Maserati’s new saloon is bigger and better-built, but
retains much of its Italian charm.
Just
how do you replace what is arguably the world’s most beautiful luxury saloon?
That’s the knotty problem Maserati must have struggled with during the
development of its sixth-generation Quattroporte (“four doors” in Italian).
The
old Quattroporte’s styling, for one, certainly didn’t need fixing, but they
have had to fiddle with some other things. At just a whisker over 5m long, the
previous model wasn’t imposing enough to qualify as a true limousine.
Maserati
has remedied that shortcoming (pardon the pun) emphatically, with the new car
measuring 5.26m, or over 20cm more than before. It’s even 2cm longer than the
long-wheelbase version of the new Mercedes S-Class. Park the new Quattroporte
next to its predecessor and it looks like a car from a class up.
The old Quattroporte’s styling, for one, certainly didn’t need fixing, but they
have had to fiddle with some other things.
More
imposing it may be that extra size has also changed its proportions,
particularly at the back. The Italian carmaker has retained the pronounced
snout, small headlights and flowing waistline of the Quattroporte’s achingly
handsome predecessor, but there’s noticeably more visual bulk and less
litheness about the new car.
Details-wise,
a tiny window just aft of the C-pillar has also been added to visually lengthen
the glasshouse and reduce the C-pillar’s apparent chunkiness. The old
Quattroporte’s distinctive vertical taillights are also gone, making way for
more conventional, rectangular items.
The old Quattroporte’s distinctive vertical taillights are also gone, making
way for more conventional, rectangular items.
While
its new look may be subjective, most will agree that rear legroom was rather
spare before. This time, the Quattroporte’s wheelbase has grown by 10.6cm,
which now gives it enough room to satisfy most NBA players. The cabin is also
wider, taller and airier, so the car now qualifies as a proper limo.
The cabin is also wider, taller and airier, so the car now qualifies as a
proper limo.
Another
key complaint with the old model was that of practicality. The new Quattroporte
sees its boot enlarged (450 litres to 510 litres), and there are now
flat-folding rear seats.
Luxury
levels inside are appropriately limo-class. It’s got a beautifully styled cabin
fronted by an understated, elegant fascia. Taking pride of place on the centre
console is the traditional Maserati analogue clock, a feature which other
luxury (and some not-so-luxurious) marques have copied over the years. However,
there are still elements of the Quattroporte’s switchgear that lack polish.
Still,
for the most part, there’s certainly a sense of occasion entering the cabin,
with tasteful wood trim on the dashboard, centre console and door panels giving
the overall impression of discreet luxury rather than the extravagant opulence
of a Bentley or the latest S-Class.
Equipment
levels are predictably and fittingly exhaustive, the one surprising omission
being soft-close doors, something that can already be found on some cars a
class down.
Despite
its extra bulk and the additional equipment, the new Quattroporte weighs about
100kg less than its predecessor, thanks in large part to extensive use of
aluminium for most of the body panels.
On
the move, the car rides very well, with the pliant suspension gamely soaking up
bumps in its normal setting. In Sport mode, the ride and damping becomes a
touch farmer, although the ride remains unruffled and composed.
With
that in mind, it’s helpful to think of the Quattroporte as a GT with four
doors, rather than a whisper-quiet cruise liner like some of its rivals.
Compared to a Lexus LS, for instance, the Maserati is quite loud indeed. It
does let in a small degree of road noise and the engine is clearly audible,
although both never get intrusive.
With that in mind, it’s helpful to think of the Quattroporte as a GT with
four doors, rather than a whisper-quiet cruise liner like some of its rivals.
Speaking
of engines, the new Quattroporte’s range comprises a 3-litre twin-turbo V6 and
a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 (Quattroporte S and Quattroporte GTS), to replace the
venerable but charismatic and naturally aspirated 4.2-litre and 4.7-litre V8s
that powered the old “Qport”.
