Maserati Quattroporte S

Maserati Quattroporte

I’m disappointed. Maserati’s new Quattroporte S doesn’t provide the same rousing soundtrack as its GranTurismo S sibling. It’s got the same engine – albeit with slightly different power output – but the people at Maserati haven’t added the trick valve-bypassed exhaust pipes that allow Maserati’s glorious 4.7-litre V8 to reveal its more devilish side. It seems Quattroporte S owners might want the extra pace the bigger heart brings but also want to slip by a bit more discreetly than they would if the exhausts were emitting waves of V8 sound to rival its Modena relatives.

Not that the Quattroporte is very good at being discreet, as try as you might you’ll never be unnoticed in the Maserati. It’s such an unusually elegant and beautiful car that it stands out in the traffic unlike any other saloon. It really is a stunning looker, made even more so by the small mid-life styling nip and tucks that combined give it a more chiselled face and sleeker profile. On the S, the re-profiled front grille gets vertical slats, but Maserati left the non-S Quattroporte with the 4.2-litre V8 on the price list. Why?

Unlike its coupé sister, the S transformation for the Quattroporte doesn’t bring with it red-accented trident badges, and the forks are clearly a bit less devilish on the big saloon – much like its soundtrack. There are new wheels though, as beautiful 19-inch alloys are part of the standard kit on the S. Larger lights that contain the de-rigueur LED accents frame the new grille, while new rear-view mirrors and side skirts add to the understated assertiveness of the big saloon.

Subtle yet effective as the styling revisions are, it’s the inclusion of the 4.7-litre V8 that really transforms the Quattroporte S. The 4.2-litre V8 of the standard car has always struggled to muster the sort of low-down sledgehammer delivery offered by some of its competitors. The 4.7-litre engine goes some way to redressing the balance. With 425hp and 490Nm of torque, the increases that the 0.5-litre growth in capacity brings aren’t huge, but they feel significant on the road. Key to this is the flatter, fatter torque curve, making the Maserati far more tractable in the mid-range and more linear in its power delivery. That’s not to say the red-crackle-paint-finished V8 doesn’t sing at high revs. Its peak power is delivered at a lofty 7,000rpm, which ensures that it demands to be driven, as unlike rivals the Quattroporte S’s engine still needs working to deliver its best, though the increased performance on offer also makes it an easier day-to-day drive at lower revs.

The power of that new 4.7-litre heart isn’t dealt with by the robotised manual transmission of its GranTurismo S sibling. Instead, Maserati sensibly opted for the smooth, ZF-sourced, six-speed automatic for the 4.2-litre car. It’s a transmission that suits the slightly more refined gait of the Quattroporte, allowing it to waft when required in town and slush through its shifts smoothly. It works well when you want to raise the pace, too, letting you bang through the gears with more conviction when you select Sport and take over the shifting with the paddles behind the steering wheel. Disappointingly, though, there are no throttle-blippery antics on downshifts, as it just shifts quietly down regardless of the gearbox setting.

Give the Quattroporte S everything and it will reach 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and top out at 280km/h. It never feels as quick as those numbers suggest, perhaps due to the absence of aural stimulation. Indeed, the predominant noise at high speeds is wind noise rather than the background accompaniment of an Italian V8.

Maserati Quattroporte

Really push the Quattroporte S, though, and it impresses. Only then does Maserati’s constant reference to its 49 percent/51 percent front-to-rear weight balance really make sense. The steering is very crisp – to the point of nervousness on the motorway – but it delivers faithful response when the roads are more interesting. The Quattroporte S’s nose is quick to turn in, and understeer is only apparent on tighter corners with too much entry speed. There’s a little body roll – more so than you’ll find in other sports saloons – but that’s the price you pay for the fine ride. Beautifully neutral through longer bends, it will provide an entertaining degree or two of rear slip when you’re really committed, though it’s all remarkably controllable given the size of the S.

That’s a measure of how confident the Quattroporte S makes you feel behind the wheel. The body control is excellent, as the Skyhook variable damping system has been significantly reworked for the S to good effect. With the Quattroporte S weighing in at a fairly hefty 1,990kg the brakes need to be good, as it’s easy to arrive at a corner with more speed than you really should. Thankfully, the dual-cast Brembo discs do a great job – with little apparent fade and decent pedal feel. Maserati’s electronic safety systems are all bundled under the heading Maserati Stability Programme – traction and stability control, ABS, electronic brake force distribution and engine torque control all help keep things in check. It’s a nicely judged system, and its intervention levels are high enough to prevent it from detracting from the driving experience.

Inside, the Quattroporte is much the same as its predecessor. That means acres of stitched leather, wood or metal trim inserts and a weird-shaped clock in the centre of the dashboard. Maserati claims to have revised the seats, but they’re still perched too high and offer little in the way of lateral support – leaving you hanging onto the steering wheel when enjoying the big saloon’s dynamic prowess.

There’s an updated infotainment system inside too, which adds a 30GB music server, sat nav and Bluetooth telephone connection; none of which is as intuitive to operate as rival systems from Audi and Mercedes. That’s forgivable, though, as no German rival is able to offer the sense of occasion the Quattroporte S brings, even if the interior isn’t quite as successful as the exterior and sometimes betrays Maserati’s small-volume status with some less-than-perfect fit and finish.

It’s not that spacious inside either – the back seats are pretty cramped and the boot is nowhere near as capacious as its competition. But then it’s difficult to pigeon-hole the Maserati Quattroporte S; it’s unlikely to be a car that people will buy having come out of what you might consider its natural competition. Against cars such as the BMW M5, AMG E 63 and Jaguar XJR, the Quattroporte S is outgunned on the road, while larger models from the same companies do a better job of carrying people in hushed comfort.

But then buying a Maserati was never about rationalising decisions; you buy a Maserati because you want one rather than because you need one. It’s like all beautiful things: you’ll be prepared to put up with a few shortcomings for the sheer pleasure of ownership. And the Quattroporte S promises to bring a huge amount of pleasure to its owners. Me? I could just sit and stare at the chrome rimmed vents on the wings for hours. But I’d end up wondering why the engine that lies behind them has been so cruelly silenced.

Verdict

Maserati’s best big saloon is still technically bettered by its competition, but we’d have one in our garage regardless.

Car Information
Maserati Quattroporte S
Engine: 4,691cc V8
Output: 425hp, 490Nm
Transmission: 6-sp automatic
Acceleration 0-100km/h 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 280km/h
Economy: 13.0 litres/100km
CO2 emissions: 365g/km
CO2 Tax Band: G (€2,000 p.a.)
Weight: 1,990kg
Boot capacity: 450 litres
For: Stunning looks, beautiful poise, exclusivity
Against: V8 needs to be a bit less cultured, not spacious, hopeless seats
Rating: 8/10