Maserati boosts Quattroporte Sport GTS

THE flagship Sport GTS variant of Maserati’s Quattroporte has received a boost in power and torque that enables the 1990kg sports sedan to reach 100km/h in just five seconds – one-tenth quicker than before.

Engineers tweaked the naturally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine’s management electronics to liberate an extra 8kW, making the most of last year’s running change to reduce internal friction – which itself freed up 20Nm – bringing outputs to 331kW and 510Nm.

Local pricing remains static at $298,000 plus on-road costs and standard inclusion of Maserati’s MC Sportline package continues, comprising carbon-fibre interior trim, MC Sportline branding, aluminium pedals and larger paddle-shifters – made from carbon-fibre instead of aluminium – for the more responsive ‘MC-Auto Shift’ transmission.

The official combined fuel consumption figure remains unchanged at 15.7L/100km.

This latest upgrade could be considered a swansong for the current version of the big Maserati as an all-new replacement is tipped to debut at the Detroit motor show in January, with first Australian deliveries likely about 12 months later.

MC-Auto Shift features full manual control via the paddles, a fully automatic function and a faster-shifting Sport mode, which is linked to valves in the exhaust system that unleash a throatier note at low revs and “full symphonic sound of a genuine sportscar at higher rpm”.

Beefed-up 360mm front brake discs with six-piston Brembo callipers are fitted, along with 20-inch ‘dark chrome’ lightweight seven-spoke rims or optional ‘Multi Trident’ alloys.

Compared with the standard 4.2-litre Quattroporte, the Sport GTS rides on firmer suspension that lowers the car 10mm at the front and 25mm at the rear.

All of the standard Quattroporte’s woodgrain trim is replaced with carbon-fibre, including the dashboard, front and rear centre consoles, door panel trims, the gearshifter, shift paddles, and surrounds for the switchgear and instrument panel.

Carbon-fibre door sills are embossed with the MC Sportline logo, which is also applied to the aluminium brake pedal, while the seats and steering wheel get race-style Alcantara treatments.

Further nods to the car’s more focussed intent are a deeper-set grille, with redesigned fog lamps and air intakes set within a more aggressive front bumper, while special titanium-finish headlight clusters feature Xenon globes and LED indicators.

Maserati Australia manager Glen Sealey said the latest round of Quattroporte improvements ensure it “remains the car against which rivals must be judged”.

Maserati is preparing to move Quattroporte production from its Modena facility to a former Bertone factory, where the larger new-generation car will be built alongside a smaller version that will compete with the likes of BMW’s M5.

Capacity freed up at Modena will be used to build sister company Alfa Romeo’s mid-engined 4C sportscar from next May, alongside the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

The 4C will require Maserati’s specialist capabilities to build the composite body that will help achieve the car’s 850kg target weight.

Maserati has an ambitious aim of increasing global production from 6159 units last year to 50,000 in 2015.

A cascade of new products will help growth, with plenty of volume potential in the Detroit-built, Jeep-based Kubang SUV that was unveiled at the Frankfurt show last September and is set to go on sale in Australia next year.

Sales for the Trident brand were down 9.6 per cent in Australia to the end of July this year, with 75 vehicles sold.