Sometimes car companies don’t put much thought into their car names. Take, for example, the Maserati Quattroporte. The name translates literally into “Four Door” in English. This may be a revelation to anyone who hasn’t actually noticed that the car has four doors, but to the rest of us it is blindingly obvious.
But Maserati can get away with it because in Italian it sounds musical, it trips off the tongue and dances through the air. “Four Door” is something the Japanese may have called a car in the late eighties, “Quattroporte” is classy and stylish.
But then again “Segaiolo” also sounds classy and stylish, but it just means wanker. Which is probably more your average Ferrari customer anyway…
What is it?
Well, a four door Maserati, obviously.
In fact, it is the first of two four door Maserati models landing this year, with the second being the smaller Ghibli later this year. Then later in 2015 the large Levante SUV will drop in, based on the Quattroporte’s platform, rather than the Jeep Grand Cherokee as originally planned.
Two four door sedans and a large SUV? That is hardly the way for a sports car manufacturer to celebrate its 100th year on this planet, I hear you cry. Well, that’s probably because you haven’t driven the Quattroporte…
The new Quattroporte is larger and lighter than the previous model and is also one of those relatively rare things: a truly all-new car. It sits on an all-new Maserati platform (that will be shared with the Levante SUV and shortened for the Ghibli) and boasts a range of all-new Ferrari-built V6 and V8 engines.
First up for New Zealand shores is the mighty 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8-powered GTS that we went to Sydney to drive. The 3.0-litre 310kW/550Nm twin-turbo V6 comes later, but for now the GTS’s blown V8 produces a hefty 390kW of power and 650Nm of torque – 18 percent more power and 39 percent more torque than the old cars 4.7-litre V8, yet with a reduction in emissions of 20 percent – and is hooked up to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
It will rocket to 100km/h from a standing start in 4.7 seconds, has a top speed of 307km/h and a combined fuel consumption of 11.8L/100km.
The GTS lands in New Zealand at a quite remarkable $258,900 (a massive decrease over the previous model, driven by a desire at factory level to combat the grey imports coming into the country) and includes 20-inch alloy wheels as standard (optional 19s and 21s are available), as well as 6-piston Brembo brakes at the front and 4-piston at the rear, active cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, LED DRLs and taillights, a lavish leather interior with wood trim, an 8.4-inch touch screen to control the audio system, satellite navigation and DVD player, Bluetooth connectivity, a 10-speaker 600W audio system, keyless entry and start, laminated acoustic damping glass and much, much more.
Of course, there is a massive range of optional equipment and personalisation that can be selected. After all, this IS Maserati.
What’s it like?
Staggeringly aggressive and yet remarkably refined at the same time.
Climbing inside the GTS there is an overwhelming air of luxury and refinement. It is noticeably bigger than the last car both inside and out and this adds to the sense of occasion and luxury.
Firing up the twin-turbo V8 for the first time is almost a slight let-down – it is so well sound proofed inside the car that the savage explosion of rage that issued forth from the previous car’s 4.8-litre engine is a distant, civilised explosion instead.
That is only if you are inside the car and don’t have the window wound down, however, as outside it is a visceral, angry roar that you fully expect to drop into an unsettled, high-performance style idle. But there is none of that silliness with the Maserati. Once the initial explosion has startled nearby pedestrians, it settles into a docile – yet threatening – steady burble.
The burble is only distantly audible inside the car, but nailing the throttle to the floor soon remedies that.
The response is instant and massive. The engine spools up with remarkable authority and the exhaust bellows and roars. All of that massive torque (and then some – the GTS has an over-boost function that drops 710Nm through the rear wheels) assaults the road, expertly contained by the perfectly-tuned traction and stability control electronics.
That means a little bit of angry, sideways howly/bellowy action before an utterly relentless assault of forward momentum begins. And never ends, until your nerve does and you lift off. Gear changes are swift and efficient, whether using the paddles on the steering column or leaving it up to the ZF transmission. Either is good.
Of course, the first thing you do is put the GTS in “Sport” mode, which makes it angrier and bellowy-er, making sure to leave the suspension in normal mode for NZ roads, lest you enjoy chipped teeth and neck damage.
The steering is sharp and relatively direct for such a large car, but it feels slightly distant. This is particularly noticeable at speeds best described as “sane or lower” where you really notice the massive amounts of rubber you are attempting to change direction. Still, it is a remarkably sharp tool for something so large and luxurious.
What’s good about it?
That magnificent engine. The fact that it is very big, yet still surprisingly nimble and agile. The supreme luxury and the fact that it isn’t one of the ‘expected’ brands. Well, German, to be honest.
What’s not so good?
The steering resists your inputs at lower speeds, or rather, the massive tyres do. Not as stupidly aggressive and uncompromising as the last one.
First Impressions?
While not as wildly angry and unrefined as the old model, the new Quattroporte is also not as wildly angry and unrefined. This can be taken as either a positive or a negative, depending on your attitude towards large, insanely powerful sedans in general.
The new Quattroporte is still a car of much attitude and character, more so than any of the rival – mainly German – brands can ever offer, and no amount of practical expansion of rear head and leg room or boot space can dull the fact that it is the closest thing available to a four-door Ferrari on the market today. Except its build quality is actually far, far better than any Ferrari we have ever driven…
With the drastic price decrease and equally drastic increase in luxury, the Quattroporte GTS now significantly puts the hurt on an equivalently specced Porsche Panamera. Now that has to appeal…
Models/prices
Quattroporte GTS – $258,900
Powertrain
3.8-litre V8 petrol turbo producing 390kW/650Nm; eight-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Fuel consumption: 11.8l/100km
CO2 emissions: 274g/km
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: n/a
Air bags: 8
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
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