Quattroporte: Four (Different) Steps to Heaven
Quattroporte, Executive GT, Sport GT S and Cento – choices, choices...

The Maserati Quattroporte has long been the sports sedan of choice for the discerning enthusiast. Soon after it appeared in North America, the LA Times dubbed it ‘an instant classic’. It is easy to see why – no other car can match the sumptuous luxury of its interior, the beautiful Pininfarina-styled curves of its exterior, and performance and handling more usually associated with sharp-edged sports cars.

The praise from the press has continued unabated.   Road & Track described it as ‘the coolest car on the road’.  Both Car and Driver and Motor Trend have awarded it first place in comparison tests.  Top Gear just named it ‘a four-door supercar.’ And evo called it ‘the best handling supersedan on the planet’ – in fact, the Quattroporte still holds the sedan lap record around evo’s test track – faster than a BMW M5, faster than every Mercedes, even faster than a Porsche 911!

Maserati Quattroporte

Four variants of Quattroporte are available – the ‘base’ Quattroporte model, the Executive GT, the very rare Sport GT S and now the super-exclusive Collezione Cento. They share the same unmistakably Italian curves wrapped around a uniquely practical four-door sedan. All are powered by the same 4.2-liter V8 engine, built by Ferrari – the Sport GT S with slightly different programming and more open exhaust to extract a little more power. They all use the superlative ZF six-speed automatic transmission, specially engineered to handle the Maserati engine’s red-line of over 7,000rpm. And all three have an interior clad in wonderfully soft, yet hard-wearing, Poltrona Frau leather.

The Quattroporte and the Quattroporte Executive GT are mechanically identical, although the more luxuriously appointed Executive GT wears 9-spoke 19” wheels as standard and features a chrome mesh front grille. Both use the acclaimed Skyhook adaptive suspension which actively and predictively adjusts the shock absorbers to deliver a ride which is both remarkably refined and definitively sporting. To provide an even more sumptuous interior, the Executive GT is fitted with an Alcantara roof lining and is equipped with Maserati’s Comfort Pack seats with massage and ventilation; rear passengers have their own climate controls and privacy screens on the windows.

Maserati Quattroporte Executive GT

The very limited edition Sport GT S is most definitely tuned to the Quattroporte’s performance side. Externally this is marked by the black wire-mesh grille and 20” 7-spoke alloy wheels; the standard interior trades the elegant wood finish of the Quattroporte and Executive GT models for high-tech carbon-fiber. The electronics have been reprogrammed to allow the automatic transmission to shift ratios even faster, while the driver gets aluminum pedals and paddle gearshifters mounted on the steering column. Classically subtle exterior styling cues set the razor sharp Sport GT S apart; it is the ultimate enthusiast sport sedan. 

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

What particularly sets the Sport GT S apart from the other models are the suspension and brakes; with the Sport GT S being aimed squarely at enthusiastic drivers, the car uses a specially tuned suspension system, which places the emphasis firmly on dynamic control to enhance the car’s already impressive handling The base Quattroporte already has the best braking performance of any sedan in the world, according to tests conducted by Road & Track. The Sport GT S dares to improve upon that with dual-cast front rotors, incorporating the best properties of both aluminum and iron, and six-piston fixed calipers.

As you might expect, the Quattroporte and Executive GT are almost indistinguishable in terms of driving dynamics. With the Skyhook system delivering amazing body control with unusually high compliance, any differences resulting from the larger wheels used on the Executive GT are virtually impossible to discern.

We have driven the Quattroporte and Executive GT on many roads across North America – everything from arrow-straight interstates in Florida to the streets of Manhattan, from wonderful country roads in Canada to the majestic Pacific Coast Highway in California. Whichever model we drove, the masterful Italian sedan always surprises with its uncanny ability to smother road imperfections, expansion joints, urban potholes and the like while delivering taut, seriously sporty handling. The Skyhook suspension is remarkable. Able to keep the driver precisely informed of what is happening at the wheels without feeling harsh, and while most passengers will be unaware of a change between normal and sport settings, the driver can feel the car tighten and become even more responsive . The Maserati is equally happy taking a gentle tour on scenic backroads as it is charging into the corners as hard as grip, bravery and speed limits allow. Whatever the pace set by the driver, the cabin remains calm and serene.

It is no surprise that the most sporting version of the car named as a ‘modern masterpiece’ by Automobile magazine has been much in demand. On the rare occasions when we have managed to get behind the wheel of a Sport GT S, it has been immediately apparent why the car doesn’t spend much time in showrooms. For the keen driver the Quattroporte Sport GT S is the obvious choice, reacting instantly to driver input and offering an unusual degree of feedback in return, the Sport GT S is the luxury sedan that makes one yearn equally for clear mountain roads and racetracks. 

The special suspension fitted to the car has allowed the Maserati engineers to lower the ride height and reduce unsprung weight; the resulting stiffer ride translates into quite remarkable cornering ability. The Sport GT S revels in being able to take curves hard and flat – even though the bar has been set high by the Quattroporte, the Sport GT S somehow raises it even higher.

For a select few, there is now a fourth option – the Collezione Cento. An authentically ‘limited edition’, just 100 examples of this special Quattroporte will be built and only twenty-five will come to North America. Exterior details include an elegant new Ivory paint color, a ‘honeycomb’ design for the front grille and side vents and polished 20” wheels. But it is the interior of the Collezione Cento where most of the changes have taken place.

The interior uses Wengé wood for the trim, while the seats feature diamond patterned stitching. The ‘Quattroporte’ inscription on the dashboard and the Trident logo atop the gear shifter are fashioned from mother-of-pearl, while even the trunk has special features – aluminum inserts, and side pockets trimmed in tan leather. However, it’s the rear seat passengers who benefit most, with 10” multimedia touch screens mounted in the front seat backs, wireless Bluetooth headphones, USB and iPod ports, DVD player and a fold-away keyboard to allow Internet browsing.

No other luxury sports sedan combines the driving dynamics and performance of a sports car with such a luxurious, spacious interior. Whichever version of the Quattroporte you choose, the driving experience is unique; in fact, at times it seems almost surreal. The hushed cabin, with its fine leather seats and trim, suggests an old-school big sedan – comfortable, but more suited to relaxed cruising on an Interstate. But the performance and handling bear a closer relationship to that of a two-seat sports car; the Maserati hugs the road and keeps the driver fully informed of what is going on, yet without ever feeling harsh.

It’s the way the two characteristics - normally such opposites – are combined which makes the Quattroporte like no other car we’ve driven. Others may aspire to matching its interior luxury, but have soft, wallowing handling despised by keen drivers; or they may have sports-car handling, but cannot provide the interior space and luxurious cabin of the Quattroporte.

From the extreme performance of the Sport GT S on one side to the extreme luxury of the Cento on the other, bracketing the Quattroporte and Executive GT in between, Maserati has the choices to satisfy the most discerning customer.

Contact your local authorized Maserati dealer to find out more about the range of 2008 Quattroportes available today. A test drive is the ideal way to find out how ‘luxury’, ‘sports’ and ‘sedan’ can be combined, to wonderful effect – then decide which version best suits your personal needs.