2004 Maserati Quattroporte

The big Italian saloon is making a triumphant return to the world of the flagship car, in the shape of the Maserati Quattroporte which introduces innovative new concepts to this highly conservative sector. Clothed in an elegantly-designed Pininfarina body, the new saloon is a modern take on the original Maserati Quattroporte concept of marrying genuine sportiness with space and comfort in a typically sophisticated Trident marque package.

The Maserati Quattroporte offers today what the first Frua-designed Quattroporte surprised clients with in 1963: the inimitable Trident style, a sophisticated interior awash with full-grain leather and luxury woods, plus a spirited temperament its elegantly understated exterior doesn't even hint at. The Quattroporte, which debuts on September 9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, lives up to every expectation drivers might have of such a twin-souled car: it has the space and dimensions of a limousine yet the irresistible, confident character of a blistering GT.

This is a car that can be personalised right down to the last detail to suit the client, using, of course, the very best of Maserati's trademark Italian taste and design.
It also revolutionises the classic architecture of the big saloon, thanks to two factors: the positioning of the engine behind the front axle and the use of the sports-derived Transaxle rear-mounted gearbox in unit with the differential. The result: optimal weight distribution for guaranteed maximum efficiency.
The sophisticated electro-hydraulic gearbox is fully automatic, but allows the driver to opt for a sportier change by selecting the manual setting and using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shift.

The new Quattroporte also boasts some impressive vital statistics.

DIMENSIONS:
length 5052 mm,
width 1895 mm,
height 1438 mm,
wheelbase 3064;

ENGINE:
400 bhp 4.2-litre Maserati V8;

PERFORMANCE:
top speed 275 km/h.

And there is a practically endless array of personalisation options available, including 15 bodywork colours, three types of wood (rosewood, mahogany and briarwood), 10 shades of leather and a wide range of specific optionals.

Sergio Pininfarina for Quattroporte

"By designing the Maserati Quattroporte I have fulfilled two of my personal goals: I have started to work with Maserati again after a long gap, and I have put my name to Italy's finest saloon. Perhaps not many people remember that in the late 1940s it was Pininfarina that designed the first Maserati road cars, followed by a number of special cars with a clarity of design and beauty of proportions that place them, in my opinion at least, amongst our most successful designs of the period. In our design for the Quattroporte we have attempted to synthesise the spirit of a great Italian saloon in timeless shapes: the formal heritage of past experience provided the inspiration, which we have developed in strongly sensual lines and surfaces with a very modern dynamism.

Within the Quattroporte project, we have also worked hard to give in-depth attention to every facet of all the details that come together to create an impression of beauty and quality. Today, at the car's launch and four years from the start of the project, I am absolutely convinced that this car expresses the guidelines we received from Maserati to perfection: a car which is sporty, elegant and clearly Italian, and above all immediately recognisable as a Maserati. The challenge of winning back Maserati's status amongst the great constructors is a demanding one, but I think everything is now in place for a well-deserved success."