The striking new Quattroporte is at the forefront of Maserati’s re-emergence as a leading performance car brand on an international stage. The fifth generation Quattroporte is a four-seat saloon which sits at the very heart of the luxury flagship sector dominated largely by Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In the quest to produce a model which encapsulated their dream of a fast, luxurious, modern, unmistakably Italian saloon, Maserati called on the services of Pininfarina for the Quattroporte’s design, enlisting the technical experience and capabilities of parent company Ferrari.
The result of this specialist collaboration is a work of art and technical wizardry, boasting exceptional performance and style in one package. The Italian pedigree is ever-present – in fact the Quattroporte could not be more Italian if it were being driven by Federice Fellini or Sophia Loren.
Unique dimensions
The Quattroporte sits on a wheelbase which is almost three inches longer than the BMW 7 Series. It has a low, wide stance, and boasts an extra 1.5 inches of width over the Mercedes S-Class. It also gives away around half an inch in height to the Jaguar XJ. This unique shape and design is motivated partly by tradition and partly by meticulous calculation.
Featuring an elegant, rounded nose, the Maserati Quattroporte evokes the brand’s highly successful racing prototypes and Grand Prix roadsters of the 30s, 40s and early 50s. Its overall shape is muscular, accented by soft curves and flowing lines. The pedigree is confirmed by the set-back position of the cabin.
Bulging wheel arches and a short front overhang surround the front fenders, and the xenon headlamps sweep back gracefully. The combination of a long hood, rearward-set cabin and compact trunk graces the Quattroporte with the dash-to-axle ratio of a classic saloon. The glassed area is generously proportioned, and the rear roof pillars should provide just enough cover from the prying lenses of the paparazzi.
Italian luxury
The interior of the Quattroporte is a veritable den of bespoke handicraft, boasting a wide colour range of soft Poltrona Frau leathers, as well as genuine mahogany, briarwood, rosewood or titanium-finish trims. The collection of 10 different leather tones and 15 exterior paints allows the customer to mix and match unique combinations for the dashboard, doors, seats, stitching, wood, carpets and steering wheel. It is quite conceivable that no two Quattroportes should ever be identical.
The rear seats feature exuberant sculpting and bolstering, and provide as much space and support as those in the front. Both the leg- and headroom are uncharacteristically generous for an Italian car. The front and rear seats are slide-adjustable, and can be tilted for maximum comfort. The strength of the Quattroporte’s body structure, and Maserati’s use of reinforced glass means that the cabin is a quiet place to be. The optional Executive Package adds retractable wooden tables, sunshades, and a rear seat massager.
© 2006 Martin Hemmings for www.sport-cars.org
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