2014 Maserati Quattroporte

[Lord T]

"The new Maserati Quattroporte is a high-performance sports luxury sedan that reinterprets the design features of classic Maseratis in a contemporary design language. Its style was born out of the guiding design principles of Maserati: harmony of shapes, dynamism of lines, Italian elegance. More generous in size when compared to the previous model, the new Quattroporte has a design that is at once graceful and sinuous, fashioned to bring out the sporty nature of the car. Some of the elements characterizing the previous model have been purposely maintained: the front grill, the three side vents, the triangular C pillar. At the same time new style and functional features were introduced: the strong belt line that runs through the entire side of the car giving the new Quattroporte a look and feel that is at once muscular and elegant with frameless doors and three side windows. Inside, the design of the Quattroporte aims at essentiality, stressing the simplicity of lines and the full functionality of the in-board instrumentation. Functional elements are blended with soft quality surfaces made of prestigious woods and refined leathers." - Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Maserati Design Center

Maserati Quattroporte: All-New Next Generation Powertrain

"The innovative Maserati proprietary engines of the all-new Maserati Quattroporte have all been designed and developed by Maserati and Ferrari engineers in the heart of Italy's motor valley. As a matter of fact, they are going to be produced in the Ferrari plant in Maranello that has been synonymous with cutting-edge technology and passion for well over 60 years. Passion is indeed the middle name of a whole new generation of Maserati engines that will equip the all-new Maserati Quattroporte and the models that will soon follow her on the market. The passion and state-of-the-art technology that is at the heart of all the new Maserati engines that will be mounted on the next generation of Maserati products have produced engines that are not only more powerful than ever, or more exciting to drive than ever - bust also more eco-friendly than ever before." - Paolo Martinelli, Maserati Powertrain Director

Maserati Quattroporte: Key Technical Features

"Refined technical solutions, an explicit attention to the most challenging targets in terms of performance, comfort, efficiency and safety - these are the key elements of the all-new Maserati Quattroporte. Maserati engineers have worked - with a competence matched only by their passion - in chassis designing and engineering, weight reduction, ergonomic enhancement to develop a car capable of fitting different powertrain architectures and transmission configurations for the most diverse driving conditions but always maintaining Maserati's trademark best-in-class driving comfort. The results is the all-new Maserati Quattroporte, a luxury sports sedan that reaches new heights in terms of performance and handling, driving enjoyment as well as respect of the world we live in: the best performance ever in the long history of Maserati's four-door flagship sedan are matched by the unprecedented success in the quest for an eco-friendly automobile. All this done, of course, as you may expect from Maserati, in the spirit of the most severe active and passive safety conditions." - Roberto Corradi, Maserati Vehicle Development Director

 

[Lord T]

Revealed: 2013 Maserati Quattroporte to Offer 404-HP 3.0L V-6, 523-HP 3.8L V-8

In November, we were invited to drive a camouflaged prototype of the all-new 2014 Maserati Quattroporte at the automaker’s Balocco proving ground near Milan, Italy, as well as get a close look at an undisguised car in near-production form. While we were sworn to keep our drive impressions off the record – check back mid-December for our 2013 Maserati Quattroporte First Drive story – we were given the OK to share details on the Trident’s thoroughly updated flagship. Here’s what we learned:

POWERTRAINS

The base engine is an all-new 3.0-liter twin-turbo direct-injected V-6 making 404 hp at 5500 rpm and 406 lb-ft at 1750 rpm. Top speed is 177 mph, with 0-60 estimated in 5.1 (likely conservative). This new V-6, which shares its block with Chrysler’s Pentastar, will also be the engine in the upcoming Ghibli, a four-door 5 Series fighter due out next year. For more oomph, the optional engine is an all-new 3.8-liter twin-turbo DI V-8 that puts out 523 hp at 6500 and 479 lb-ft (524 on overboost) at 2000. Vmax for the eight is 191 mph, with 0-60 mph coming in roughly 4.7 sec (again, surely conservative). Both engines, which utilize IHI turbos with max boost of 3 bar, will be built in Maranello at the Ferrari engine plant and are reported to return 20-percent improvements in both fuel economy and C02 emissions. Hybrid and diesel options are under consideration during the Quattroporte’s lifecycle. The sole transmission offering is a ZF AT8-HP70 eight-speed auto that is nine pounds lighter than the previous six-speed. The V-8 comes only with RWD, but the V-6 will be available with AWD, a first for Maserati. Co-developed with Magna, the all-wheel-drive system offers a torque split that is variable from 0/100 front/rear to 50/50.

BODY/CHASSIS

Much of the body and suspension is made of aluminum, resulting in an average weight reduction of 220 pounds. Aluminum pieces include the upper cross-member, front beam and cradle, shock towers, front and rear doors, hood lid and frame, and trunk lid. The Cd is said to be 12 percent better, with a 24-percent improvement in lift. Estimated curb weights are 4189 pounds for the V-8 and 4101 lb for the V-6. Weight distribution ranges from 50/50 front/rear for the V-8 to 51/49 for the V-6 AWD. According to Maserati, the weight distribution has been “optimized,” thanks to an under-floor gas tank, larger trunk (now around 18 cu ft), and additional weight up front from the intercoolers and bigger radiators.

The Quattroporte rides on an all-new Skyhook suspension with front control arms, a rear multilink, and adjustable dampers (normal, sport). The steering system is a speed-sensitive hydraulic setup from TRW – not electronic power steering – as Maserati aimed for optimal steering feel. Tires on the display car were Pirelli PZero – 245/40R20 front and 285/35R20 rear – though Continental and Dunlop will also supply rubber.

DIMENSIONS

Length: 207.2 in (+6.4)

Width: 76.7 in (+2.5)

Wheelbase: 124.8 in (+4.2). Now in line with long-wheelbase competitors.

Rear legroom: 38.6 in (+4.2)

 

[kinglickk]

I saw Maserati...I was thinking BIG ASS TITS...sigh..t'was but a car.

 

[Lord T]

I saw Maserati...I was thinking BIG ASS TITS...sigh..t'was but a car.

Yeah she don't go by "Quattroporte". Sorry to disappoint fam

 

[SPECTRE1]

Are people still spending six figures on an internal combustion engine?

Unless it is a hybrid, I would not spend it.

 

[donwuan]

That's what you get for 150 stacks?

 

[Lord T]

2014 Maserati Quattroporte Full Specs Revealed

The 2014 Maserati Quattroporte, the sixth generation of the iconic Italian sedan, will be making its official world debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show in January, however, Maserati has already let some media test the car, where new details about its final specifications were divulged.

As predicted, two different engines will be offered to Quattroporte buyers, both of them developed and manufactured by Ferrari.

The entry-level unit is a direct-injected and twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 410 horsepower and promising 0-60 times in the five-second range and a top speed of 177 mph. A version of this engine is expected to feature in future Alfa Romeo models.

The range-topper is a 3.8-liter V-8, again with direct-injection and twin-turbocharging technologies, producing 530 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. An overboost function lifts torque to 530 pound-feet momentarily, however. This model reaches 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and goes on to reach a top speed of 191 mph.

The transmission on both models is a ZF eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and customers also have the choice of rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations. For the all-wheel-drive model, 100 percent of the drive goes to the rear wheels during normal conditions while 50 percent can be directed to the front if conditions become adverse.

Maserati says it’s looking at offering a diesel powertrain in some markets, an option that will be offered in the smaller Ghibli sedan.

It’s not clear what drivetrain options will be offered in the U.S., though we should know following the car's Detroit debut.

As previously reported, the platform underpinning the 2014 Quattroporte is a steel monocoque with aluminum used for crossmembers and suspension parts. The suspension is all-independent, with double wishbones up front and a five-link setup in the rear. A shorter version of this platform will be used for the Ghibli, which will be produced alongside the new Quattroporte at a former Bertone plant just outside of Turin, Italy.

Similar in size to a Mercedes-Benz S Class, and being mostly steel underneath, the Quattroporte is a relatively heavy car. It tips the scales at almost 4,200 pounds. The trunk space comes in at a generous 18.7 cubic feet and the standard wheels are 20-inch alloys.

 

[Coldchi]

sweet....
i've always been a Maserati fan.

 

[Mo-Better]

Damn designers had their glasses on when they designed this one, Shit looks sweet.

 

[Lord T]

 

[Cock Head Jones]

the tesla model s kinda blows this out the water now.

the original quattroporte was tough though.

 

[soulcontroller]

I"m not that impressed with the interior for that price. Engine specs looks dope though.

 

[Lord T]

I"m not that impressed with the interior for that price. Engine specs looks dope though.

At least the interior is an improvement over the previous

 

[voodoo]

looks like a Buick

 

[CUB2006]

Stick with the Panni

 

[Ruff Ryder]

looks like a Buick

LOL, I was thinking the same thing.

Nice ride though.

 

[MissMighty]

Are people still spending six figures on an internal combustion engine?

Unless it is a hybrid, I would not spend it.

SHIT! What is that thing?​

 

[J.E.T.S]

Atlanta bout to be flooded with these things. Already see at least one Maserati a day. Niggas here love these cars for some reason.

Sent from my real ass galaxy s3!

 

[TheAlias]

Are people still spending six figures on an internal combustion engine?

Unless it is a hybrid, I would not spend it.

 

[An RnB Thug]

I still think Maserati makes some
of the best looking cars.

 

[Backshot Bully]

Are people still spending six figures on an internal combustion engine?

Unless it is a hybrid, I would not spend it.

Maserati is nice but this Beamer is killing'em to me and if i remember right yes it's a hybrid.

 

[Ruff Ryder]

Yeah she don't go by "Quattroporte". Sorry to disappoint fam

She only has 3 holes.

 

[CUB2006]

Atlanta bout to be flooded with these things. Already see at least one Maserati a day. Niggas here love these cars for some reason.

Sent from my real ass galaxy s3!

Bitches think Maserati = millions

 

[assmaster1]

SHIT! What is that thing?​

BMW prototype, IT was featured In Tom Cruises Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol.

 

[Lord T]

Are people still spending six figures on an internal combustion engine?

Unless it is a hybrid, I would not spend it.

Are people going to spend six figures on a 3 cylinder car like the i8?

That looks great as a CONCEPT, but the production will look different. There is NO WAY the i8 would be able to pass side impact regulations with those transparent door panels. Imagine getting T-boned in that!

Here is the production version testing

This is more of how it will look

- 170-hp electric motor driving the front wheels
-1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder powers the rear wheels with 223-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
-Pricing is estimated to be between $130,000-$150,000


BMW i8 Plug-in Hybrid: Best-looking Disappointment EV Fans Have Ever Seen

I was enthusiastic when BMW unveiled its Vision EfficientDynamics concept two years ago. It had it all. A breathtaking design, and a promising plug-in hybrid drive train with two electric motors—one per axle—making the car a powerful all-wheel-drive electric car. More than that, it had a small super efficient three-cylinder diesel in the back, to add range and power for high speed autobahn driving. Treehuggers and sports car fans alike were reunited. The car was so highly acclaimed that BMW had no other choice but to green-light it for production. That's what it did. But what we saw two years ago is not this car. This i8 Concept is an "in-between" car—between the 2009 concept and the regular production model that will arrive in 2014.

The design remains absolutely fabulous, but there were many changes in the powertrain. There's only one electric motor left, over the front wheels. There is a small motor in the rear, but it cannot power the car. It's powered by the gas engine back there, with the only purpose of recharging the battery if needed.

The i8's engine is no longer a diesel, but a gasoline engine: a small three-cylinder with 1.5-liter displacement, highly turbocharged, and capable of 220 horsepower (164 kW). The electric motor adds 131 horsepower (96 kW). Altogether, the power available to the driver is 353 horsepower (260 kW). The layout is perfect with an ideal 50/50 weight distribution, and a low center of gravity—,thanks to the battery located in a center tunnel, between driver and passenger.

If only that i8 would have been launched before the Chevrolet Volt! It's too late now, and it will be even worse in 2014. I'm sorry for BMW but the Volt is the only car that qualifies as a true plug-in hybrid in my book. That's because when you drive it, the engine can do whatever it likes without the driver's noticing. The engine may be running or it may be stopped, but the Volt drives the same. The i8 won't be like this. Far from it. It will have an EV mode that the driver could select, but that electric mode will change the all wheel drive car into a front drive car. In EV mode, the power is significantly reduced from 260 kW to 96 kW. It's like going to a restaurant and getting a kid's menu when you wanted a king-sized feast.

Switching the i8 to electric mode means reducing its power by two-thirds. Who wants this? Less traction, much less power and you won't go far. The concept from 2009 had a 50 kilometer (31 mile) range on its battery. Now, it's down to 35 kilometers or 21-miles.

I'm confident yet that the i8 will be a great car, and that it will be superbly efficient. But I suggest BMW should drop the plug-in hybrid part of it, and make the i8 a standard hybrid, like the Prius. The i8 will be BMW's flagship, probably more expensive than a V12 7-series. I doubt that the people who will be able to afford it will bother plugging it every 20 miles to save a little money, and greatly reduce what it can do when it's so cheap and easy to buy gas. The i8 is a fantastic hybrid sports car that drives at 155 miles per hour on the autobahn, and goes from 0 to 62-mph in 5-seconds. That's what it is, and it's incredibly efficient, getting an 87 mpg rating on the European test cycle. But I view its electric mode as a marketing gimmick.

Come on. Does anyone think this i8 looks like a car for commuting at low speed?

 

[greenz]

I like it but the back of it looks eerily similar to an a7

 

[ShortyCumStain]

Atlanta bout to be flooded with these things. Already see at least one Maserati a day. Niggas here love these cars for some reason.

Sent from my real ass galaxy s3!

To tell you da truth, I think I see Bentley's more than Maserati's.

 

[Lord T]

Atlanta bout to be flooded with these things. Already see at least one Maserati a day. Niggas here love these cars for some reason.

Because you can get a used one for cheap, especially the first years of the modern Quattroporte (2004-2008). You can go on Autotrader and find those Quattroportes from low to mid $30k.

The thing is that you might be able to find the car for cheap, but the maintenance on it is still full price! It is still a Maserati. Dudes can look like they're ballin' until it's time for something to be replaced!

 

[Teknique310]

Because you can get a used one for cheap, especially the first years of the modern Quattroporte (2004-2008). You can go on Autotrader and find those Quattroportes from low to mid $30k.

The thing is that you might be able to find the car for cheap, but the maintenance on it is still full price! It is still a Maserati. Dudes can look like they're ballin' until it's time for something to be replaced!

Yeah buddy , resale is doo doo on these.

The tail end is all Audi. Nice looking car though. Maserari got that good soundtrack when you punch it .

 

[Deezz]

Because you can get a used one for cheap, especially the first years of the modern Quattroporte (2004-2008). You can go on Autotrader and find those Quattroportes from low to mid $30k.

The thing is that you might be able to find the car for cheap, but the maintenance on it is still full price! It is still a Maserati. Dudes can look like they're ballin' until it's time for something to be replaced!

For all those saying Buick, wait until you see one in person, you will not think that.

 

[soulcontroller]

To tell you da truth, I think I see Bentley s more than Maserati's.

Pretty much, but shit you see everything here. Only joint I have yet to see in the A is the Telsa Model S. I saw that bitch in south florida last month and almost wrecked my rental looking at that bitch. Fuck I want that bitch.

 

[Lord T]

Yeah buddy , resale is doo doo on these.

The tail end is all Audi. Nice looking car though. Maserari got that good soundtrack when you punch it .

I like this Maserati. I think it looks better than the previous one. It has a stated look to it without having to be "over the top".

Yes the Maserati's have a great soundtrack


I'm sure this new twin turbo will sound even better!

 

[Lord T]

For all those saying Buick, wait until you see one in person, you will not think that.

True! I have a Buick (2011 Regal Turbo) and don't even think that it looks like a Buick!

 

[Deezz]

True! I have a Buick (2011 Regal Turbo) and don't even think that it looks like a Buick!

Yeah. Those are nice. Actually went to the Buick dealer to check one out.

 

[SPECTRE1]

The engine is to recharge the battery, not power the car. Electric motors can provide much torque.