Car Review: Maserati Quattroporte

The first thing I do when I am lucky enough to review a posh car is post a photo on Facebook. Sometimes I sit in the car displaying the obligatory thumbs-up; often I post the auto-beast on its lonesome for a more slick effect.

The new Maserati Quattroporte Facebook update has so far garnered more of a reaction than all of my milestone life- events to date (maybe this says more about me than the handsome Italian car). “Nice one! But have they seen your driving?’ was one of the less generous comments.

All kinds of ‘friends’ reappeared out of the cyber-woods, from young to old, male and female, and Arab and non-Arab. Maserati, it seems, is no longer largely feted and known by an elite, mega-rich circle. It’s everyone’s favourite supercar.

I gulped as I surveyed its long muscular chassis and took in the Dhs585,000 price tag. The all-new Quattroporte has grown in length to 5.26 metres and it’s also 8cm wider. But the new flagship of Maserati is not only larger and more spacious; it has grown in power, with a 307 km/h top speed.

Its V8 twin turbo makes it the fastest four- door Maserati ever built. The Quattroporte direct-injection engine family now boasts an all-new 523-horsepower 3.8-litre V8 and a twin turbo charged 3.0-litre V6, designed by the Maserati Powertrain experts and assembled by Ferrari at Maranello.

And if I was in any doubt, the paddle gears and sports suspension options
made it abundantly clear that even if the new Quattroporte looks like a luxurious chauffeur car, it’s also a full-spec racing car in a four-door saloon disguise.

In the cabin, I jigged a variety of electronic switches before I found my perfect seating position; later I was to find out this would be auto-remembered, as well as the temperature I liked. Nice touch.

The Italian craftsmanship is obvious throughout, with sumptuous cream leathers, deep spongy carpets and a prestige trim. The interior is surprisingly clutter-free, which lends the model a simple, elegant touch. While the finishings are extremely high-end, the all new cleaner and meaner Quattroporte is focused on pure, unfettered driving. It’s all about the thrill of the race – in smooth, practical casing.

The car leaps off the road when desired, especially when engaging the sports suspension combined with the sports gear mode. The V8 model uses an eight- speed automatic transmission and delivers unsurpassed rear-wheel drive agility.

The new 50:50 weight distribution, the longer wheelbase and the improved aerodynamics all help to make the car feel nimbler and more balanced.

Refreshingly, the Quattroporte’s real life cache trumps even its social media draw. This beauty looks better in the flesh. It just took me a few seconds to realise that the people who stopped dead in the street were, in fact, staring at the motor and it wasn’t simply me having a good day.

If you don’t mind this show-stopping car stealing all the attention, then this stunning luxury vehicle is a worthy addition to any supercar stable.