Maserati Quattroporte: The Fast & The Sumptuous

This is the new, sixth-generation Maserati Quattroporte. Maserati has been building its flagship model since 1963, always striving to improve the luxury and performance of its car. This one is no different.

Sixth-gen Quattroporte

The car seats four or five (as it offers a hand-crafted interior, the choice is readily made), and in addition to traditional sumptuousness, there is also technology, like an 8.4-in touch screen for infotainment and a 1,280-Watt Bowers and Wilkins premium surround system.

The car is available with a 3.8-liter, 530-hp, twin-turbo V8. It has a top speed of 190.8 mph. It is said to have “class-leading” specific power output of 139 hp/liter, “class leading” specific torque output of 171 Nm/liter (its peak torque is 710 Nm), and “class leading” weight to power ratio of 3.6 kg/hp (the car has a curb weight of 1,900 kg, or 4,189 lb.) We’re not sure what class the car is in exactly. We’re guessing that it is a rather exclusive one.

The engine was developed by Maserati Powertrain. It is produced by Ferrari in its Maranello plant. (The car, incidentally, is manufactured in an all-new plant in Torino, Italy.) This Quattroporte is the fastest four-door that Maserati has ever built.

There is also a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. In the setup with the Q4 all-wheel-drive system (it can split the torque 50:50 when needed), the 410-hp V6 has a top speed of 177 mph.

Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic from ZF.

ZF 8HP transmission

Speaking of the application with the V8, Dr. Gerhard Wagner, member of the ZF Board of Management and head of ZF’s Powertrain Technology division said, “Developing the application in light of this phenomenal engine torque is no easy feat.”

We’re guessing that’s an example of understatement.