Looking to escape the buttoned-up, executive sedan crowd with something a little more eccitante? Then it’s time to brush up on your Italian and check out Maserati’s racy alternative, the Quattroporte.
Maserati Plans More Dealerships
By the end of this year, Maserati hopes to have about 130 dealerships in North America where annual sales are forecast to rise significantly to about 20,000 units based on the arrival of the brand’s first SUV – the Levante. The mid-sized Ghibli is the new entry-level Maserati with a starting price of about $80,000. Ture sports car enthusiasts migrate toward the GranTurismo and then there’s this: the Quattroporte, Maserati’s flagship car. Originally introduced in 1963 and existing in its current generation since 2013, this 2016 model arrives on the precipice of a major freshening for the 2017 model year. There are 3 trims of this 4-door Ferrari if you will; the rear-drive S and all-wheel drive S Q4 with twin turbo V6 power and the extra brawny rear-drive GTS with a twin-turbo V8.
All Wheel Drive
I’ve got the S Q4 with an all-wheel drive system engineered to preserve the typical rear-wheel Maserati driving experience, capable of moving up to 50% of the power to the front end when grip is lost in the back. A Maserati-coded algorithm processes a plethora of vehicle parameters to create a dedicated grip profile for each single wheel. Fitted with the optional 20” all-season tires and the Increased Control & Efficiency mode of the 8-speed automatic transmission, the S Q4 can be your snow day friend.
A sensuous body with prominent Trident badging, quad exhaust outlets and optional 20” GTS wheels are subdued by the choice of this Grigio Maratea paint. To my surprise, this car flew under the radar all week. Well, I should clarify that; when it was parked or in traffic, that is. For those lucky enough to hear the full Sport mode assault of this 404 horsepower 3.0-liter V6, there’s immediate recognition that this is something very special. With a turbo for each bank, the S Q4 overcomes its sizeable 4,233 pounds to swiftly put away 60mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 175…not quite up to Joe Walsh standards.
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