Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

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How much?	$ 164109
Engine:	4691cc, 8cyl, 440BHP @ 7000, 361lb ft @ 4750
Transmission:	Automatic
Fuel Economy:	15.7 - l/100km
Performance:	5.1 sec 0-100kph , 285kph
How heavy?	1990kg

Shahzad Sheikh
14 June 2009

There’s more going on with those sensational looks though, isn’t there?

The new black grille has concave vertical fins with a red-accented Trident logo, the headlights have a metallic titanium finish and inside you get Titantex, a ‘titanium coloured’ composite material that features alloy weaved into the carbon.

Plus you get the new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara and leather upholstery – they look great and offer good lateral support, but still lack the comfort, especially in the lower back, that you’d expect of an executive car.

Does that bother you?

Not really, I’d live with it happily. The compensation is the meaty performance, typically exquisite handling and that outrageous exhaust that serves up the sort of roar, top-end scream, burble at idle, and the dramatic cracks and pops on lift-offs and downshifts, that you’d expect in a famously red sportscar.

And then you still have one of the most gorgeous-looking four-dour saloons on the market, that’s bound to give the Aston Rapide and Porsche Panamera a real run for their money when they finally arrive.

I expect you’re about to conclude that this is the ideal edition of the Quattroporte?

No actually.

It’s similar to the situation with the Granturismo S models. The Cambiocorsa is the mean one that will get all the glory but is a little too OTT for a traditional Maserati owner. And even though that makes it my personal favourite, it’s the far more refined and sophisticated Automatica that should and will be the best seller.

Likewise in the QP Sport GT S you have an incredibly suave and classy exec that compromises its ride, features launch control and is an extremely vocal about its potency – both visually and aurally. It’s an attention seeker.

And it’s the one I’d have, no question. In fact it’s one of those cars where I struggled to give the keys back and it actually pains me to know that I could probably never afford one.

Those of you who are lucky enough to be able to buy Maseratis should go buy the Quattroporte S. It’s almost as quick but far more sensible.

Let us know what you think of the Sport GT S below.

And if, like me, you yearn for a Maserati, but lack the funds, there is a cheaper solution to owning a handbuilt Maserati. Click here to find out more.

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