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New Maserati Quattroporte: supercar meets sports car meets luxury limousine

The all new Maserati Quattroporte – supercar performance, sports car handling, and Rolls Royce luxury in one £110,000 package.
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20 December 2012

Maserati Quattroporte
Slightly bigger than its predecessor, much better inside, less quirky, and ridiculously fast

Maserati Quattroporte twin turbo V8

What is it?

IT’S the all-new Maserati  Quattroporte, that aims to bring supercar speed, sports car handling and Rolls-Royce luxury all together in one package.

The previous generation Quattroporte had its quirks, but the combination of pin-sharp handling, Ferrari V8 and some gorgeous Pininfarina-designed lines ensured it quickly became Maserati’s most successful model.

Lots has changed, though, for this latest generation. Not only is the Maserati Quattroporte bigger but now it comes with turbo power.

Specifically it comes with the choice of a 404bhp 3.0-litre V6 or a 523bhp 3.8-litre V8 ­– both co-developed with Ferrari.

Maserati Quattroporte
This is a gorgeous place to travel – clean, simple and very very stylish

The styling has morphed in to something a little more brash than before and the messy interior is now the epitome of clean and simple, too.

We’ve only had the chance to drive the 523bhp V8, expected to cost around £110,000. Perfect for a successful small business owner? Let’s find out.

 

Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati couldn’t make it quite fast enough, so called on Ferrari for a little help. It weighs nearly 2 tonnes but does 0-62 in 4.7 seconds with a grown up bassy roar

What’s hot?

  • This new engine is fantastic. Built and developed with the help of Ferrari it offers bonkers acceleration from anywhere in the rev range. The sprint from 0-62mph takes just 4.7 seconds.
  • We loved the howl of the old 4.7-litre V8, but this engine has a more grown-up, bassy roar. It’s a fantastic sound that’ll have you winding down the windows, just to hear it.
  • The handling is superb for a car that weighs almost two tonnes. Quick steering is matched up with perfectly controlled suspension to create a car that feels more sports car than limousine.
    Maserati Quattroporte
    Plenty of space to stretch out in the back and the ride is impeccable
  • But for the long motorway trips between meetings up and down the country, the Maserati is also a fantastic cruiser. Refinement is impeccable and the suspension soaks up bumpy surfaces incredibly well.
  • You can happily spend hours in the front or back of the new Quattroporte, too. The interior has been drastically redesigned, and it’s very stylish indeed. There’s also plenty of space to stretch out in the back.
  • The new V8 isn’t exactly frugal but its 23.7mpg fuel economy figure is a big improvement on the old car’s 15.7mpg.

 

What’s not?

  • Styling is always a subjective thing but a lot of people have commented on the new Quattroporte’s design. Some think it’s not elegant or understated enough, and we’d have to agree.
  • Running a Quattroporte is going to be an eye-watering experience. Road tax is going to be extremely high, fill-ups will be regular £100-plus experiences, replacement tyres will be costly, and you’ll have to shell out over £100,000 to buy one in the first place.

 

Maserati Quattroporte
Styling errs towards the brash rather than the elegant and understated. It lacks some of the charm of the old model

Business Car Manager road test verdict

The new Maserati Quattroporte isn’t as elegant or as charming as the old model. But it is a far better car in almost every measurable respect.

This V8-powered model sounds fantastic and feels as light as a hot-hatch when you’re tackling tight, twisty roads.

The cabin is much more befitting of the car, and the rear seats are now genuinely spacious – so no problems with taking clients or staff in the rear – the Quattroporte truly deserves its place in the luxury limousine segment.

And if it’s a car you and your business car finances can stretch to, then do it.

You’ll be rewarded with a fantastic sports limousine that’s a far more interesting proposition than the Mercedes S63 AMG or Audi S8.

Maserati Quattroporte
It sounds so good you’ll want to keep the windows down. Handling on roads like this is light and sure

Maserati Quattroporte twin turbo V8 – the low down

 

P11D Value £110,000 (approx)
Monthly business rental (ex VAT) N/A
Tax Bands 2012/13 to 2014/15 35%
Benefit in kind 2012/13 to 2014/15 Comfortably expensive
Engine 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8
CO2 emissions 278g/km
Power/Torque 523bhp/719Nm (overboost)
0-62mph/Top speed 4.7sec/191mph
Economy 23.7mpg

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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