New Maserati Quattroporte to cost $320K

Maserati has announced Australian pricing and specification details for its new-generation Quattroporte, revealing a price of $319,800 plus on-road costs for the range-topping GTS.

That means the top-shelf twin-turbo V8 version of the new Quattroporte -- first examples of which will arrive here three months later than expected, in January – will cost $21,000 more than the previous Quattroporte flagship, the Sport GT S MC Sportline ($298,800).

No price or spec details have been released for the six-cylinder models (V6 turbo-diesel and V6 BiTurbo petrol, the latter in rear- and all-wheel drive form), or the smaller new Ghibli sedan that is due here in the second quarter of 2014.

Built at a new plant in Turin, the Quattroporte GTS will debut a new 390kW/710Nm 3.8-litre twin-turbo direct-injection petrol V8 designed by Maserati and assembled by sister company Ferrari.

Maserati claims class-leading specific power (104kW per litre) and torque (171Nm/L) outputs – the latter up 200Nm -- and a best-in-class weight-to-weight ratio of 3.6kg/hp.

Combined with a weight reduction of almost 100kg – split close to 50/50 front/rear -- that’s enough to accelerate the eight-speed automatic rear-drive GTS to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

A 307km/h top speed (20km/h faster than before) makes it the fastest four-door Maserati ever, yet Maserati also claims it’s the most powerful and the most efficient, with fuel consumption and emissions falling 20 per cent.

But it’s also quick to point out the V6 twin-turbo offers 301kW and peak torque of 550Nm – more than the outgoing Quattroporte Sport GT S.

Based on an all-new platform comprising new brakes and double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension, the latest Quattroporte is not only lighter but larger, more practical and more luxurious.

A longer wheelbase increases leg and shoulder room and four and five-seat layouts will be available, including work space and entertainment options.

New cabin features include a WLAN-based WiFi hotspot, an 8.4-inch Maserati Touch Control screen, reversing camera, active cruise control, powered rear and rear-side sun blinds, keyless starting, ambient lighting and the option of a 15-speaker 1280-Watt Bowers & Wilkins premium surround system.

Externally, there’s Chromeline trim including a chrome-framed grille with gloss black vertical bars, chromed side vent ports and chromed door and boot edging.

The GTS also comes with 20-inch Mercurio alloy wheels with 245/40 front and 295/35 rear tyres, Brembo brakes, LED tail-lights and bi-xenon headlights with directional, dipping and washer functions.

Options will include 19-inch Tritone, 20-inch Chrono and 21-inch Titano wheels, four different upper dashboard colours, three lower dash colours, five dash trim finishes including wood and carbon-fibre, four roof linings, individual rear seats and a range of leather and Alcantara seat trims.

Instead of black, the brake calipers can be had in red, silver, polished aluminium or Maserati Blu.

“Maserati will be celebrating its 100th year in style,” said Maserati Australia and New Zealand General Manager, Glen Sealey.

“We will open the year with the launch of the Quattroporte in Australia, setting a new benchmark for high-performance exclusive luxury saloons and, with a wider range than the previous model, along with all the advances that an all-new car provides, it is set to out-perform its record-setting predecessor.

“This will be followed by the Maserati Ghibli, which will bring Maserati style and performance to an entirely new sector of the market while, at the same time, demand is increasing for Maserati’s traditional sports cars, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.”

Globally, more than 20,000 orders were taken in the first nine months following the new Quattroporte’s launch. In total, Maserati sold just 6300 vehicles last year and 9000 in 2008, its best year of sales.

The new Quattroporte platform also underpins the Ghibli and upcoming Levante SUV.

“This combination of a big lift in sales and the significant broadening in the customer profile is a clear indication of the masterstroke that Maserati has achieved with the new Quattroporte,” said Sealey.

“The fact that the new Quattroporte’s platform provides the basis for the models that will compliment it, the Ghibli and the Levante, in coming months bodes extremely well for the company and, as it enters its second century, confirms that it has a bright, strong and secure future.”

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