Maserati Quattroporte turns 60

SIXTY years ago today, Maserati launched its Quattroporte sports sedan at the Turin Motor Show, the now legendary model paving the way for six generations of a famed nameplate which continues to turn heads in an increasingly crowded segment.

The Modenese brand says the event of the Quattroporte’s 60^th anniversary brings together a diverse range of major milestones, from stylistic leaps forward to innovations and technical developments, all of which have been essential to the model’s success.

As with so many iconic cars that went on to create a legacy, the earliest Quattroporte inspired successive generations of models that reinvented the segment over and again – and in Maserati’s words, was each time “faithful to the pursuit of excellence in design and performance”.

To date, more than 75,000 Quattroportes have been produced.

Maserati says the original Quattroporte was a pioneer of the segment, its race-derived eight-cylinder engine joining a refined driving experience and a sumptuous cabin to offer what it called “a limousine with a racing spirit”.

The first-generation Quattroporte (1963-69) could reach a top speed of 255km/h and was offered with both 4.1- and 4.7-litre V8 engines (developing 194kW/370Nm and 213kW/410Nm respectively) paired with three-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmissions.

It was the fastest four-door sedan in the world at the time.

Maserati’s second generation Quattroporte arrived in 1974, the model developed closely with Citroen and presenting completely different styling to its predecessor. Power came from a 3.0-litre V6 this time around, with a five-speed manual transmission the only option. The front-wheel drive model scored Citroen’s hydropneumatic suspension and directional headlights among its many innovations.

In 1979, the third generation Quattroporte, built in the hands of De Tomaso, returned V8 power to the range, the powertrain line-up closely resembling that of the original model with 4.2- and 4.9-litre units, and three-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions. All French inspiration was stripped from the Quattroporte, with American (Mopar) features entering the line-up for the first time. The model remained in production until 1990.

It was another four years until the next Quattroporte arrived, the Marcello Gandini designed fourth generation car a modern classic with twin turbocharged power across 2.0- and 2.8-litre V6 and 3.2-litre V8 engines. Four-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions were offered, the lighter body and 247kW pairing gifting the model with a top speed of 270km/h.

Ferrari took a controlling stake in Maserati from 1997 onwards, significantly updating the fourth generation Quattroporte which remained in production until 2001.

In 2003, the fifth – and arguably most recognisable – generation Quattroporte debuted with a Pininfarina styled body and familiar V8 engine selections. Six-speed manual and automated manual transmissions were offered, the largest and heaviest Quattroporte to date now capable of a 275km/h top speed.

The model was facelifted in 2012, scoring a ZF-sourced automatic transmission as standard, while the range-topping 4.7-litre V8 now offered 324kW and 490Nm, the highest output of any Quattroporte to date.

Just a year later, the sixth generation Quattroporte arrived. Styled under the guidance of ex-Pininfarina designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti, the luxurious model offered twin turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 and 3.8-litre V8 petrol engines, as well as a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 for the first time.

All were mated with a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear- and all-wheel drive configurations are also offered.

The striking model is still in production today, and in high-spec Trofeo guise develops an astounding 427kW and 729Nm, capable of rocketing the bulky sedan to a v-max of 326km/h.

“The Quattroporte is Maserati's history. A car that tells our story and has prestigiously represented us in the world of saloon cars, for over half a century. Since 1963, it has chronicled the evolution of one of the most beloved and appreciated models, inaugurating a segment that had previously been uncharted territory,” explained Maserati CEO, Davide Grasso.

“A car that has succeeded in reinventing itself every time without ever losing its identity, in adapting to the passage of time, to changes in society, to advancements in technology and industry, and to trends, it has become the choice of our most select clientele, as well as for the world of entertainment and for the international establishment.

“A source of pride for us and an acknowledgement of that distinctively Italian character that Maserati has always aimed to export around the world with its creations. Now as before, the Quattroporte remains our flagship, synonymous with a unique luxury appreciated for its refinement and attention to detail, superior performance and quality, and enveloping spaciousness, combined with a timeless stylistic touch that has made it an eternal car.”