The beige interior looks plush, but is quite firm; considered more touring friendly. The expansive dash is highlighted by the timepiece gracing its centre. The LCD screen sits below it and delivers vehicle info and the feed from the reverse camera. There isn’t much else. The trident on the contrast dark brown leather steering wheel and the key sitting in the cup-holder next to me – keyless go is standard – are also elements that should be mentioned. The blue back-lit display on the info-console looks enticing. Time to bring the V8 to life and get the needles moving.
The heart of the new Quattroporte GTS is a 3,799-cc twin-turbo V8 making 530 PS and up to 710 Nm. That may be 892 cc less than the old atmospheric V8, but it delivers more. The car is also almost 100 kg lighter. The claimed 0-100 sprint time is 4.7 seconds, while the top speed is a supercar rivalling 307 km/h. Having the GTS with a network of some relatively free winding hill roads was a bonus.
Push the start button and the V8 growls to life, but seems very mellow for a Ferrari motor. Pushing the ‘Sport’ button increased a few decibels but the hair in my ears didn’t awaken. There was even an ‘Ice’ button above the Sport button. Heaven help you if you pushed the wrong one over a frozen lake at 250 km/h. The things that go through my mind startle me ever so often. There was no ice here. Just fresh tarmac on a (very hot) winter’s day. Thankfully too, because the long wheelbase is not accompanied by a corresponding ground clearance. It has a very low ride height. So tarmac all the way it is.
Shift to ‘D’ and the Quattroporte rumbles along almost in silence. It’s refined, yes, but just about. It’s too sober to be raw. Sport mode on, exhaust turned up, foot to the floor and the V8 responds with a resonating gathering of revs that felt understated. The acceleration is there. The soundtrack? Not so much. It’s quick, it even handles well. The three hairpins in quick succession were dismissed easily by this 3,171-mm wheelbase sporting super-saloon. It is dynamically-gifted, no doubt about that. I just wish everything was turned up a notch.
The ride quality is good, the bumps and sound are filtered, but the ride overall is on the stiff side. The braking is good too and is not just reassuring but also efficient. The leg-room at the back is good but it leaves me confused. I wouldn’t want to occupy the rear seats with that engine and handling package. It looks like a luxury barge, but it sure doesn’t behave like one. The confusion continues. This one is to be driven. And it loves to be. You buy it because you know of its maker’s 100-year history; its reputation precedes it. Very few will understand but they know it, and they know it well. It’s Italian. And it makes that evident in everything it does. What’s in a name? A GTS with any other prefix would be just as fast.
Need to Know – Maserati Quattroporte GTS
Price: Rs 2.2 crore (ex-Delhi)
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo, V8, petrol
Max Power: 530 PS @ 6,500-6,800 rpm
Max Torque: 650 Nm @ 2,000-4,000 RPM / 710 Nm @ 2,250-3,500 RPM (overboost mode)
Transmission: Eight-speed, automatic, rear-wheel-drive
Weight: 1,900 kg
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