ge5200321676680570705
ge5284035647064759788
ge5754852911069219968
ge5209088556036744013
ge5642888919810508306
Marton Pettendy23 Jan 2014
REVIEW

Maserati Quattroporte 2014 Review

Bigger, lighter, more powerful and efficient new Quattroporte GTS is a fitting Maserati flagship

Maserati Quattroporte GTS

Launch Review
Sydney, NSW

It’s been a long time coming, but Maserati’s sixth-generation Quattroporte has finally arrived Down Under, at least in top-shelf GTS form powered by a cracking new twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8. Priced at a whisker under $320,000 -- $21K more than the previous Quattroporte flagship – the sleek new sports limousine is bigger, lighter, more powerful and more refined, yet more efficient than before.

Presence and exclusivity have always been the preserves of top-end sports cars and with just 100 examples of the elegant new Quattroporte (70 per cent of which will be V6-powered) slated for Australia, the top-shelf GTS offers both in spades.

With limited supplies from Italy and a cheaper ($240K) twin-turbo V6 to come next month, the sleek new four-door 'coupe' is already proving a sought-after alternative to the cheaper and more powerful Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG and the pricier, less powerful Porsche Panamera Turbo.

Based on an all-new, lighter steel and aluminium platform and bigger in all key dimensions – especially the back seat, as demanded by the Chinese market – the sixth Quattroporte since 1963 and the second under Fiat ownership offers undeniable road presence and a subtly stretched variation of the Maserati flagship’s unmistakable proportions.

Rear occupants are treated to vastly bigger door openings and more leg and head room, with both rear bucket seats easily accommodating six-foot passengers – even behind similarly sized bodies up front.

However, the centre rear position is heavily humped, making it a kids-only space, and although there are central and B-pillar mounted rear ventilation outlets (and rear 12-volt and USB ports), quad-zone climate remains on the extensive options list.

All Quattroporte passengers are treated to a sumptuously appointed and, thanks to the new body and double-glazed frameless windows, much quieter cabin that’s completely lined with either leather, faux suede, wood or carpet.

The V8-powered GTS tested here offers a more upmarket ambience than the V6, thanks to slightly different leather and stitching and open-pore woodgrain trim that exudes class. Square, rather than round, quad exhaust outlets and larger 20-inch wheels are the only exterior telltales for the V8.

Alongside supportive front sports seats with plenty of adjustment, power-operated steering wheel adjustment and a large 8.4-inch central colour touch-screen (which is straight from the Chrysler 300, but offers separate radio and climate controls), the Quattroporte driver’s seat is a beautiful place to be.

Indeed, like its most direct rivals in the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CLS, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A7, the Quattroporte remains a driver’s car that, aided by the longest wheelbase in its class, happens to accommodate four adults in almost as much comfort as traditional German limos like the S-Class, 7 Series and A8.

There’s no mistaking the size or, at 1900kg (almost 100kg lighter than the model it replaces, but 40kg more than the V6), sheer bulk of the new Quattroporte, but lightening the load is a lusty new 90-degree 3.8-litre V8 assembled by Ferrari at Maranello.

It employs a pair of twin-scroll turbochargers to extract no less than 390kW of power and 650Nm of torque – the latter rising to a buxom 710Nm in overboost mode (200Nm more than the model it replaces).

Driving the rear wheels and matched with a slick eight-speed ZF automatic transmission operated by almost long enough column-mounted shift paddles, the result is effortless acceleration from as little as 1500rpm. The V8 delivers almost imperceptible turbo lag, a heady 7200rpm rev limit, hairy-chested V8 induction and exhaust notes and blisteringly quick acceleration from any speed.

Customers attracted to its uniquely Italian sound and style won’t care, but the GTS stands tall among its rivals on paper with 0-100km/h acceleration of just 4.7 seconds – within a second of the Panamera Turbo (3.9) and half a second of the CLS 63 AMG (4.2) – and a 307km/h top speed.

Even more irrelevant at this end of the market is claimed average fuel consumption of 11.8L/100km, which is 20 per cent less than before but more than the Porsche (11.5) and Benz (10.3). Maserati recommends an expensive diet of 98 RON premium unleaded and we averaged 13.6L/100km on a return trip from Sydney to Bowral via the Royal National Park.

For the record, the twin-turbo V6-equipped Quattroporte S, which also offers a capless fuel filler,  sips 1.4L/100km less at 10.4L/100km and is only four-tenths slower to 100km/h (5.1 seconds).

On the subject of practicality, all Quattroportes measure no less than 5262mm long and offer 50/50 weight distribution and a sizeable 530-litre boot, equipped with a 60/40-split folding rear seat and 18-inch temporary spare.

The Quattroporte GTS chassis is as impressive as its engine, feeling lighter on its feet yet stiffer than before.

Possessing all-new, all-aluminium double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension with coil springs and Skyhook variable damping, the Quattroporte sits flat during hard cornering yet rides with composure at all times – even on the harshest of surfaces on the largest (21-inch) wheel options.

The switchable damping system makes a big difference to ride and handling, while an ‘ICE’ efficiency mode blunts performance as much as the Sports mode increases it, but the conventional hydraulic steering always delivers plenty of feel and response.

Braking is via new bright red fixed aluminium monobloc callipers all round - six-piston up front, four-piston at rear, with larger 380mm front rotors for the V8.

Safety equipment includes twin front, front-side and side curtain airbags, traction/stability control, anti-lock brakes, a reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring and front/rear parking sensors.

Also standard are automatic bi-xenon headlights with washers, LED tail-lights and running lights, automatic wipers, dual-zone climate-control, an electric parking brake, keyless entry/start, cruise control and a 10-speaker 600-Watt sound system with Bluetooth audio streaming and CD/DVD audio/video player.

Naturally, there’s also a long list of personalisation options, including WLAN-based WiFi, smaller and larger wheels with unique suspension tune, brake callipers in blue, silver or polished aluminium, four upper dashboard trims, three lower dash colours, four wood or carbon dash trim choices, four roof linings, rear tables, individual rear seats and a 15-speaker 1280-Watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

However, driver safety and convenience technologies you’d expect at this price – including lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, radar cruise control, a powered bootlid and soft-close doors – are unavailable.

That and an annoying squeak from the left rear door of the car we drove were the only blights on an otherwise impeccably designed, engineered and built Italian super-limo that presents a formidable new foe for the equally rarefied German players.

2014 Maserati Quattroporte GTS price and spec:
Price: $319,800 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Output: 390kW/710Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.8L/100km (combined)
CO2: 274g/km (combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:
>> More refinement
>> More interior space
>> More power and efficiency

Not so much:
>> Lacks latest driver aids
>> Squeaky left rear door trim
>> Long wait for arrival

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.