Titillating Limousine (Part 2)

On the standard 19-inch tires, the ride strikes a good balance between “speedboat” and “luxury liner”. Specify the 20-inch or forged 21-inch wheels for sharper cornering and/or a snazzier appearance, but be prepared to sacrifice the nicely balanced ride.

The QP’s strong suit is high­-speed, high-mileage touring. It is comfortable over long distances, yet composed over short bursts of twisty tarmac, with the car tracking true all the way. The steering is tack-sharp and positive, and delivers more feedback than the previous rack. Also welcomed by the keen driver is the retention of servo-hydraulic steering, which “feels” more natural than the usual electric affair. At the same time, the power assistance and steering ratio have both been reduced for greater involvement behind the wheel.

The rest of the cockpit is nothing less than a revolution for the Quattroporte. While the previous cabin comes across as slightly stark, the new one is clearly lush. It’s fine Italian furniture, made even finer and placed in a “wrap-around lounge”. And there’s significantly more lounging space than before, thanks to the stretched wheelbase and generous interior dimensions.

With its sexy body and racy character, this is undoubtedly an Italian supermodel

The dashboard’s wood veneer (which extends to the door panels) and analogue oval clock are old-school, but the 7-inch TFT multi-function display in the instrument cluster and the 8.4-inch touchscreen on the center console belong to the modern era. That main monitor, called Maserati Touch Control (MTC), centralizes the operation of key equipment such as the Garmin GPS, multimedia player, radio, telephone, Wi-Fi hotspot hosting (for up to three devices in the car) and air-conditioning. MTC also manages the vehicle settings.

The “highest” hi-fi option is a Bowers & Wilkins system with 15 loudspeakers, a 16-channel l,28oW amplifier and sophisticated surround sound. This delivers as much music as your ears can take. Also available is a rear-seat entertainment unit with a pair of tiltable 10.2-inch LCD screens, an AV-in connection for gadgets, a television tuner, individual remote controls and wireless headphones.

Maserati’s latest Quattroporte competes in a sports limo segment crammed with talent - Porsche Panamera Turbo, Audi S8, BMW 76oLi and Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG. The Quattroporte’s trump cards are its sexy body, racy character, inviting cabin and genuine bang-for-the-buck. As the de facto Ferrari limo, this Italian four-door has no peers.

Ports of call

The all-new Quattroporte is the sixth model in an illustrious line of sports saloons dating back 50 years to 1963. The very first "Qport" was a stunning machine at the time, but with only a few hundred units built in the space of six years, its on-road appearances were rare. Even rarer was the follow-up model, based on the Citroen SM (the French automaker had bought over Maserati and with Bertone bodywork - barely a dozen examples were produced.

The third-generation Quattroporte put Maserati on the limousine map at last. Designed by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro and lavishly equipped, this third “Qport" was truly luxurious, especially in opulent Royale form. The fourth Quattroporte, styled by Marcello Gandini of Lambo Countach fame, was derived from the 430 Biturbo coupe. Its engines included a 2-litre V6 and a 3.2-litre V8, both with twin turbochargers.

The fifth "Qport" was the first under Ferrari's “patronage". It drove businessmen to distraction with its striking Pininfarina shape, delectable V8 power-plants and wonderful personality. This Quattroporte has had a successful nine-year career as Maserati's characterful flagship.

Cool upgrade

Cool upgrade

New climate control system cools down (or heart up) the cabin much faster than before

Auto Rome

Auto Rome

Maserati space-and-luxury at its best, with a 530-litre boot in the back

Modenese modernized

Modenese modernized

Few flagships have such a lovely combination of leather, metal, timber, and digital amenities.

Exotic heart

Exotic heart

Ferrari-built 3.8 liter V8 is a potent performer, but its double turbos mute the exhaust note somewhat.

Switching characters

This row of switches changes the Maserati's driving characteristics to match various motoring conditions

Touch to control

Touch to control

MTC (Maserati Touch Control) is user-friendly, but its graphics and interface were "donated" by the current Chrysler 300C

Trident of the C

Maserati trademark on the C-pillar is a classic design element of the Quattroporte.