Posted on Wednesday 18 July 2007
Maserati’s Quattroporte saloon first debuted back in 2004 as a concept before going on sale as an almost identical production version later that same year. Initial tests of the car led to one common criticism – the lack of an authentic automatic transmission. Its electronic-actuated Duoselect manual gearbox was derived from the same unit used by Ferrari, a design based on the automated manual gearbox used in its Formula One race cars. The logical decision would have been to use it in a sports car and not a flagship saloon like the Quattroporte. That’s not to say that the Quattroporte is a car devoid of a sporting nature, just that the violent and abrupt shifts of the Duoselect are simply not suitable for a premium executive saloon.
Now, three years after the release of the original, the Modenese marque has finally filled the gap and introduced a new automatic gearbox, a six-speed unit from ZF to be sold alongside the Duoselect version. With the introduction of the German sourced gearbox, the Quattroporte’s leap ahead in terms of comfort and smoothness only improves the car’s strong points and gives it better traction in the land of prestigious flagship cars that cost well over six figures.
Styling and interior
The only tangible difference between the new Automatic version and the Duoselect is the new gear level mounted on the center console. The rest of the car remains virtually untouched, still exuberating desirability and maintaining a muscular stance. Our test model was decked in an expensive pearl white finish perfectly conserving the cars mix of elegance and athleticism. It also came with optional light-alloy 19in wheels. The interior, as usual, is dominated by leather for the seats, armrests and door linings, with polished wood used for the trim inserts. Keeping up with its German rivals, the Quattroporte also comes with an extensive options list with no less than nine different color options for the interior and five different types of wood for the trim, plus carbon-fiber for GT spec models.
Technical
Mechanically the only point of difference is the new automatic gearbox, but its inclusion has allowed Maserati to improve other aspects of the car such as weight distribution and performance. Unlike the Duoselect unit, which is lodged on the rear axle, the new ZF six-speeder is mounted directly to the engine block. In this position, weight distribution improves with a near ideal 49-51% split front to back versus the 47-53% of the Duoselect.
Beyond its totally automatic function, the gearbox also features a manual mode that allows you to shift gears via the lever or optional paddle shifters. Activating sports mode gives you access to the V8 engine’s entire rev-range and the adaptive six-speed gearbox will downshift early and happily rev to the redline. At the same time, the electronically adjusted Skyhook suspension system firms up and the throttle becomes a little more responsive.
The V8 is still the familiar 4.2L mill constructed by the Ferrari boys down the road in Maranello. Max power remains at 393hp at 7,000rpm, but a series of improvements has allowed the engine to obtain a more responsive nature lower in the rev range as is evidenced by the increase in peak torque from 450Nm to 460Nm at a lower 4,250rpm than the previous 4,500rpm level. These improvements have been brought about from a redesign of the induction manifold, intake camshaft and engine pistons.
On the road
Turn the ignition key and you’ll immediately notice one of the first motivations for buying the Maserati Quattroporte. The 4.2L V8 emits an unmistakable rumble that tells you this is an engine that means serious business. With the sound of the engine still tingling down your spine, it’s pretty obvious that the Quattroporte is a four-door Ferrari in everything but the name.
Combined with the rev-happy motor, the new automatic demonstrates a marked leap over the Duoselect gearbox in terms of comfort, offering fluid and seamless gear changes without the abrupt shifts that plagued the automated manual equipped versions. There’s no dip in performance either, with Sport mode offering acceleration figures just a few tenths of a second off the pace of the Duoselect equipped Quattroporte Sport GT. The best we managed for the 0-100km/h sprint was 5.79 seconds, less than two tenths of a second slower than the Sport GT.
The new set-up is definitely hard to criticize. The only area where we had some slight issues was the electronic management of the auto-box’s manual mode. In this setting, there’s a slight delay in initial gear pickup when the gas pedal is slammed to the floor. Rough terrain can also unsettle the big Maser, which you’ll start to feel reverberating through the steering wheel even with the softer Normal setting dialed up for the adaptive suspension.
In any case, these are minor issues and the rest of the flagship’s repertoire is some of the best in this class. The Quattroporte’s performance aspects are much better than we’d hoped. For starters, the tested top speed grazes the official claim of 270km/h, attesting itself with a run of 269.1km/h, and when pushed hard the Quattroporte remains responsive and well-balanced despite its generous proportions.
Should I buy one?
In summary, the beautiful car from Modena is on a much better footing for the second half of its life-cycle then when first launched, yet still maintains its charming and unmistakable design, effortless drivability, and levels of performance you’d expect from a car wearing the Trident badge. Up against V8 powered rivals from the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, the Maserati Quattroporte isn’t the obvious choice but its Italian style and character means you won’t be just another faceless faceless German saloon owner. As for the price, the old adage ‘if you need to ask how much it costs then you probably can’t afford it’ applies. Those of you with a good relationship with your bank manager already know that it’ll set you back €133,312 (US$112,250).
good job,Maserati. I’d buy one.
Don’t like that interior…looked better before.
this is the same gearbox as the AUD 40,000 falcon
:D