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Auto Review: Maserati Quattroporte S

The benchmark for sports saloons

The Porsche Panamera, the Jaguar XF, the Audi RS5, now the world is replete with four-door, four-seat saloons boasting sports car performance. For decades, however, the Maserati Quattroporte was the final (and only) word in high-performance cars in which you could transport more than two people.
In the early Sixties Gino Rancati, a Cremona-born journalist, suggested the idea of what was to become the Quattroporte - the world's fastest saloon at the time. The very first Quattroporte was designed by Pietro Frua in 1963. The 4.2-litre V8 engine powered the car to a top speed of 220 km/h.
In 1974 Bertone designed the Quattroporte mark II with a three-litre V6 engine - the first and only front-wheel drive Maserati. Only eleven units were built. In 1979 Maserati, under Alejandro de Tomaso, launched the Quattroporte mark III with its V8 engine and its three-speed automatic transmission. In 1994 the Quattroporte mark IV followed and 10 years later Pininfarina and its team designed the Quattroporte mark V.
Maserati took the DNA of the Quattroporte's predecessors and launched the all-new model in 2013. Versions including The Quattroporte GTS, the Quattroporte S and Quattroporte are powered by a 3.8-litre V8 (Quattroporte GTS) and a three-litre V6 (Quattroporte S and Quattroporte), both of which are twin turbo charged, developed by Maserati Powertrain and built by Ferrari.
The rear-wheel drive Quattroporte S which was tested reaches 100km/h in 5.1 seconds and achieves a top speed of 285km/h. Poised and elegant, it may not attract the same dribbling ogles its Ferrari stable mates seem to inspire, but that actually works in the Quattroporte's favour. You don't feel conspicuous or self-conscious in this car. It is undoubtedly glamorous (just look at it) and has the pedigree and marque to make it your pride and joy, but it is also, dare we say, practical.
Driving to and from Abu Dhabi to Dubai was just as much of a joy for the passengers as the driver. An ergonomic, leather-bound environment, which was more like a business class jet than a car; the smoothness of the ride mixed with the engine's soothing purr escalating to a hearty roar on the straights were the highlights.
From a driver's perspective, the Quattroporte has at times been accused of possessing heavy steering. There was not a hint of that in this incarnation with cornering a particular point to espouse.