Page 137 - OX_May_2014.indd
Basic HTML Version
M
137
MOTORING
Maserati
Yet a Maserati is much more than a material
trophy. Words like ‘passion, beauty and
emotion’ are boringly overused clichés to
describe cars like these but there I am using
them again. And that’s because each time I
travel to Italy to meet their makers I am struck
by their inspiration, their enthusiasm, and
their emotional almost romantic commitment
to the marque’s history. They are note-pad-
and-pen ready to eagerly note your driving
impressions of their cars, and take criticism
of them painfully personally.
Yet for you and me that has to be a good
thing. A Maserati is built with love. In 1963
they were the first brand to introduce the
high speed luxury sports saloon; exotica with
four doors, four seats, a boot and glamorous
sophisticated looks. Six generations later we
have the latest reiteration of the marque. No
different in concept, but a fitting generational
evolution to a niche no one else has quite
been able to fill in this way. And that is simply
because it is a Maserati and it is Italian; that’s
the USP.
Six generations later
Of course, in every other way things have
moved on in leaps and bounds. Three engine
options are available for the new car. The
most powerful is the twin turbo’d 3.8 litre V8,
now the fastest four door Maserati ever built,
as well as being the most powerful and most
fuel efficient. 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds
and 190 mph. Then there’s the 3.0 litre twin
turbo V6; 62 mph in 4.9 secs and 177 mph.
Whilst simply a ‘no go’ of generations past,
technology has enabled a 2.9 turbo diesel
engine option to achieve impressive Maserati
style performance, delivering an impressive
600 NM of torque, and the benchmark
0-100 km in just 6.4 seconds. And before
you raise the concern, don’t worry, acoustic
actuators installed near the exhaust pipes
create a convincing Maserati sound. All three
versions are mated to an 8 speed automatic
transmission, powering the rear wheels.
Quattroporte GTS
£108,160
CO
2
emissions:
274 g/km
MPG combined:
23.9
Quattroporte S
£80,095
CO
2
emissions:
244 g/km
MPG combined:
26.9
Quattroporte Diesel
£69,230
CO
2
emissions:
163 g/km
MPG combined:
45.6
We test drive Maserati’s Jewel in the Crown
THE NEW FLAGSHIP
MASERATI QUATTROPORTE
From £69,230 - £108,160
It’s that sense of occasion each time you have a reason for a car
journey that counts. It adds quality and value to your day. It’s the
reason why you have exercised the liberty of personal choice and
good fortune to invest a disproportionate amount of money into a
motor car. And you enjoy it every day; it is one of the reasons you
make the effort to get up in the morning, and it’s a daily reminder
that there are tangible rewards for hard work.
It’s worth mentioning that an all-wheel
drive v6 version is produced, but it is not
available in the UK – it wouldn’t be worth
the investment for the anticipated number of
right hand drive sales.
Dress code
Taking a look inside the cabin begs the
question; ‘ Are you dressed for the occasion?’
At least that’s how I felt once seated behind
the wheel, reflecting on my scraggy Jeans.
You’ll get away with high quality casual
designer wear, or one of Georgio Armani’s
suits. Not because you have to, it’s just the
environment you’re in, a bit like going to
the RAC Club in town; there’s a dress code.
Only once seated in the Quattroporte it’s
self-imposed, courtesy of fine hand crafted
detailing throughout, leather of course, and
in this case tasteful carbon fibre trim. It just
looks and feels state-of –the –art, with an
emphasis on ‘art’. Of course, you won’t be
wanting for technology, it’s all housed in a
centrally located touch screen binnacle.
The Maserati Experience
The engine note and power are the dominant
features of the powerful V8, yet it is so
absolutely refined and well behaved on the
road at low speed driving. Maserati afforded
us the privilege of driving the car on the
Chobham test track in Surrey, the bonus
being that it was raining and the surface is
fast, flat, yet challengingly unpredictable at
times. A great opportunity for the Maserati
DNA to show, and now the Quattroporte felt
like a Supercar disguised in family saloon
clothing. A convincing illusion, for if you had
any doubt about how exciting it is to punt a
Maserati along at speed, those doubts will be
well and truly binned when you ask this car
to perform. In fact, the on-track experience
alone would be enough to get you to sign the
cheque. Courage and skill is what you need,
for the big V8 can handle much of what your
belly can’t, even in the wet.
Most of us have driving skills better suited
to the V6 – whilst I doubt we were lapping
Chobham any slower, the right foot was less
likely to provoke unintended doughnuts nor
ask me how good a driver I really am in quite
the same challenging way. Nor is the diesel,
and what will surprise you is just how quick
and pleasurable the diesel is to punt along
at speed, especially in the wet where the
lighter engine and 50:50 weight balance front
and rear of the car work in good harmony.
The best of the three depends on your own
preference, and your reason for buying the
car. If you love high speed driving and want a
beautiful Italian exotic for long distance high
speed stuff, that’ll be the V8. If you want an
everyday usable ‘Executive Maserati’ you go
diesel. If you want a bit of both worlds go V6 –
but be assured the true Maserati Experience
is a given either way.
Look out for our road test of the Granturismo
and Stradale in the next issue of OX.
RIDGEWAY MASERATI
CUMNOR HILL, CUMNOR
OXFORD, OX2 9PW
Phone: 01865 566635
