every prod of the gas pedal or any stretch through the rev range. It’s so hard to find this kind of soundtrack in the automotive landscape, and when you get it, it becomes intoxicating and addictive. If there had to be a single reason to buy a V8 Quattroporte or any Maserati, it should be the noise it makes.
Big car with sporty hopes
Weighing just under 1,905 kilograms, this big car needs some fancy tech and advanced materials to help it feel light on its feet. There’s a lot of aluminum to be found: the doors, the hood, the front quarter panels and the trunk lid are all made of the lightweight metal. The suspension also uses aluminum, but the real treat is the fancy name: Skyhook, which is continuously adjusting the ride for optimum comfort or sportiness when the suspension button is pressed. Maserati says that pressing the Sport button unleashes the sporty side of the car (which is the main reason to get a Maserati) and limits body roll. In reality, it toed the line between being engaging and isolated. It’s hard to say it was fun to handle on twisty mountain roads, but it certainly wasn’t the most disconnected experience.
Highway assist
Having tested both the V8 and the all-wheel-drive V6 models of the car, it’s clear that both demonstrate smooth, confident acceleration and won’t leave you hoping for more speed. It sops up highway kilometres like a Roomba handles a messy tiled floor. A highway assist function combines features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blindspot monitoring. It will maintain a set distance with the car in front of it, navigate moderate turns and will even prevent the driver from changing lanes into another vehicle.
Interior
The premium touches continue inside, especially if you get a GranLusso model with the Ermenegildo Zegna Silk interior and the Radica open-pore wood dash. It’s so wonderfully unique and exclusive to Maserati, and worth pointing out every time anyone gets in the car. I’ll admit, the texture and feel of the Zegna Silk trim is enticing, but beyond that, the car has a very classy layout with soft, luxuri- ous tanned leather. There’s nice stitching and the headrests feature the Maserati logo, too. The details are right, but if you pry too deep, things aren’t as hot. Astute car enthusiasts will notice that the switchgear is very similar to what you’d find in some other vehicles in the Fiat Chrysler Automobile family, tarnishing a bit of the exclusive lustre.
It’s spacious, in just about every dimension, and rear-seat passengers wouldn’t have to worry about being left out — there’s heated seats, dual-zone climate control (for each rear passenger), and even USB charging ports in the armrests. Maserati also offers a rear-seat entertainment system that tacks two 10-inch and foldable tables for the easily bored folks in the back.
Looks awesome
The gentle operation of the doors contrasts nicely with the Quattroporte’s striking exterior. It’s slick and sharp, and almost menacing. A revised light signature is achieved by the use of new fully LED operated headlamps, which are also brighter and can automatically peek into the corners you’re driving into, or adjust the height of the light beams for better illumination
The Verdict
The Maserati Quattroporte is a pretty interesting car, full of options and spectacle. It’s quick, too, but it might be hard for most to justify spending big money on it. All-wheel-drive models cost $129,800, as there’s no RWD V6 model in Canada, and V8s will set you back $162,200. It’s not cheap, but it is an exclusive ride and one that sounds so sexy, too.