It is 7630 words long. A novel is 80,000 words. One of the arts of auto journalism is deciphering press releases. Extracting the magic words and numbers from a drivel filled essay. Maserati would like us to create a 500 word article summarising how great the new Quattroporte is by reading, filtering and then recreating it as a punchy synopsis for their new car.
Thanks, Maserati.
First of all, this is what it looks like.
Very nice, although it does look like a Porsche Panamera front end welded to a BMW 3 series rear end. here's another view.
That's more like it. We can now see that the front end is uniquely Maserati, although the grille does look a little like Jaguar's F-Type.
So to some facts and figures. The new Maserati Quattroporte comes with two engine choices - a twin-turbo, 3.8 litre V8 and a twin-turbo, 3 litre, V6. Both engines are mated to an 8 speed semi-automatic transmission.
The 3.8 litre produces 530bhp and does 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is 191mph. The 3 litre produces 410bhp, does 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 177mph.
The Quattroporte is available in four or five seat configurations, has 50:50 weight distribution and has lost 100kg over it's predecessor.
The engines are designed by Maserati but built by Ferrari at their Maranello factory. For the first time the Quattroporte will be available with all wheel drive, although this will only be available in left hand drive configuration and with the V6.
The interior is a rather lovely place. Here it is.
Clear and uncluttered. In fact there appear to be hardly any buttons aside from those on the door handle. The interior has been stretched over the previous Quattroporte so all occupants get greater legroom.
The audio system is a high end Bowers & Wilkins affair whilst the car comes with onboard WiFi - a great idea and useful for the occupants in our high-tech age.
Maserati have stuck with a servo-powered hydraulic steering system - hurrah! When Mercedes and Porsche are sticking electric power steering in their performance cars it's good to see at least one manufacturer staying true to hydraulic steering, which gives better steering feedback.
A few more interesting facts from the enormo-press release:
- The front and rear windows are double laminated to keep road noise at bay
- The exhaust features a flap that, when Sports mode is activated, enhances noise and performance
- Combined mpg for the V8 is 23mpg
- The V8 produces 523 lb ft of torque at only 2250-3500 rpm
- The engines (both V6 and V8) feature four camshafts and two drive chains
- The WiFi needs a SIM card and supports up to 3 devices
- Maserati say, "The Quattroporte’s tail lights have been designed to offer maximum visibility." Isn't that's the point of tail lights?
- The headlights adjust according to traffic ahead. A laser in the rear view mirror scans the road ahead for oncoming traffic
- It's got an electric parking brake - ARGGGHHH. Electric parking brakes are rubbish and need to be outlawed.
- The V8 weighs 1900kg (no figure for the V6)
- Maserati haven't issued either a price or release date yet but expect it to be released at some point in 2013 and to cost between £120,000 and £150,000
