MASERATI
Classy & sporty
- Published: 26/12/2008 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
The Quattroporte saloon becomes naughtier again with small tweaks in power, chassis and design
- Maserati has developed a go-faster version of the facelifted Quattroporte. Called Sport GT S, the Italian four-door saloon will be shown at the Detroit motor show in January on the 70th anniversary of the brand's first Indianapolis 500 win.
- The Sport GT S uses a 4.7-litre V8 engine as in the GranTurismo S (and Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione) with 440hp thanks to a modified engine management system. The six-speed automatic transmission also has a new gearshift management software.
- To cope with the increased performance - which Maserati hasn't disclosed - the Sport GT S gets single-rate dampers, stiffer springs and lower ride height. The exhaust system has also been retuned to sound sportier.
- Exterior enhancements include new black grille, headlights in titanium finish, body-coloured door handles and black oval exhausts. Inside, there are M-design seats with perforated leather upholstery and titanium coloured composite material.
Cabin has perforated leather and titanium look-alike parts.
- Pricing has not been announced yet, although the Sport GT S is likely to cost around B18m when it comes to Thai shores next year via Empire Motor Sport, the authorised importer which was previously known as Ferma Motor Sport.
- Other models to reach the Thai market officially in 2009 include the regular 4.2 of the updated Quattroporte saloon and GranTurismo coupe', as well as the pending GranTurismo Spyder due to make its world debut at March's Geneva motor show.
ONE LAST THING: Now that Jaguar's 400hp XJR is inferior to the Quattroporte, expect the all-new replacement in 2010 to be a better match for the Italian.
- WIDE & CLEAR
- Tweaks for 207
- Seven becomes sporty
- PPVs come under scrutiny
- Land Rover Defender 90 SW
- TIME TO DOWNSIZE
- ROGUE APPEAL
- Hybrid 'eclipses' diesel
Keep this article in your social bookmark:
Or you can: 
