Photograph By: Syed Fasiuddin
At first glance, this is a car that oozes Italian flare and heritage. Designed by Pininfarina, the four-door Maserati Quattroporte S seems to epitomise Italian pride.
Not many cars can exude that kind of style or evoke that kind of passion anymore. This particular model has some revised aerodynamic features like a dominant front grill with convex vertical slats. The traditional trident logo is in the centre of the grill. The front and rear lights make good use of LED technology to give it a very striking look at night.
As you open the door the handle does not move. The button inside of the handle does the job for you. The door slides open with ease and the lush interior with its fine leather and prestigious wood greets you warmly. The interior looks and smells so inviting that the effect is almost hypnotic.
As you slide into the seat you sink firmly into one of the most comfortable seats available in any car. It is a sporty kind of seat that provides very good support for cornering without being too squashy. You can spend hours driving in this and be comfortable all the time.
The dashboard is well-displayed and nicely arranged. With a big D for drive, it also displays the gear you are in if you start using the paddle shifts. A big screen that displays your music or the fuel consumption levels of the engine dominates the centre console. Music sounds amazingly portioned and crisp-clear from the Bose sound system. But you will be mostly using the display for the built-in GPS, which is clearly visible from a driver’s point of view due to the console’s tilted angle.
As you turn the ignition your ears are filled with this low rumble that tingle the spine and you know that this engine has something up its sleeves. The 4.7 litre V8 is engineered by Ferrari. So is the gearbox. Capacity has been increased from 4,244cc to 4,691cc. It was done by increasing the bore and stroke and analysing the engine’s longitudinal mass.
These technical advancements have made the engine more reliable, quieter and have also resulted in reduced friction. This effectively translates to lower fuel consumption, which is always good for a high performance car like this.
It has 430 BHP at 7,000 rpm. Torque is 490 NM at 4,750 rpm. The car accelerates from 0-100 in 5.4 seconds – not bad at all for a car that weighs about 2,000kg.
The Quattroporte is a luxury saloon with a sports heritage, so how does it get along on the road? Weight distribution is 49 per cent in front and 51 per cent at the back. This is a rear wheel car from Maserati so the drive is something to look forward to.
As you set off you realise that this a very well-behaved car while accelerating and creates no fuss as long as you do not press the pedal too fast. The brake pedal is very close to the acceleration pedal so it will take only a fraction of a second to change from super speed or super braking – 100km/hr to zero requires just 35 metres.
That is what the big red shiny brake callipers are there for. You have 82 per cent of the engine’s torque on tap from 2,500 rpm so the car is very responsive. Making long journeys will be a joy as you will have no problem with overtaking most cars – 80km/hr to 120 km/hr takes just 3.7 seconds. It can stop so fast and with precision, you may think that you are in a small sports car.
Maserati Quattroporte S offers a comfortable ride even if you are in the rear seat. It has ample legroom and generous headroom. The rear seats are as comfortable as the front ones and you get a nice snug feeling at the back.
The roof is covered in black suede, the seats have covers in well-stitched quality leather, you have a clear view to the outside world, but after about five minutes as a rear passenger, all I wanted to do was jump back into the driver’s seat. I could almost hear the car calling out to me as if telling me that she has a surprise for me.
The best feature of the ride is the sports mode. You press this little button and in a split second you feel the gearbox tightening up and the suspension has stiffened. Now the Quattroporte S’ sporty nature and performance are heightened to cater to your driving pleasures.
It feels like you are driving a lighter car altogether. You forget that you are driving a saloon car. This little button takes the car from being a sports saloon to being an Italian sports car with attitude, four doors and four seats and enough luggage space to fit in your golf bag.
The Quattroporte S drives like a dream and sounds aggressive as the exhaust note on this car changes. Its character fluctuates between a grand tourer to a more hyper kind. You can hear it egging you on like a football coach challenging, “Is that all you got? Push some more!” And you feel the urge to keep pushing as the vehicle’s responsiveness, handling and sound are intoxicating. This car has so much to offer you and all you want is to continue the experience. If ever you want to calm down all you have to do is switch the button on to the normal mode.
But honestly, there is nothing normal about this Maserati – the experiences are all superlative. In the end, how do you sum up? It is a sports saloon from Italy. It has the power and the works. But most of all it is a saloon car that can be driven to work everyday or to the Oscars. It will even reward its owner with some tantalising moments with that little sport button.
Technical Data
| Engine: |
| Type: 4.7 litre V8 |
| Max Power: 430 bhp@7,000 rpm |
| Max Torque: 490Nm @ 4,750 rpm |
| Transmission |
| six-speed paddle shift. A partnership between Maserati and ZF |
| Dimension |
| Length: 5,097 mm |
| Width (including mirrors): 1,991mm |
| Height: 1,438mm |
| Turning circle: 12.3m |
| Wheelbase: 3,064mm |
| Suspension |
| Front and rear double wishbone with forged aluminium arms and hubs |
| How Much? |
| RO60,000 onwards |
| Available at: |
Shanfari Automobile Company,
Tel: +968 24699282 |
|