Aenean tincidunt. Nulla rutrum mollis enim

The Maserati Quattroporte — Italian for “four doors” — is utterly unlike any other upscale full-size sedan. In stark contrast to bulky and pragmatic German luxury cars laden with electronics, this soulful Maserati is fashioned for those who actually enjoy driving and delight in controlling a car rather than letting electrons do most of the work.

It’s likely that just a small subset of luxury-sedan buyers will fully appreciate the Quattroporte’s high-strung and sporting Italian spirit — as opposed to simply craving one for its inherent cachet. That’s not to say that more should: Like peaty Scotch, slack-key guitar or Thomas Pynchon novels, either you get it or you don’t.

The Quattroporte is, in the best sense of the phrase, a modern vintage car — not that there’s anything old-fashioned about a 400-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 (the first non-turbocharged or supercharged engine of its size to achieve such high output) or a race-bred six-speed sequential manual transmission. But there’s a feeling, both in the Quattroporte’s quietly classic styling and its Old World furnishings that this is a car for sophisticated connoisseurs rather than simple strivers
Maserati made a scant 4,800 sedans, roadsters and coupes in 2004, so the 2006 Quattroporte will be a rarity. The company intends it for “technical drivers” — a polite way of saying rich gearheads. For roughly the same money, you can buy an enormous Audi, BMW or Mercedes with substantially more power than the Quattroporte, but you might as well let your chauffeur drive while you play with the electronics.

Despite a storied past and a reputation — in both racing and manufacturing — that rapidly eroded after the brand’s 1950s glory days, Maserati somehow remains a powerful brand in the minds of many, almost as synonymous with Italian sports car as is Ferrari. (Remember the Chrysler TC “by Maserati” convertible of the late 1980s, essentially a repackaged LeBaron?) Never mind past missteps: to say you drive a Maserati is more of a meaningful boast today than anytime in the last half-century.

The Sport GT version of the Quattroporte was created to further enhance the high performance spirit and sporty character that set the Quattroporte apart from any other executive saloon. From an engineering point of view, the gearbox has been given the most radical overhaul; the Sport button allows the driver to significantly cut gear changing times (which are now 35% faster on average), thanks to a development in the electro-hydraulic transmission system’s CPU. At high engine speeds, the Quattroporte Sport GT’s exhaust system also gives a much deeper rumble to the already sporty sound of the Maserati V8.

The 20″ wheels and specific Skyhook adaptive damping software mean a clear improvement in dynamic handling when used in more press-on situations. The wheels, which include the tire pressure monitoring system, are combined with brakes featuring metal weave tubing, cross-drilled discs and titanium-colored calipers.

The car’s sporty character is enhanced by subtle yet significant aesthetic touches. The black chrome of the grille and the side air intakes, for instance, take their inspiration from Maserati’s traditional racing styling cues while the bonnet bears the pierced Trident typical of the Maserati competition cars of the past. The carbon fiber trimmed steering wheel, sporty hand-brake grip and lightweight aluminum pedals complete the Sport GT look.

The Maserati Quattroporte’s cabin combines sumptuous handcrafted elegance with the space and comfort of a car designed to confidently eat up the miles on long journeys. Everything is functional yet luxurious: the controls have been ergonomically laid out to ensure that the driver has them easily to hand and eye at all times without detracting from the comfort of the front and rear passengers.

Onboard quality of life is given absolute priority. The temperature is optimized by a dual-zone climate control and the Quattroporte’s sophisticated computerized system features a Multi Media System color display which includes, amongst other things, onboard computer functions, satellite navigation system and a single CD player. On request, a GSM telephone, TV and DVD player can also be added. Last but far from least, the Quattroporte also boasts the exclusive Bose Hi-End digital audio system which delivers all of the clarity, depth and power of a world-class concert hall.

The Skyhook system works together with a highly developed suspension architecture offering front and rear double wishbones with arms and hubs in forged aluminum, to deliver blistering dynamic handling and sumptuous ride comfort. Anti-dive and anti-squat geometries prevent the nose diving under braking and the tail-end dipping under acceleration.

-Brembo braking system with four self ventilated dual-cast discs; front 330 mm x 32 mm (360 mm x 32 mm for the Quattroporte Sport GT S); rear 330 mm x 28 mm
-Four-piston fixed front calipers with differentiated diameter and (front six-piston with an aluminium casing for the Sport GT S), four-piston in the rear
-ABS anti-lock system
-EBD Electronically controlled braking distributor
-MSP stability control (includes ABS, EBD and ASR)
-6 airbags; 2 front, 2 side (front), 2 side curtain (front and rear)
-seat belts with electronically controlled pyrotechnical pretensioners
-inertial switch (acting in the fuel pumps to prevent fire in case of a violent collision)

The Quattroporte’s 4,244cc 90° V8 engine is light and compact, weighing in at just 403 lbs. Its architecture is worthy of the most advanced racing engines, punching out a specific power of 95.2 bhp/liter. Chain-driven twin overhead camshafts per cylinder bank command four valves per cylinder with hydraulic tappets. The intake cams feature continuously variable phase timing, and also have a new profile expressly designed for the Quattroporte engine, which optimizes its responsiveness. There is also an electronic drive-by-wire accelerator.

The Quattroporte’s V8 engine has a specific and fluid power delivery curve for top class ride comfort and smooth driving: the revs increase gradually and smoothly and the engine delivers a massive 400 bhp at 7,000 rpm. Over 75% of the maximum torque is available at just 2,500 rpm. Combined with the MDS (Maserati DuoSelect) transmission, it offers maximum pleasure in day-to-day driving as well as in more press-on situations.

Click here to view specifications.