• The Italian-made 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel is the only Maserati engine not assembled for Maserati by Ferrari
The sixth-generation Maserati Quattroporte is one very seductive Italian writes Geraldine Herbert
What is it? Maserati’s Quattroporte is sleek, stylish, and now even more economical thanks to the new diesel engines. While Italian purists may choke on their pasta at the first diesel-powered car in the model’s long and illustrious history this oil burner was designed to broaden the appeal of the Quattroporte, particularly in Europe.
First impressions of the new Maserati Quattroporte? It’s muscular and taut looking but in no way menacing, the is masculinity tempered by the feminine side. Distinctive and exclusive the Quattroporte is an exercise in elegant sportiness.
• New cabin features include 8.4” Maserati Touch Control screen, an optional WiFi WLAN hotspot, up to 15 speakers of Bowers and Wilkins premium surround system,
What about the interior? The driving position is supremely comfortable, whatever height you are and the cabin is as well-crafted as an Armani suit. Everything oozes luxury with all the traditional hand crafted detailing for which the trident brand is known. Its also practical, with a huge boot and room for you and four co-conspirators, or friends.
Maserati Quattroporte on road? Zipping from 0-100km/h in only 6.4 seconds with 250km/h top speed the Quattroporte is no slouch and no-one would you ever suspect its a diesel. Despite feeling quite substantial it handles tight, sticks beautifully to the road and in tight corners is surprisingly sure-footed for its size. The steering is light but the ride is firm and maybe a little too harsh for some.
How much? Maserati is a company synonymous with cars with big engines and even bigger price tags but this Quattroporte starts at £69,235 (Irish prices are likely to be in the region of €100,000 – €200,000) which is almost a bargain for a car that combines such ludicrous levels of leather, luxury and interior space.
Will it break the bank? This Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-series rival consumes a frugal 5.2 litres/100km on a combination of city and motorway driving while emitting a prudent 163 grams of CO2 each kilometre.
• With the original Quattroporte in 1963, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports sedan and
How safe? Plenty of features to keep you safe on the road and so many high-tech driver aids it’s almost impossible to crash, but you get plenty of airbags just in case. An extra layer of security comes with the Maserati Stability Program (MSP) that reassures with ABS, EBD and a host of electronic safety systems.
What about my options? There’s no shortage of extras, from the Bowers & Wilkins premium surround system to WiFi hot spots and four zone automatic climate control. And if efficiency is not your concern the one to opt for is the 4.7-litre V8 in the Quattroporte Sport GT S or the 3.8-litre V8 engine.
3 words to describe the Maserati Quattroporte: Smooth; Seductive; Sophisticated
For more information check out the Charles Hurst Group, their facebook page or follow them on twitter here
Geraldine Herbert
14th May, 2015
