09 Nov 07
First there was the Quattroporte - not the sleek 60s one, but the big, elegant cruiser launched in 2004. Then, a couple of years later, there came the Quattroporte Automatic, which as an alternative to the DuoSelect clutchless manual had a proper - and much better - automatic gearbox.
So, we thought, job done: Maserati now had a big, expensive flagship fit for a modern Italian company, with one eye on its own fascinating heritage.
But then, at September's Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati came up with something called - deep breath - the Quattroporte Sport GT S: a bit lower, suspension a bit stiffer, new front brakes, new tyres and less chrome.
Hmm... We didn't think there was anything wrong with the suspension or brakes, and there were surely already more than enough spec options allowing you to make your Quattroporte as bling as you wanted. What more would you want from a four-door grand tourer? It's smooth, comfortable, stylish, exquisitely well made from beautiful materials and significantly different from the German and British alternatives.
What's the point of this more expensive new model, available in the UK from January 2008 for £86,400, which is over nine grand more than the least expensive Quattroporte?
