Maserati Quattroporte S

Nov 20 2009 Ian Johnson

FOR those with the best part of £90,000 to spend and who want limousine luxury with supercar performance, then Maserati has the answer with its amazing Quattroporte S.

This car received its name due to its four door body-style and not the number of valves per cylinder of its immensely powerful V8 engine, as some might think.

It is the intensely Italian luxury limo that has driven Maserati's fortunes ahead in 59 markets across five continents in recent years, bringing this great sporting name back to prominence, especially in the UK with a range of cars that is just breathtaking.

Once the British market was hardly a hotspot for this manufacturer, but in recent times, the 17 per cent increase in world sales in 2008 over 2007 - a reflection of an enhanced range of cars - has seen the marque sweep back in style to add more muscle to the choice of wheels for the rich and famous.

Quatropporte is not a new name - the first example was unveiled in the mid-1960s. Since that time the model has gone through various evolutions, all of them beautifully styled and very powerful.

But in the last few years the car has been developed to accelerate into the marketplace dominated by Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Lexus with a contender that has a very powerful take on luxury motoring.

Beneath this model's stunning luxury car skin there is a supercar just straining to get out.

Under the bonnet is a 4.7-litre V8 with 317bhp of power growling to be unleashed. With a top speed of 174mph and 0-62mph sprint of 5.4 seconds it becomes apparent that the Quattroporte can take on the best in the class for sheer power.

But the steel fist is clad in a velvet glove that brings a high degree of comfort plus ride and handling sophistication. After a few days at the wheel, it won me over as something completely different in a sector of the market that is supremely tough due to very demanding customers.

In terms of appearance it looks like a supercar that has morphed into a limo but in the most stunning of ways. None of the opposition can match it in this respect.

It is also one of the most powerful people magnets I have ever encountered. It just draws an audience, often the most unlikely people. One elderly lady, laden with shopping bags bustled past and said, 'Now that's what a car should look like.' How right she was.

But as with everything the proof is with the driving and I have been fortunate enough to do some high speed tests on a Quattroporte on an airfield runway during an event organised by Maserati.

I can only say that at almost twice the legal motorway speed the car gave the impression of bottomless power reserves. And driving tight figures-of-eight with the right foot hard down with all the electronic driver aids on would not overcome its tenacious grip.

Not things that you have to do on the road but proof that the incredible technology woven into this car really does what it claims - especially the state-of-the-art Skyhook suspension system with controlled damping and variable setup.

The S Model falls into the middle of the Quattroporte range between the lead in model and the much more powerful Sport GT S.

It is one of the most of the most individual luxury car choices and one with vast appeal to those who just love driving.

FAST FACTS

Maserati Quattroporte S

Price: £85,203

Mechanical: 317bhp, 4,691cc, 8cyl petrol enfine driving rear wheels via automatic gearbox

Max speed: 174mph

0-62mph: 5.4 seconds

Combined mpg: 18

Insurance group: 20

CO2 emissions: 365g/km

BIK rating: 35%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles