09 Nov 07
Drive it and you find out why it's worth every penny, if you're in the fortunate position of having that many pennies. The mechanical changes that create the Sport GT S are small, but they're all good. The net result is a car that's better to drive, with a slightly more sporting focus and a substantially more agile feel - quite an achievement for a car that's as big and heavy as a BMW 7-Series.
And because it now feels so nimble and well balanced, you're more inclined to make better use of that gorgeous engine, a 4.2-litre V8 that, as before, makes 396bhp and 339lb-ft of torque, giving a top speed of 167mph and a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds.
The Sport GT S treatment is available only with the auto gearbox, not the DuoSelect. The gearbox here has the same set-up as in other Quattroportes, and it's very good: smooth when you're cruising and quick when you floor it, or when you flick a paddle, or if you've pressed the Sport button.
The car also looks better now. That's partly down to the bling reduction regime, but it's mostly been achieved as a by-product of lowering the ride height. It's a matter of a mere 25mm at the rear and an even merer 10mm at the front, but it gives the Quattroporte a much more athletic stance, and closes the gap between tyre and wheel arch.
