Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT

Tags: Maserati Quattroporte autoshow Los Angeles Auto Show 2006 GranSport

"Excellence through passion." Two are the North American premieres for Maserati in Los Angeles: the Quattroporte Sport GT and the GranSport Spider, with both cars featuring Maserati's Transaxle drive system.

Maserati is the only company to utilize a Transaxle drive system for the entire model line. The Transaxle layout, in which the gearbox is positioned at the rear of the car in a single unit with the differential, offers optimum weight distribution between the front axle and the rear axle. This helps optimize traction and acceleration for a more stable, balanced performance in all conditions. In short, this system delivers extraordinarily exhilarating driving and exceptional road-holding in one neat package.

QUATTROPORTE SPORT GT

"Excellence through passion." The Sport GT version of the Quattroporte was created to further enhance the high performance spirit that sets the Quattroporte apart from any other luxury sedan. Features available only in this package include a black chrome trimmed grille and side air intakes which take their inspiration from Maserati's race cars, while the hood bears the pierced Trident typical of the Maserati competition cars of the past.

The car's overall sporty character is enhanced in the interior by the carbon fibre trimmed steering wheel, hand-brake grip and lightweight aluminium pedals.

The performance of the transmission has been increased: the Sport button allows the driver to significantly cut gear change times up to 35% faster thanks to enhanced software in the electro-hydraulic transmission system's CPU. At high engine speeds, the 4.2 litre V8 growls an even more sonorous basso thanks to a specially tuned exhaust system.

Particular attention was given to the programming of Maserati's renowned Skyhook adaptive damping software to provide a higher level of dynamic handling, while still allowing the driver to set the system for comfortable cruising. Sculptured 20" wheels communicate immediately the cars great sporting ability and feature specially produced tires with a pressure monitoring system. The high performance Brembo braking system now features metal weave tubing and cross-drilled discs with titanium-colored callipers.

Thanks to continuous developments, particularly on the gearbox, all MY06 Quattroportes in automatic mode have now their lowest consumption rate ever, reduced as much as 16.7 % in highway driving, 5.8% in city driving and 9.4% in combined cycle driving.

GRANSPORT SPYDER

"Excellence through passion." This open air GranSport Spyder maintains every ounce of the temperament and aggressive look of the GranSport coupe. This is emphasized first by a 10-mm-lowered set-up, a very pronounced front lower spoiler and by the side bars elegantly integrated into the body itself, all resulting in improved aerodynamic performance.

The athletic look of the car is completed by the 19" alloy wheels in the same design of those used in the Maserati Trofeo Championship mated to specially produced tires with a profile designed to make the GranSport Spyder even more agile and responsive to the steering wheel.

The Italian roadster also shares with the coupe the evolved version of the 4.2 litre V8 producing 400 hp and a 333 lb-ft of torque, placing the GranSport Spyder among the fastest convertibles in the world. The engine has been combined with an exhaust system designed to give enthusiasts an instantly recognizable deep, full-bodied rumble. Thanks to new specific software, the GranSport Spyder offers even faster gear changing, on average 35% faster than its predecessor.

The design and materials of the interior are a perfect mix of leather, high-tech fabric and the most use of Carbon fibre in the class. The upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in leather, while the central area, framed by piping, is trimmed in BrighTex®, the same high tech fabric of the racing MC12. The GranSport Spyder will go on sale beginning March 2006.