Trident tested

At least, that is when the build programme for the UK-specification cars is due to get under way.

At the moment there is no indication of the price lucky customers will have to pay.

What is known is that the car's warranty will last for three years and its insurance grouping is 20.

This luxury saloon is seen as the perfect continuation of the superb Maserati flagship tradition that ranged from the unveiling of the first Quattroporte to the 1976 Giugiaro model - the car of choice for the then Italian President.

Italy is renowned for certain qualities of culture and Maserati's long history in the exclusive luxury executive saloon sector is part of that culture, too. However, it wasn't just culture that drove the first Quattroporte on to the scene in 1963: that came about earlier, with the arrival of new motorways. The Italians demanded something fast and furious to use on them.

Quattroportes were soon recognised as spacious comfortable limousines that ate up the miles on long journeys with blistering performance.

The new Quattroporte will have a similar job to do, although it makes its debut into a very different world, but is seen as every bit as audacious and exclusive as its predecessors in terms of its concept. So, the five-metre long Quattroporte marks the rebirth of the Italian flagship car.

With its rear-wheel drive the Quattroporte has been fashioned by Pininfarina, the famous Italian design house, over a long wheelbase with a stance that highlights the length of the bonnet. There is also the legendary Trident badge that takes pride of place on the nose, framed by the imposing chromed grille. At the other end rear light clusters, with their chrome-framed reflectors, give the tail a sophisticated flourish, helped by the sets of oval twin exhausts.

Quattroporte has been built on an all-new platform, a three-box, four-door design, with an unusually long (3064 mm) wheelbase for ride comfort.

The 47 per cent front to 53 per cent rear weight distribution is reached by setting the engine behind the front axle, and by moving the gearbox to the rear and mounting it in unit with the differential, a layout normally reserved for high performance sportscars and the Quattroporte is the first luxury saloon to have it fitted.

Inside the cabin, three different woods are used for the trim: rosewood, mahogany and briarwood, while soft leather is used for the upholstery.

The interior is more than two metres in length, so is particularly roomy. All the seats are electronically adjustable, with those at the front having 14 different settings as standard, while the driver's seat also has three memory settings as well as being able to slide back and raise the steering column to make getting in and out easy.

Dashboard design features blue and white instruments under a single cowling behind the steering wheel. Controls are in a wood-trimmed, centre console, and feature twin air-vents, the famous oval analogue clock, a multi-media system, incorporating the satellite navigation display, and automatic climate control. Drive and chassis controls - for the transmission, suspension, and stability systems - are in a separate driver-dedicated area on the transmission tunnel.

The cavernous 450-litre boot is large enough for five large Quattroporte bags - made from the same leather as the seat upholstery and available as an option.

Power for the new car comes from a compact, lightweight, normally aspirated, 4244cc, 90-degree V8 engine. Based on the same unit fitted in the Coupe and Spyder, the all-aluminium engine is modified for its new role in a saloon to produce a maximum of 400bhp and three-quarters of maximum torque from just 2,500rpm. It is matched to the company's own DuoSelect transmission, one of the most important innovations used in the Quattroporte, giving drivers the choice of fully-automatic or clutch-less sequential-manual gear selection, with paddle gears also on the steering wheel. This transmission features an automatic hill holder facility, which keeps the brakes applied for a couple of seconds to give the driver time to move his or her foot from the brake to the accelerator - without the car rolling backwards. There are also gearbox modes for slippery surfaces or for faster gear changes.

The car also comes with Maserati's unique electronic Skyhook adaptive damping system, capable of choosing chassis settings to absorb most bumps in the road without losing its sporty handling. Quattroporte has electronic power steering, too, as well as its own stability programme, anti-lock braking and electronic brakeforce distribution.

When it comes to performance the Quattroporte accelerates from standstill to 62mph in 5.2-seconds. Top speed is 171mph. Fuel consumption, for those interested in such matters, is 14.9mpg on the combined cycle.

Other safety fittings include twin xenon headlights, cruise control, light and rain sensors, and a light-sensitive, auto-dipping rear view mirror. There are also airbags and side curtains, while back seats have Isofix anchorage points for child seats.

Customers thinking of taking on a Quattroporte can specify their own preferences when it comes to colour choices and interior trim, taking their pick of 15 exterior paintwork coats. They can also deliberate over ten shades of leather trim for the interior, ten shades for the dashboard, ten for the steering wheel, 13 different yarns for the stitching, three colour variations for the roof lining and four for the floor mats.

Other packages include Comfort which adds front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and an intelligent system that automatically adapts the seat padding to the occupant's movements, and back seats also with their own heating, ventilation and massage facility. Another package provides a front television tuner, and central screen with DVD player and television tuner for those in the back, as well as a CD changer, telephone, and an electric sunroof. Sport and Executive packages are also available.

Finally, buy a Quattroporte and pick-up a few perks: such as invitations to Maserati events, trade-only days at the world's leading motor shows, motor sport events (including next year's GT competitions), and the unveiling of new Ferrari Maserati Group models. There is also the chance of taking part in the Maserati Master GT driving course.

Updated: 09:32 Friday, September 26, 2003