More details of Maserati’s new flagship Quattroporte luxury saloon have been released. The latest generation of a model first unveiled back in 1963 is the fifth to carry the Quattroporte name.
The 400 bhp, 4.2-litre, 32-valve V8 is positioned behind the front axle and connected to a rear-mounted transaxle gearbox in unit with the differential for ideal weight distribution.
The electro-hydraulic gearbox is fully automatic, but allows the driver to manually shift gears using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts.
Fifteen bodywork colours, three types of wood (rosewood, mahogany, and briarwood), 10 shades of leather and a wide range of specific options will allow a high degree of personalisation.
The new Quattroporte is 5,052mm long, 1,895mm wide and 1,438mm high on a 3,064mm wheelbase. Claimed top speed: “in excess of 170 mph”.
The new Quattroporte makes its UK debut in spring 2004.
