The Maserati Quattroporte has become something like the Godfather of all luxury cars. Not for nothing, Francis Ford Coppola featured it in The Godfather Part III. But legendary mobsters aren’t the only ones loving this car. In fact, movie producers, superstars, royals and oil-rich heirs all go gaga for the Quattroporte. And if you're still unsure about the Maserati Quattroporte, wondering why would this model be better than the smaller, less potent, but more affordable Maserati Ghibli, it’s worth noting that the Quattroporte is something like a celebrity who has appeared in more movies than the majority of your favorite actors.
Since 1963, when Maserati introduced the Quattroporte to the world, the vehicle appeared in cult movies and TV series including Miami Vice, Overdrive, The Dark Knight Rises, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Punisher, Hawaii Five O and The O.C. However, certain fan stories have also gained quite a bit of notoriety, which means that it's not just Hollywood that promotes awareness of this amazing car. It appears like few can resist the allure of the Quattroporte. Lending a note of credibility to this argument is a 2014 story that focuses on a Kansas City man accused of trying to steal a 2014 Maserati Quattroporte from Aristocrat Motors. Over the years, stories like this only boosted the desirability of the car. Apart from movies with Italian mobsters, appearances in blockbusters, and crazy fan stories, here’s what makes the Maserati Quattroporte so special.
The Powerful Maserati Engine Makes The Quattroporte Special
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By far, the most appealing attribute of this car is the engine. Since its inception in 1963, Quattroporte came equipped with a racing engine that was supposed to deliver incredible power, performance and that distinctive angry sound that Maserati drivers love. The Series I, four-door luxury sports sedan had under the hood a 4.1-liter V8 engine that generated 260 horsepower and pushed the car to the top speed of 143 miles per hour. Maserati paired this engine with a five-speed ZF manual transmission or the optional three-speed Borg Warner automatic. The Series II, released in 1968, introduced a 4.7-liter engine that generated 286 hp and helped the Quattroporte reach the top speed of 158 miles per hour. In 1971, the Italian automaker designed a special prototype for Karim Aga Khan. This model was even more powerful, and it had under the hood a 4.9-liter V8 engine rated at 296 hp.
The Quattroporte II came out as a rather interesting experiment that petrol heads will remember mostly because of the Citroën partnership. This model didn’t have under the hood, Maserati’s legendary V8 because the engine was too large for the chassis; thus, the Maserati team developed a prototype 4.0-liter V8 engine that was created from two compact Citroën-Maserati V6 engines. This powertrain generated 255 horsepower. The Quattroporte III represented a return to the acclaimed Maserati V8 engines. Customers could select between the 4.9-liter unit that produced 276 horsepower and the 4.1-liter, which generated 252 horsepower. In 1986, under the leadership of De Tomaso, the Italian automaker also introduced the bespoke, ultra-luxurious Royale, which had under the hood a 4.9-liter V8 engine that produced 296 horsepower.
During the Fiat ownership phase, Quattroporte IV came equipped with the twin-turbocharged V6, which was later upgraded to a 3.2-liter twin-turbocharged V8 powertrain.
Maserati released the Quattroporte V in 2003 and everything about the car was screaming luxury and performance. Pininfarina’s team designed the new Quattroporte, and the model had a naturally aspirated dry sump 4.2-liter V8 engine that generated 395 horsepower. After 2008, Pininfarina’s team oversaw another face lift, and the cars became even more powerful. Also, Maserati introduced the Quattroporte S and the impressive Quattroporte Sport GT S. The current version, the Quattroporte VI offers a wider choice of engines, and clients can select between the twin-turbocharged V6 and V8 petrol engines and the turbodiesel V6. Throughout Quattroporte’s history, Maserati has constantly revolutionized the engine and boosted the car’s performance.
What Makes The Maserati Quattroporte So Special: Affordable Luxury
Maserati's owners know they got a great deal with the Quattroporte. This is a performance-oriented car that respects the brand’s heritage but constantly pushes the limits of creativity and technology. In fact, the Quattroporte has become almost synonymous with innovation, luxury, and effortless elegance.
Given its distinctive selling points and market success, it is astonishing to discover how affordable the Quattroporte is in comparison to its Italian rivals: Ferrari and Lamborghini. While Ferrari purists will argue that the price difference is justified, they should also consider that Ferrari has a competitive advantage, as it became a lifestyle brand that can shape consumer behavior.
By contrast, Maserati is battling to stay in the luxury league and its global sales have been lukewarm. And because of Maserati’s inadequate marketing resources and budget, the automaker is unable to compete with its rivals. But despite the company’s flaws and shortcomings, the Quattroporte remains a remarkable car that stands out in the crowd and is still relatively affordable when compared to rivals.