TWO new model variants and a brand new look are the stand out features of the 2017 Maserati Quattroporte, with the company’s flagship model for next year revealed in recent days.
After three and a half years of unprecedented success the Maserati Quattroporte has undergone a substantial restyling that accentuates its elegance without altering its signature Maserati personality, adds more equipment, boosts performance and enhances refinement – adding the GranLusso and GranSport trim packages as well.
The exterior of the restyled Quattroporte is instantly recognizable thanks to the new bumper design with matte black profile at the front and the matte black extractor at the rear.
The new front grille is more pointed and imposing, and it introduces new vertical chrome elements that contrast with the deepness of the shark nose effect. Other distinguishing details of the new Quattroporte are the matte black side skirts and the exterior mirrors, slightly restyled as well to incorporate some new technical features.
An electrically adjustable Air Shutter has been fitted in the front grille between the air vents and the engine’s radiator. The Air Shutter provides optimal control of the engine’s fluid temperature and, together with the optimization of the new front and rear bumpers, air conveyor and flat bottom, improves the aerodynamic drag of the car by 10%.
The improvements to the interior were introduced to enhance the purity of the model by underlining only the functional parts. This takes place through the clean integration of the new interface elements with the infotainment area and tunnel console.
More specifically, the redesigned central dashboard now accommodates a new high resolution 8.4″ screen with multi touch function. This centre console is now a continuous flowing design that integrates screen, new climate control and new drawer in a single seamless design, emphasizing the pure, unified flowing interior composition typical of the Quattroporte.
The central, lower console is also redesigned and now features a rotary knob for volume and function control, a new lid and phone box. The stylistic approach to these functional elements permits a minimalist design approach for the centre of the dashboard.
The new infotainment system is compatible with both the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring functions.
A new package of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems is standard in Australia and New Zealand in the new Quattroporte. It includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Brake Assist and Automated Emergency Braking. An additional new Surround View Camera is also standard.
All Quattroporte cars are now also equipped with an Air Quality Sensor, a feature that substantially improves comfort levels for the occupants on-board. This system combines an intelligent sensor and a signal analysis system that calculates the external pollution levels and prevents polluted air and toxic gases from entering the cabin.
Under the hood, the Quattroporte remains faithful to its traditions with a wide range of engines and transmissions starting with the Quattroporte GTS, powered by the immense 530hp 3.8 litre Ferrari-produced V8 Twin-Turbo rear wheel drive, capable of a peak torque of 710Nm and able to propel the car to 310km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 4.7 seconds.
The Quattroporte is also available with the 410hp 3.0 litre Ferrari-produced V6 Twin-Turbo, rear wheel driven in the Quattroporte S, delivering a top of the class 550Nm of torque, 286km/h top speed and 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds.
The range is completed by the Quattroporte Diesel; equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 Turbo, it delivers 600Nm of torque with 275hp, retaining a top speed of 252km/h and a quick 0-100 km/h figure of just 6.4 seconds.
All versions of the Quattroporte are fitted with state-of-the-art ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and electronically-controlled Skyhook shock absorbers; with an ideal 50:50 weight distribution and an extensive use of aluminium in the chassis, body and suspension, performance and comfort are again unparalleled.
Locals will have to wait until the end of the year to lay their hands on one, but you can order them from mid July this year. Final Australian specifications and pricing will be confirmed at launch, at year end.
