The 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

The 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S will be the definitive sedan in Maserati's lineup.

Maserati describes the Sport GT S, which goes on sale in March 2009, as "the ultimate expression of Maserati's sportiness in the Quattroporte range." In short, it's a big, sensuous four-door that goes fast and handles sharply.

Up close, this Quattroporte has the sheer presence of even more expensive cars like the Bentley Arnage or Continental GT. It's the most visually striking car available in this price range.

The Sport GT S isn't a lot different from Maserati's current sedans, the Quattroporte and Quattroporte S. Changes to the GT S are subtle, but they work to create a noticeably different bent. Perhaps this car is more sinister, and certainly more self possessed.

The Sport GT S is equipped with Maserati's larger 4.7-liter V8, like the Quattroporte S, rather the 4.2-liter engine in the standard Quattroporte. The V8 is tuned to deliver 433 horsepower, or eight more than the Quattroporte S, thanks to a freer-flowing (and deeper-sounding) exhaust system. Its electronic throttle is tuned to respond more aggressively to movement on the gas pedal.

The Quattroporte's six-speed automatic is one of the most effective conventional automatics anywhere, and in the Sport GT S it will be tuned for sportier, more aggressive gear-change strategies. The Sport GT S suspension has firmer springs and a lower ride height than the other Quattroportes, with no-compromise single-rate shock absorbers. Such shocks are better than variable rate shocks for responsive handling, but they invariably mean a stiffer ride.

Styling tweaks are subtle, too, but there's nothing on the Sport GT S body that can be called bright work. Its grille is black, featuring concave vertical fins and a red-trimmed Maserati Trident, and it's eye-catching. The headlights have a metallic titanium finish, and the wheels and other adornment have a deep metallic finish that Maserati calls Shadowline. It's all very shiny, but not really bright.

Inside, the Sport GT-S has the same bespoke, hand-stitched quality as the other Quattroporte sedans, but the trim is a deep gray carbon-fiber weave. The seat inserts and door panels are rich, suede-like material in dark hues. It's all very luxurious, with a subtle hint of danger. Sliding into the back seat means ducking under the low roofline. It requires a bit more work than climbing into the typical large sedan, but once inside rear passengers are treated to acres of legroom and a form-fit seat as comfortable as the best sport buckets anywhere.

Months before the Quattroporte Sport GT S debuts, Maserati has established its price at $133,700. The company expects to sell a limited number, perhaps in the hundreds, out of about 8,000 total annual sales, worldwide. The limiting factor is less the price increase from the Quattroporte S (about $8,000) and more the flipside of the Sport GT S's sporting enhancements (like a harsher ride and more noise).

Still, if someone seeks a big, Italian sedan that everyone will look at, why not choose the fastest of all? There should be no shortage of Quattroporte Sport GT-S models in the United States, as America remains Maserati's largest market.


On Sale: Spring 2009
Expected Pricing: $133,700