An Italian masterpiece

Combining luxury, performance and style is a tough feat but Maserati has a wealth of experience in this field and is aiming to impress with the new entry-level Quattroporte.

Stylistically, the overall look isn’t much different from the outgoing model; it continues to scream luxury and is instantly recognisable as the brand’s flagship luxury sedan.

The Italian marque has a high standard and the cabin is quintessentially Maserati. Leather finishes adorn practically every surface and the infotainment system is incredibly user-friendly.

Obviously it has all the usual gadgets and creature comforts you’d associate with a luxury marque – navigation, MP3, CD player, rear camera and parking sensors etc.

The biggest change is under the bonnet with the 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine being replaced with a smaller 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6. Thankfully though, this is in addition to the existing portfolio of the 530bhp V8 Maserati Quattroporte GTS and the 410bhp V6 Quattroporte S.

To first-time Maserati owners it will undoubtedly deliver an impressive drive thanks to its great handling, superb suspension and ample power with a beastly exhaust note.

However, to those who have experienced other models from the marque, namely the GTS, there is something amiss when it comes to the acceleration.

It has right the look and the sound, but sadly not the power to satisfy purists who may miss the F1 gearbox and accompanying paddle shifters which have been done away with in this model for a standard tiptronic option and gearstick.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no snob, this is a great car and one I would be proud to keep, however, it somehow lacks a little of the fun of other models I’ve driven.
Luckily, this model has a big gun in its arsenal that potentially makes all that null and void … the price tag.

With a starting price of just BD38,990 it opens up the brand to new customers who found the previous price tag too hefty as well as drivers who want the name but not the racing experience.

One of the best things about driving a Maserati is the looks it attracts from envious motorists and passers-by. As photographer Ryan Bayona and I were cruising around looking for a place to shoot the pictures, we both noticed heads turn as we went by.

The highway was smooth sailing and this model performed brilliantly, especially once I hit the sport mode button. The steering became stiffer and the throttle response became sharper which delivered a more aggressive drive, and the noise is just as throaty as the GTS.

It is agile and light which makes it a pleasure to drive, even when we hit a detour and had to navigate some tricky turns.

Eventually we wound down near a ship-building yard and saw some incredible dhows being made. The friendly workers invited us in to have a look at their work and no doubt so that they could get a better look at the car … a fair trade I’d say.

If you’re looking into buying your first Maserati, this is a great place to start and the beginning of what could be an incredible journey.
For details, call Euro Motors on 17750750.