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GANGSTER’S PARADISE

It’s got a face for the silver screen and radical power to boot; the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT really is the stuff of dreams.

Even if you’re not in the Film Industry, there are certain times when you could do with a quick get-away. Well now that the Quattroporte has a sports mode button its gear shifts are 35% faster so you can make your exit a little more Hollywood. Essentially you’ve got shorter thrusts without the anticipation, it’s just a nudge to the next gear and the power is on que. Whether you opt for sports or regular mode, the Maserati oozes smoothness. It’s also got an automatic function but our guess is that this will hardly get used among driving enthusiasts. That is unless of course you encounter an arduous slow city crawl or tail-backs on the motorway, then you’d be pretty thankful for it.

However a 4.2 litre 400bhp V8 Maserati is not the kind of car you want to drive at 5mph, unless you’re cruising through the streets of Monaco with not a care in the world. In fact the F1 road circuit would be a great place to try out the six-speed transmission which was incidentally inspired by this Motorsport technology. With its sister company, Ferrari being at the cutting edge of Formula One it would be crazy not to borrow a few ideas.
The real wizardry comes from the enhanced software in the electro-hydraulic transmission system’s Central Processing Unit. Even with a hoard of messages coming through from different sensors, the big bod at the headquarters almost instantaneously replies with appropriate feedback. Now that there’s so much more information stored to its memory it can match the driver’s demands of the car much more readily, giving you a real V.I.P service.

The suspension has also seen an upgrade in software. Its Skyhook adaptive damping system is now better poised for sportier conditions and will ease off to give you more comfort when driving through towns. When at slow speeds the Sport GT will glide along still in the higher gears though there’s always an urge for intervention when you know you can milk it for more driving pleasure. Drive out past the 30 mile an hour limit and on to a clear stretch of straight country road and its tempting to try out its 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds. We wouldn’t recommend you try to boot it to its top end though as 171mph as that would be a bit of a death wish on British roads.
It is still hair raisingly rapid up to a legal limit though and you certainly get a heady sense of power. This is further enhanced by the melodic growl of its tuned exhaust. But be wary of that Robert De Niro invincible mafia type role surfacing; even Casino bosses get blown-up if they push the limits too far.

Luckily you’ll be well grounded by those 20” rims and high performance Brembo brakes with their metal weave tubing, cross-drilled discs and titanium shaded callipers. The Pirelli P Zero Rosso Corsa tyres have been developed especially for the new Quattroporte sports model and feature a unique compound and tread pattern.

The interior is also pretty special with its race-style carbon fibre trimmed steering wheel, sporty handbrake grip and those aluminium pedal covers. But for those destined only to gaze at it as it over shadows you at the lights will get enough of a taste to get their imagination working overtime. Maserati has captured nostalgia in its styling by resurrecting that low bonnet of the 50`s as well as the gaping side intakes which are also shared by Ferrari. The three pronged staff is the central focus of its protruding grille, then you’ve got a real stretched-out curvaceous body with a boxy rear which makes it rather interesting to look at.

Verdict

FOR: Traditional style blended with cutting edge technology and exhilarating performance
AGAINST: Needs an eager right foot to make the most of its power
CONCLUSION: The Quattroporte Sport GT proves that luxury need not be demure and subservient. Many driving enthusiasts will love its versatile appeal and getting hands-on with the controls. It’s tough but loveable, powerful but seductive with it. If gangster culture is the hard-line no-nonsense approach in Italy then the Maserati is the silver-tongued fantasy that makes it look good in movies.

Spec

ENGINE: 4.2 litre 400bhp V8
POWER: 400bhp
0-62mph (sec): 5,2
TOP SPEED: 171mph
MPG: /-/17.9 (urban/extra-urban/combined)
TRANSMISSION: Six-speed sequential-shift clutchless manual
WHEELS: 20″
TYRES: 245/35 tyres at the front, 285/30 tyres at the rear
PRICE: £80,550