MASERATI QUATTROPORTE - AUTOMATICALLY MORE SALES POTENTIAL
08 April 2007 - Maserati

Although the Maserati Quattroporte four-door grand tourer saloon was introduced in 2003 with a Formula One type DuoSelect paddleshift clutchless manual transmission, the British market in this sector is more suited to a model with a conventional automatic transmission.

Launching the new Quattroporte Automatic to the UK’s motoring media this week Maserati GB’s head of sales Peter Denton said 75 per cent of all 285 Quattroporte sales in this country this year will be taken up by the models with the new six-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Like the Quattroporte DuoSelect, the new Automatic model is available with three levels of specification. The Quattroporte Automatic costs £77,090, the Automatic Executive GT is £85,990 and the best selling Automatic Sport GT costs £83,290. These are the same retail on the road prices as the Quattroporte DuoSelect variants.

The same high level of standard specification applies to all models and includes: electrically adjusted front and rear seats, automatic headlights and wipers, choice of leather and wood trims, navigation and superior sound systems, dual zone air conditioning, a stability programme with traction control. Everything you would expect to have in an executive saloon. A wide range of options is also available so the owner can ‘fine-tune’ their own car to their exact requirements say Maserati.

All models come with a three years unlimited mileage warranty and a three-year peace of mind, 30,000 miles servicing package.

Ivan Capelli, director of the Maserati GT Driving Course and ex F1 driver said at the media introduction this week, “Each transmission option has its own strengths. Customers are now able to select the most suitable transmission for them. DuoSelect offers a more involving experience giving the ultimate in sports saloon driving. The new Automatic transmission is the best of both worlds, relaxed and effortless but with a high performance ability when required.”

Much is made by Maserati of the handling and weight balance of the Modena built Quattroporte saloon. The DuoSelect system has a front engine and rear gearbox and transaxle layout giving a 47/53 per cent front to rear weight distribution. The Automatic models have the engine at the front, now mounted 7mm further rearward, and joined directly to the six-speed transmission. Drive to the rear wheels is via a two-piece transmission shaft and a self-locking differential. In this configuration the weight distribution is still biased towards the rear for maximum grip, 49/51 per cent.

In both DuoSelect and Automatic configurations the V8 engine of the Quattroporte saloons is mounted behind the front axle to help with the optimum weight distribution and it also improves the accuracy, ‘turn-in’ and front end grip characteristics of the steering said Capelli.

Capelli explained that the automatic transmission is a six-speed ZF unit which is also used by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar but this is the first time this transmission has ever been used in conjunction with an engine that can rev to 7,200rpm. The overdrive sixth gear improves fuel consumption, over the DuoSelect model, in the extra urban mode by nine per cent.

The same core Maserati 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine is used for both Quattroporte model ranges. For the DuoSelect variants it uses a dry sump and can be recognised when the bonnet is raised by the red cylinder head covers. In this form power output is 400hp at 7,000rpm with 451Nm of torque at 4,500rpm. The top speed is 171mph and 0 to 62mph is covered in 5.2 seconds. CO2 emissions are a huge 370g/km and the average official fuel consumption is quoted as 17.9mpg.

For Quattroporte Automatic models the V8 engine has blue cylinder head covers. The use of a wet sump improves engine quietness. Maximum power output is still 400hp but maximum torque is raised to 460Nm at the lower figure of 4,250rpm. Top speed is 167mph and 0 to 62mph is 5.6 seconds. CO2 emissions are less at 345g/km and fuel economy is marginally improved at 19.2mpg.

Around 285 Quattroporte sports saloons will be sold in the UK this year and 100 are already spoken for. Customers ordering a specific model with specific options will find delivery will be in time for the September registration plate change. However there are cars in the dealer network available for immediate delivery, most in Sport GT or Executive GT trim levels.

This year Maserati GB expect an overall total of 570 sales of all model types and this will represent a growth of 24 per cent over 2006. Five years ago Maserati''s annual sales in the UK were just over 300 units. The new Quattroporte range sells against the sector leading, and highly rated, new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the aging BMW 7-Series, the BMW M5 and the Audi A8.

Giving the media a glimpse into the future regarding the growth of the brand in the UK, Peter Denton expects the growth of Maserati GB sales to be driven by the GranTurismo two-door, four seater Coupe to be launched later this year. He expects their overall sales to reach 800 units annually by 2010. This equates to eight per cent of total Maserati annual production.

Denton said the GranTurismo will represent 60 per cent of Maserati’s UK sales and the additional new model range is likely to be priced in the mid £70ks.

Denton added Maserati GB currently has a total of 15 dealers, all dual outlets with Ferrari. These include one each in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff with others place strategically in major cities throughout the England. Currently there are no plans to expand their dealer network.

Views
Maserati GB rolled out the Quattroporte range, both the current DuoSelect and the new Automatic models, to the motoring media at the Millbrook Proving Ground this week.

The high speed oval and the various handling courses, including the notorious Hill Route, were all available but with much of the surface being of concrete, ride and comfort characteristics are not easy to judge. I opted for driving the Quattrosport Automatic on public roads in the conditions we all experience everyday of our motoring lives. These include poor road surfaces, traffic congestion and A and B winding roads.

The Quattrosporte is without question an elegant four-door sports saloon, stunning to look at and with a superbly equipped luxurious interior. It is a big and heavy car but it really doesn’t look its true size from the outside because of the elegant sports styling. It has huge road presence, you will be noticed.

Inside as I said it is luxurious and the exact specification any driver chooses just fine-tunes their purchase. The car is technically a five-seat saloon and at a pinch will take three adults in the rear. The electronic adjustment of the rear seat does allow for increased legroom although it is not in the same league as the Mercedes, Audi or BMW equivalents. The quality and finish seems excellent, not Maserati of old where quality control was a serious issue. The car is hushed on the inside and overall is an excellent package and good value for money, especially if the residual values can be improved with demand outstripping supply.

The 400hp V8 petrol engine is a real joy, immense power, hugely responsive and gives this heavy car a real turn of speed. It also sounds fantastic under full power acceleration conditions. Having the automatic transmission, which still has the option of tiptronic type manual gear changes, really is the best choice for this type of car in this sector. The software in the electronic transmission learns your driving style and adapts the response settings automatically. Alternatively push the Sport button and instantly the car’s brain sharpen up the suspension, steering, throttle and gearshift patterns. In normal mode, the car rides flat and level with plenty of grip but the suspension feels a little too soft on anything other than motorways. In Sports mode, whilst I enjoyed the better steering and throttle responses, the suspension was just that little bit less compliant and too hard resulting in a jittery and unsettled ride at higher speeds over normal road surfaces.

Overall the Quattroporte Automatic is highly desirable, it is not perfect, but it does have character and it is now a viable alternative in a sector dominated by German models.

MILESTONES. Maserati Quattroporte Automatic. Price: From £77,090, main selling model the Sport GT at £83,290. Engine: 4.2-litre, V8 petrol, normally aspirated, 400hp, 460Nm of torque at 4,250rpm. Transmission: Six-speed ZF automatic, front mounted, rear wheel drive. Performance: 167mph, 0-62mpg 5.6 seconds, 19.2mpg, CO2 345g/km, VED Band G £300 this year £400 next year.
For: Elegant saloon with sporting looks, well equipped, seemingly good value for money, having an automatic transmission option, fantastic engine.
Against: High running costs, jittery ride over some surfaces, reliability and long term quality yet to be proven.

Miles Better News Agency

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