Maserati Quattroporte: Racing Genes
Since it trailblazed the Turin Motor Show in 1963, the Maserati Quattroporte is definitely a legend among motoring heads. Not only did the marque launch the fastest four-seater automobile in the world, this whole new variant was unprecedented to the market – luxury sports saloon. Then, the concept was simply revolutionary – to transform a successful and powerful Maserati racing engine and integrate it into the sinuous body of a sedan.
No other marque had made such breakthroughs and it was Maserati that pioneered it. Fast forward 2018, the Maserati Quattroporte – in its sixth generation – is currently the marque’s flagship model where its notable V8 engine is the talk of the town in the motoring industry. For 50 years, the evergreen model has always dared to be different, maintains a certain air of exclusivity, and was never created for the hoi polloi.
Race Is On!
In its never-ending pursuit for perfection, Maserati aims to retain its racing DNA while paying attention to details of the nth degree because its fans and customers are discerning individuals. Two unique trims are offered: GranLusso and GranSport. Whether it is the latter or former, their trims are unmistakable all attributed to its unique interior and exterior designs.
For the GranLusso it is made available as the Quattroporte S GranLusso. Maserati has entailed the expertise of renowned Italian tailor Ermenegildo Zegna to create a cabin that emanates a sense of style, lavishness and luxury – Ermenegildo Zegna Silk Edition interiors – premium Italian leathers, fine woods, and handcrafted stitching. One’s senses will be thrilled to touch its exquisite leather seats, while colours and top-class materials create an interior that wants to keep you cuddled and cocooned.
There are other sterling details such as wood and leather steering wheel, wood trim, power foot pedals, a power rear sunblind, four-zone climate control, heated rear seats, bumper inserts in chrome, body-coloured sideskirts, black brake callipers and stunning 20-inch Mercurio wheels.
For fans who have a stickler for sporty aesthetics, take heart. The GranSport is the epitome of sportiness with an Italian flair. Most notably are the exterior enhancements where it vaunts front and rear sports bumpers paired with exclusive black-gloss details. The head-turning body-coloured sideskirts, 20-inch Urano wheels and red brake callipers are sure to sate the whims of any Maserati die-hard.
But that’s not all, the cabin woos its driver with special sports seats, Inox sport foot pedals, gearshift paddles, new sports steering wheel and piano-black trim. Do you have a penchant for carbon fibre? With this option, the GranSport package will be offered as the Quattroporte GTS GranSport. This light-weight material will be found in door mirrors, door handles, central pillars while interior wise the carbon fibre can be found in steering wheel, door sills and internal trims.
Italian Lineage
It is widely recognised that Italians lead the world in car design and aerodynamics. They create the kind of machines that stir our senses and leave us bright eyed and bushy tailed. The grunt and sputter of a Maserati engine has that effect; a light tap on its accelerator will send any motoring junkie to nirvana. The Quattroporte is clearly a luxury sportscar that has come a long way, because today, it has the clout to garner credo and respect from car aficionados and critiques. The car’s history also projects it to be cultured and refined while its aerodynamics bear the hallmarks of sophistication and poise.
More Than Meets The Eye
The present day Quattroporte commands jealous stares and manages to maintain a balanced and dynamic appearance. Notable enhancements include the restyled Maserati grille at the front to its LED light clusters at the rear. Even the newly-designed front and rear bumpers have been gussied up to give the car some masculine élan. The car has retained its traditional three air vents along the sides of the car while frameless doors give this executive saloon the appearance of a sinuous coupé.
The devil is in the details: for fans familiar with the Quattroporte’s triangular C-pillar and the celebrated Saetta logo, these sporty attributes together with the quad-chrome tailpipes and integrated boot spoiler, corral effectively to project edginess and sportiness. Its aerodynamics is peerless, thanks in part to its flat underbody and also to a clever Air Shutter behind the front grille that controls the passage of air through the radiator and reduces drag efficiently.
Lean And Mean
When it comes to Italian automobile engineering, Maserati unquestionably sits on the stratosphere. Maserati’s experts in engine technology are always lauded. The top-of-the-line Maserati Quattroporte boasts eight-speed transmission, 3.8l, V8 Twin Turbo that unleashes 530 horses (650 to 710 nm peak torque) which can clear the century sprint in 4.7 seconds. It can also achieve a top speed of 310 km/h. The eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox is agile and precise, ensuring precise and sudden gear changes while offering exceptional power and performance. Integrated into the back of the engine, it is assisted by auto-adaptive software that is able to recognise the way the car is being driven and it also monitors and modifies the shifting styles for each individual driver.
Every driver will appreciate the 12-way power adjustable leather front seats that create the best driving position to cater to his/her needs. To give the driver a sense of well-being, the central console has an integrated touch-screen infotainment system with an additional rotary control to help you toggle settings with ease. There are plenty of caddies to keep personal items inconspicuously while the multifunction steering wheel offers ergonomic efficiency tempered with a highly tactile grip. The spacious and wide dashboard with its central tunnel and large doors help to give the driver a sense of belonging and that he/she is in charge.
Passengers are not forgotten! The rear seats come with asymmetrically folding, hand-stitched leather rear bench seat that can sit three people and it is stupendously comfortable. When two passengers are at the back, the central armrest can be folded down and the integrated USB point and 12V socket will ensure your smart devices get added juice for long trips.
Safety Is Priority
When it comes to safety, the Maserati Quattroporte does not compromise. The vehicle offers the best possible protection for driver and passengers by integrating latest-generation airbags and a bevy of state-of-the-art safety systems. In addition, the Forward Collision Warning is effectively deployed all thanks to a camera and it warns the driver if the car’s approach could result in a read-end collision. This feature works in tandem with the Advanced Brake Assist System which provides additional braking when an emergency arises.
No forgetting, the Blind Spot Alert and Rear Cross Path detection constantly monitors the space between Quattroporte and other nearby vehicles. For example, when a side or rear blind spot is encroached upon, caused by another driver changing lanes, its illuminated icons appear in the door mirrors and an audible alert is issued. For the Lane Departure Warning System, a camera integrated in the interior rear-view mirror monitors the road markings ahead and helps keep the driver in the chosen lane of his/her preferred road or expressway.
Ultimately, this diminishes the possibility of lane drift, thereby, minimising lateral collision simply by warning the driver when the car veers off lane markings without signalling. There is also the purposeful Adaptive Cruise Control where the car vigilantly monitors the amount of space between the tip of the bonnet to the vehicle ahead, simply by maintaining a constant pre-set distance. A mere slowdown of the vehicle in front, the system will slow the Quattroporte down by coasting or engaging brakes. However, when the vehicle ahead quickens, the system accelerates up to the pre-set speed.
The Maserati Quattroporte was created to tantalise the appetites of entrepreneurial pioneers and business trailblazers; it was also engineered and designed to taunt high achievers who pursue the unconventional and avant-garde. This engineering marvel is set to arouse fans and win converts, too.
Visit the official website of Maserati Singapore here.
*** This article is republished from Issue 41 of Yacht Style.
Words by Joe Lim | Images courtesy of Maserati
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