The Maserati Quattroporte or ‘four doors’ as it translates, is as you would guess, a car with four doors. The Quattroporte (QP) sits in the full sized luxury car market with stiff competition from the likes of the BMW 7 series, Mercedes S Class and Jaguar XF.
Thanks to Charles Hurst Maserati in Belfast we got the chance recently to drive the Maserati Ghibli [read the full review here] which was hugely impressive and on the same day we also got access to the ‘limousine’ of the Maserati range in the form of this QP.
Limousine is a word that refers to the rather large cars in this class as they are the cars that successful business men would get driven to meetings in, cars that VIP’s would hire to get around in and they are also the sort of cars you would expect to see the mayor or mayoress of your local council arrive to a function in.
The QP is available in three different guises, the Quattroporte S which is fitted with the 3.0 V6 twin turbo petrol engine producing 410bhp, the Quattroporte Diesel is equipped with a 3.0 V6 single turbo diesel unit that produces 275bhp whilst the range topper is the Quattroporte GTS that is fitted with a fire breathing 530bhp 3.8 V8 twin turbo motor.
It is the V8 which shouts aloud for me as back in 1963 when Maserati introduced the first QP they basically invented the ‘luxury sports saloon’ by mating a race inspired V8 engine to a saloon car, at the time creating the fastest saloon car in the world.
Outside, the QP is absolutely massive with very smooth lines whilst this model tested is equipped with front and rear parking sensors as well as a reverse camera to aid maneuvering of this barge for want of a word.
Four exhaust pipes dominate the rear of the car whilst a chrome Maserati emblem graces the quarter panel with the trademark wing vents being very prominent indeed. LED daytime running lights are built into the headlights and the font end is sculpted to perfection.
Load space in the boot is substantial and i would guess two sets of clubs wouldn’t be an issue never mind plus fours and a few gun slips for the gentry during winter months of sporting activities alongside suitable decanted liquids for elevenses on the estate.
Inside and the QP is a hugely spacious and luxurious place to be with everything you would need, OK it may not have the sheer volume of equipment and gadgets that the likes of the BMW 7 series has but nonetheless it is a great place to sit.
The QP may even feel a little dated compared to its rivals and the cream interior of this model tested isn’t to my personal tastes though i do love the analogue clock in the dash and the contemporary wood trim. The QP excels by offering something very different, something unique and something very beautiful for those thinking outside the box and want to stand out from the crowd.
Three trim levels are available with the standard trim being the one tested offering electric and heated everything along with dual climate control and a heard’s worth of leather inside along with 19″ alloy wheels, optional trim levels include GranLusso and GranSport.
GranLusso adds chrome trim outside, colour coded side skirts and 20″ alloy wheels along with more inside style in the form of a bespoke silk interior which is combined with a sumptuous blend of wood and leather along with 4-zone climate control.
GranSport as the name suggests, adds more style and performance enhancements such as sports seats, sports steering wheel and paddle shift alongside 21″ alloy wheels and sports bumpers. Outside, gloss black features dominate with red brake calipers and an optional carbon pack which adds lots of weave both inside and out.
If you want a mountain of gadgets and buttons that you will never use then Maserati isn’t for you as they simply don’t fit anything that is not needed and as such, infotainment is kept simple, yet offers just enough.
The large screen in dash has DAB Radio, Sat Nav and Bluetooth while an optional reverse camera can be displayed via this system. Overall the system was simple and easy to use via the touch screen whilst the 2017 spec adds a drive wheel in the centre console, this complicates things a little and i found it best to use the touch screen itself.
This model tested is the QP diesel and I must say, for a diesel it was very refined and pulled incredibly well in all gears, right through the rev range. The gearbox is an 8 speed ZF automatic with optional paddle shift which provides smooth shifts and performs great.
With potent engines fitted, Maserati have always been about the driving experience and things are no different for the QP especially with its roots back to 1963. On a spirited run around the Ulster GP circuit, Dundrod the QP was firm and composed, maybe a little too firm compared to some rivals but this only means one thing, it handles fantastically.
Weight is kept to a minimum where possible by using aluminium panels and even a lot of the cast metal components around the engine are in fact cast alloy which have been bonded in place in the name of weight saving and perfect distribution.
Driving wise, compared to the Ghibli, you can notice the extra size and weight of the QP and it isn’t quite just as agile as its smaller brother, however in this class it is all about comfort and quality inside, as said at the start, most owners will be providing chauffeur services or maybe even have their own driver and as such the QP provides the perfect balance of performance, stability and comfort.
Pricing starts from £70,270 for the QP diesel with the QP S starting from £82,045, if either the GranLusso or GranSport spec is chosen, add circa £8k onto this before further options. The range topping QP GTS starting from £115,040 and comes as standard in either Lusso or Sport trim.
Annual road tax on the QP diesel tested is a mere £185/annum and will return in the region of 40mpg which is more than acceptable. After driving the Ghibili on the same day, i do think it is a very hard model to look past, though the QP will appeal to a different market completely.
Keep your eyes on the blog next week for our report from the launch of the Maserati Levante, Maserati’s all new SUV.
Words and Photos: Graham Curry
