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Motor Authority - blog Category: Quattroporte

  • Gay Or Straight? A Look At The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS

    Gay Or Straight? A Look At The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS October 20th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, October 20th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 8 Comments

    Gay Or Straight? A Look At The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS

    Can cars have sexual identities? Or, perhaps more accurately, does their anthropomorphized sexuality have an effect on how we perceive them? To most awake and aware people, the answer there is a definite yes--though those very same people will often disagree in the conclusions they come to about a given car's identity. In this case, it's the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS

    There's a healthy dose of humor and jest in the video below from a Vanity Fair piece by Stick Shift's Brett Berk, with Berk presenting the argument that the Quattroporte Sport GTS is a "gay car", and Motive Magazine editor-in-chief Eddie Alterman on the "straight car"...

    Can cars have sexual identities? Or, perhaps more accurately, does their anthropomorphized sexuality have an effect on how we perceive them? To most awake and aware people, the answer there is a definite yes--though those very same people will often disagree in the conclusions they come to about a given car's identity. In this case, it's the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS There's a healthy dose of humor and jest in the video below from a Vanity Fair piece by Stick Shift's Brett Berk, with Berk presenting the argument that the Quattroporte Sport GTS is a "gay car", and Motive Magazine editor-in-chief Eddie Alterman on the "straight car" side of the debate. But beneath the humor and jest, there's a fair question at issue, and if anything, their repartee illustrates how much we project our own image onto a car. People often characterize cars as "chick cars"--the sporty Mazda Miata or the new Ferrari California, for example--or otherwise impose some sort of gender or sexual identity on them. But does it say more about the people driving the car or the people viewing it? Both Berk's points that the Quattroporte Sport GTS is sensual, emotionally connected and refined in a way that's clearly not in line with the heterosexual archetype and Alterman's focus on the Maserati's power, prowess and rough-and-ready Sport demeanor--stereotypically heterosexual properties--reflect their conceptions of beauty and power as much as anything. And beauty and power are attributes the Maserati clearly has in spades. So what do you see in the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS's sleek lines, refined demeanor, quality materials, and fantastically Italian powertrain? Is beauty, or automotive sexuality, an objective thing? Or is it truly in the eye of the beholder? [Vanity Fair's Stick Shift blog] Read More

  • Report: Porsche Panamera Turbo lays claim to 7:56 Nurburgring lap time

    Report: Porsche Panamera Turbo lays claim to 7:56 Nurburgring lap time July 10th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, July 10th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 4 Comments

    Report: Porsche Panamera Turbo lays claim to 7:56 Nurburgring lap time Porsche's intense rivalry with Nissan over Nurburgring lap times may have cooled off in recent months, but a new rivalry appears to be in the works, this time with Cadillac and the CTS-V. A report emerging from Germany today has the Panamera Turbo lapping the Nurburgring in 7:56 minutes - just over 3 seconds faster than the American uber-sedan.

    It would also mean taking the mantle as fastest lap time for a production sedan, since the CTS-V holds that title now. Porsche hasn't confirmed the time reported by Sport Auto, nor has it released its own times for the car, so it will remain to be seen if this is the final word.

    Still, the... Porsche's intense rivalry with Nissan over Nurburgring lap times may have cooled off in recent months, but a new rivalry appears to be in the works, this time with Cadillac and the CTS-V. A report emerging from Germany today has the Panamera Turbo lapping the Nurburgring in 7:56 minutes - just over 3 seconds faster than the American uber-sedan. It would also mean taking the mantle as fastest lap time for a production sedan, since the CTS-V holds that title now. Porsche hasn't confirmed the time reported by Sport Auto, nor has it released its own times for the car, so it will remain to be seen if this is the final word. Still, the possibility of the next round of super-sedans taking the title from the current $59,995 Cadillac CTS-V by mere seconds goes to show just how far Cadillac has pushed the performance-per-dollar value equation, especially considering the Panamera Turbo, at $132,600, is the least expensive of the super-sedan set, which also includes the Aston Martin Rapide and Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S. On the other hand, lap times at the Nurburgring, while a good measure of real-world performance, aren't the end-all, be-all many manufacturers would have you believe. Variables such as tire type, driver ability, season, temperature, traffic and more can all affect lap times, and in the end, very few if any of the production cars that guard their 'Ring times closely will see actual track use, making the debate academic at best. For more on the Panamera Turbo and its other variants, read our release story here, or check out our preview of the car's debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this August.2010 Porsche Panamera Read More

  • Swiss Team unveils Maserati Quattroporte race car

    Swiss Team unveils Maserati Quattroporte race car April 11th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, April 11th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 0 Comments

    Swiss Team unveils Maserati Quattroporte race car Following this past week’s unveiling of the GranTurismo MC GT4 comes a second Maserati race car, this time based on the four-door Quattroporte saloon. The new car is set to debut in the 2009 Superstars Series and driving it, on behalf of the Swiss Team, will be former F1 driver Andrea Chiesa.

    The Superstar Series is a European touring car event that sees sedans from various generations compete, including cars like the BMW 5-series dating back to the 1980s, as well as the Chrysler 300 and some Cadillac models.

    In racing spec, the Quattroporte develops more than 450hp (336kW) from its 4.2L V8 engine and its kerb weight has been... Following this past week’s unveiling of the GranTurismo MC GT4 comes a second Maserati race car, this time based on the four-door Quattroporte saloon. The new car is set to debut in the 2009 Superstars Series and driving it, on behalf of the Swiss Team, will be former F1 driver Andrea Chiesa. The Superstar Series is a European touring car event that sees sedans from various generations compete, including cars like the BMW 5-series dating back to the 1980s, as well as the Chrysler 300 and some Cadillac models. In racing spec, the Quattroporte develops more than 450hp (336kW) from its 4.2L V8 engine and its kerb weight has been reduced to around 1,430kg. Other modifications include the addition of a sequential manual gearbox, new Pirelli tires, and a few minor aerodynamic modifications. The Swiss Team are still working on the chassis development for the new race car and hope to carry out the first test sessions in the lead up to the first round of racing at Imola, Italy, on April 19. Read More

  • Centurion special edition Quattroporte honors AmEx Black cardholders

    Centurion special edition Quattroporte honors AmEx Black cardholders March 3rd, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, March 3rd, 2009 Ralph Hanson 1 Comment

    Centurion special edition Quattroporte honors AmEx Black cardholders Times are tough, and even some of the wealthy may be making more-than-normal use of their ultra-exclusive credit cards such as American Express' Centurion Card, commonly known as the Black Card. But that membership entitles cardholders to special benefits, one of which was admission to the unveiling of a new special-edition Maserati Quattroporte designed with the Centurion theme.

    The Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion, as the car is called, is available in two trim levels, though every individual car will be built to order. The primary differences are the choice between a standard 4.2L 400hp (298kW) V8 and a 4.7L 430hp (320kW) V8 like that... Times are tough, and even some of the wealthy may be making more-than-normal use of their ultra-exclusive credit cards such as American Express' Centurion Card, commonly known as the Black Card. But that membership entitles cardholders to special benefits, one of which was admission to the unveiling of a new special-edition Maserati Quattroporte designed with the Centurion theme. The Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion, as the car is called, is available in two trim levels, though every individual car will be built to order. The primary differences are the choice between a standard 4.2L 400hp (298kW) V8 and a 4.7L 430hp (320kW) V8 like that found in the Quattroporte S and GranTurismo S. When equipped with the smaller engine, the car is good for a 5.6 second 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint, while the larger engine cuts that time to just 5.4 seconds. Similarly, the 4.2's top speed comes at 167mph (268km/h), while the 4.7 can hit 174mph (280km/h). Both cars get clad in a special Nero Carbonio (carbon black) paint, outfitted with a contrasting Bianco Polare (polar white) leather interior by Poltrona Frau. Centurion logos are embossed onto the headrests, each car bears a bespoke numbered plaque and titanium-colored trim accents the cabin. LED rear light clusters and 20in polished rims wrap up the exterior modifications. Pricing for the 4.2L variant starts at £88,315 ($124,000), while the 4.7L takes off from £94,185 ($132,000).Maserati Quattroporte for Centurion Read More

  • Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S pricing starts at $138,400

    Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S pricing starts at $138,400 December 23rd, 2008 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, December 23rd, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 4 Comments

    Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S pricing starts at $138,400 Late last year we saw Maserati introduce a new performance ‘S’ variant of its already sporty Quattroporte GT, and now the Italian carmaker has released the first details of a similar model based on the recently revealed 2009 Quattroporte facelift. The new car is the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S, and it is set to make its world debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show.

    While the facelifted Quattroporte and Quattroporte S make do with a 400hp (298kW) 4.2L V8 and a 430hp (320kW) 4.7L V8 respectively, the new Sport GT S produces 440hp (328kW). The small power bump is courtesy of a high-flow exhaust system, which comes with an... Late last year we saw Maserati introduce a new performance ‘S’ variant of its already sporty Quattroporte GT, and now the Italian carmaker has released the first details of a similar model based on the recently revealed 2009 Quattroporte facelift. The new car is the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S, and it is set to make its world debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show. While the facelifted Quattroporte and Quattroporte S make do with a 400hp (298kW) 4.2L V8 and a 430hp (320kW) 4.7L V8 respectively, the new Sport GT S produces 440hp (328kW). The small power bump is courtesy of a high-flow exhaust system, which comes with an adjustable valve to keep the engine muffled around town and let loose once in the open country. Along with the engine upgrade is a lowered suspension set-up, stiffer springs, and new shock absorbers. The Quattroporte’s ZF six-speed automatic transmission remains, however, in the Sport GT S the paddle-shift operated ‘box receives new management software that allows for quicker gearshifts. Inside, the car’s usual wood panels are replaced with carbon-fiber pieces, while the seats are covered in a mix of leather and Alcantara. The exterior, meanwhile, only receives subtle updates such as blacked-out headlight surrounds and a darkened grille. The first vehicles are expected to arrive in U.S. showrooms shortly after the Detroit debut, and according to Edmunds pricing will start at $138,400 - including a $2,600 gas-guzzler tax and a $1,800 destination charge. This is only $1,000 less than the stunning GranTurismo S, which made its debut earlier this year.2009 Maserati Quattroporte faceliftMaserati Quattroporte Sport GTS Read More

  • Maserati on target for new sales record

    Maserati on target for new sales record October 7th, 2008 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, October 7th, 2008 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    Maserati on target for new sales record Despite the dire state of most of the industry, there have been a few consistent bright spots, and Maserati is now set to join them. The builder of luxury sports cars has already sold 40% more vehicles than it did last year, and that figure could still be going up.

    Through August, Maserati has sold over 8,000 cars, an increase of 40% over last year's number of 5,900, reports Auto Motor & Sport. That figure has been driven primarily by the Quattroporte's sales, of which the company plans to build over 7,300 copies by the year's end.

    The future at Maserati looks bright as well, with an updated 2009 model-year lineup and new high-performance... Despite the dire state of most of the industry, there have been a few consistent bright spots, and Maserati is now set to join them. The builder of luxury sports cars has already sold 40% more vehicles than it did last year, and that figure could still be going up. Through August, Maserati has sold over 8,000 cars, an increase of 40% over last year's number of 5,900, reports Auto Motor & Sport. That figure has been driven primarily by the Quattroporte's sales, of which the company plans to build over 7,300 copies by the year's end. The future at Maserati looks bright as well, with an updated 2009 model-year lineup and new high-performance 'S' models of both the GranTurismo and Quattroporte on deck. Future developments at the company, including a possible new smaller coupe/sedan pair below the current duo, could see the company climb to even greater volumes - despite industry predictions that sales in 2009 will be no better than 2008.Maserati sports coupe spied Read More

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