Monday 1st August 2005

Maserati tweaks the Quattroporte

New variants new interior and rortier exhaust

---

Quattroporte Sport GT

Maserati is set to unveil two new, mildly tweaked editions of the Quattroporte, at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month: the Quattroporte Sport GT and Executive GT.

Quattroporte Sport GT

This car gets a carbon fibre interior, 20-inch wheel rims with new design, external identification plate, sports steering wheel and handbrake grip, and aluminium pedal covers.

Among the dynamic features, the latest gearbox software shifts 35 per cent faster, there's a redesigned, more sporty-sounding exhaust system and new Skyhook software for electronic suspensions and shock absorbers.

Quattroporte Executive GT

Distinguished by a new blend of colours and wood veneer finishes for the interior, the Executive GT includes the following accessories:

Chrome mesh grille, side chrome grille, external identification plate, nine-spoke 19-inch ball-polished wheel rims, wood and leather steering wheel, roof section in Alcantara and a series of features dedicated (it says here) "to providing maximum comfort levels for passengers (among them comfort pack for the rear seats and stowable rear table in wood or titanium)".

[FestivAli]

It's trying too hard; Maserati in a case of 'me too' product experimentation. Did the old Quattroporte's go up against Merc S classes and BMW 7's? I've only seen pictures (of the old ones) and they look like a far smaller car. I'm sorry, but I'm not a fan of the new one. It looks ugly in the pictures AND the metal, and the interior looks cheap and not exactly sporting whatever the trim. Seeing the horrible wood on press vehicles was the final nail in my opiniative (not sure if that's a word, or if it is I probably spelt it incorrectly) coffin.

And in Australia it costs more than an M5, which has a pretend gearbox that's supposedly actually good in traffic. Admittedly I'm yet to drive it (and doubt I ever will - Hyundai is about as high class as I'll ever get) but I've read that it's a flawed 'box that doesn't suit the nature of the vehicle.

(put the fantastic leather dash of the Coupe, give it a proper auto or even manual gearbox, redesin it to make it's nose less porcine and I think it would be a genuine alternative to the ubiquitous 'S').

[FestivAli]

mr_tony said:

In the end it's your opinion and I respect that - but given your opinion is largely inherited from a few magazines without you actually having seen the car for real (which to be fair you ahve stated ) I do wonder why you bothered to post a response at all! It's hardly been enlightening for any of us Still a good troll always gets me going in the afternoon and at least stimulates a debate I suppose... I'd still ahve a QP any day.

I said I hadn't DRIVEN it - I sat in one at the Melbourne motorshow a couple of years back. And thought it was horrible with a rather gawdy interior, which aside from the pig ugly styling largely directs my opinion of the car. Hence if I could spare that kind of money for a car i'd pop my bum in the M5. Or save a bit and go an XJR 4.2. Or actually, save a lot and just drive a hyundai Getz, which looks better than the maser (though not the facelift) and gets along just fine.

Nice to see some pot stirring - got similiar replies with an earlier maserati topic. (there's a thought! for the same money as the quattroporte you can get a Grandsport, or for a bit less just the Coupe or delicious looking spyder with a proper manual box. And anyone who'd rather sit in the back of the 4porte than the coupe can take the bus.

ali.