Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati Quattroporte

World-renowned Italian design studio Pininfarina emphasized the character of this car, and he was able to enter the class that the company has identified as a new class of powerful luxury sedans Italian - a class in which there are very few representatives. Since then, as Maserati Quattroporte (Maserati Kvattroport), first introduced worldwide in 1963, withdrew from the market, this niche is almost no one was doing. Then it was the fastest sedan - it clocked up to 230 km / h at 260 hp His descendant has a V8 engine with 400 horsepower, a very spacious interior and all possible refinements, which can only wish the buyer of the car. The wheelbase of the new sedan was 3,064 mm, length, compared with its ancestor, had increased to 5,052 mm, width - up to 1895, and the height was 1,438 mm.

The first test drive the new Quattroporte S Maserati arranged not at home, and in Salzburg - in the heart of Europe, next door in Germany. They named the machine "second masterpiece" and to remove questions about the first masterpiece, included in the presentation of the famous painting doubles, depicting the same subject, but written at different times. Immodestly, but tastefully.



The assumption that the updated Quattroporte promoted under the slogan Second Masterpiece for the sake of the fact performed restyling to marry a great event, fortunately, turned out to be erroneous. The uniqueness of the situation is that the Italians did not have to make a whole slew of changes in design and appearance - they cost only a few modifications and ... got a new car! True, if rigidly adhere to the chronology, the next four-masterpiece, the serial number should be not two, but five. Or more accurately - 5.0 SP2. Aytishny principle of distinguishing between old and new versions are even more pertinent.

The first four-door sedan Maserati by Pietro FROID been made yet in the beginning of the sixties, characterized by an unprecedented design, a solid five-meter long and 280-hp V8 under the hood. In 1974, the second generation Quattroporte. The machine has hydropneumatic suspension design and Bertone, but Silenko inferior predecessor - front-wheel drive, V6, power of 190 horses (immediately obvious - did in the era of the fuel crisis). The third version (1976), which created Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Quattroporte has returned a large motor. In the fourth (1994) to look again rolled back - the flagship of Maserati though and got a top-end 336-hp engine V8, the basis for a sedan served as a more compact four-door Biturbos, and even design, executed by Marcello Gandini, was created expressly for the sake of FIAT.

It was only the fifth generation (2003) want to call a worthy reincarnation of a powerful five-meter superfeshenebelnogo sedan, which was released first. In 2006, for the Quattroporte began offering six-automatic, since the work of rapid-robotized transmission Duo-Select, some critical, users found it uncomfortable. But other fans of mark it is reasonable to have noticed that with the new box Quattroporte has become slower. In Modena responded and made another "service pack" for a luxury sedan - have prepared a more powerful engine. It is this version that differs literkoy S, and had to drive in the mountains around Salzburg.

As luck would have it the weather in Austria was not very friendly. Gusty winds in the sky wore heavy shaggy clouds, which, maturation and huddled together in a continuous cloud began to pour cold rain constituency. July on the eyes turned to October. And when the underground parking Sacher Hotel had left six shiny Quattroporte S, the city of Mozart completely darkened and faded. Journalists are routinely uncovered cameras and interfering with each other, began to try to capture something for their glossy magazines. However, such neglamurnaya atmosphere is not like the Italians. And soon the crowd of journalists appeared Kinky aimless uncle, who was handing out the stick: "Here - the good city pictures Quattroporte. Please stop this nonsense deal." The action failed PR man only by half. The Chinese press nodded in acknowledgment, but apparently did not understand anything without an interpreter, again became klatsat closures.

Italians wasted so be alarmed. Even the crappy weather has not prevented would see the <strong>Maserati Quattroporte</strong> in its beauty. At first it seemed that the elongated nose with a new head-optics, and vertical vents radiator grille made the car too aggressive, but after looking at photos of the predecessor, I am ready to admit that the new sedan looks better - it is visually cleaner and more dynamic. The rear portion also underwent lung cosmetic changes and lengthened by 10 millimeters. Although it is looking for a car, hard to see - on the redesign of the aft know only of leaflets.

For tests on mountain serpentine roads away from Salzburg precipitation generally appeared at an opportune moment. According to a clean, dry smooth track any modern car is more expensive 100-150 thousand euro will drive perfectly - Go and catch the nuances. But on a wet road with many ups, downs and steep turns closed all the specifics of the machine is detected, the slightest imperfections. This - in theory. In practice, no matter how we tried to find a spot in the sun, and for all time the 250-kilometer path, not one. Quattroporte S behaved as an ideal, strong, and infinitely docile machine.

The new 4.7-liter engine, similar to that put on an exclusive Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Maserati engineers managed to make friends with ZF automatic, so that desire for something better do not even want. In this pair of perfect harmony reigns. In comfort mode, not just a ride - you like a baby, gently worn on the hands. World outside starts to move smoothly and silently slips away somewhere before. Sport mode, by contrast, sharply exacerbating a sense of drive. 430-hp engine produces short powerful sound.
When braking in half again to discover something new: a heavy machine seemed devoid of inertia! Know the feeling when the clothes go on clinging to the doorknob or some commission? Mental boost it ten times - that's something like this upsets the Quattroporte. Italians passing mention of improved algorithms for machine operation and the new double brake discs made of aluminum and steel. Apparently this is not just a beautiful phrase for a press release. It works.

Quattroporte won a coherent manageability - that which was famous for her predecessor. The machine is not as sharp as a sports car, but is always ready to make a sharp maneuver, and perform with such ease, though there are not two tons, and the only one. Such a feeling of lightness in the luxury sedan class I met only once - in a modern Jaguar XJ with aluminum body. The most powerful German sedans do not give that feeling. Quattroporte can defiantly handle the gas and brake in a turn, and for that is to say thank you rather than electronic stabilization system, as a good weight distribution, impeccably tuned suspension and rear-wheel drive. By the way, ride hard at all once described. On the one hand Quattroporte goes soft, does not respond to the rut, on the other hand - draws bends as clearly as if the machine is clamped to the sport racks.

The quality of interior objectively can say only the owners of such vehicles. I can only say one thing - he has not changed. You are met by the same rich and beautiful interior, like the previous model. I do not know what can be improved. He is incredibly convenient for both driver and passenger second row, everywhere there are all sorts of adjustments, every detail thought through - take the same folding tables on the backs of the front seats. The list of equipment, a new multimedia navigation system Bose. Increased the number of trim options. Well, maybe opening the rear door is too small for people who are too big concept. Although such a representation more suitable elongated "Germans."

<strong>Maserati Quattroporte</strong> S has identified a specific niche of luxury sports sedans. Well, have every right to. This machine quickly, than its direct competitors with motors V8 - Audi A8 4.2, Mercedes S500, BMW 750. But at the same time it gives the same high level of comfort as the flagship model of the competition with a 12-cylinder monster under the hood. In principle, Quattroporte S is ready to compete even with a four super as Porsche Panamera, BMW Gran Turismo 8-Series or the Aston Martin Rapide, but predicting the future - a thankless task. But this should be considered. Fifth-generation Quattroporte was remarkably successful model of Maserati as a technically and commercially. The car received 46 prestigious awards. The company was able to realize the 15,000 luxury sedans. With the advent of the new Quattroporte S position of the Italians certainly intensify. But here is how much will become clear only in the autumn, when the novelty will be officially presented at the Paris Motor Show and will arrive at dealers Maserati.