2011 Maserati Quattroporte

2011 Maserati Quattroporte Review: The Awakening

If you go to the streets and take a look, cars of every possible variation can be seen on the roads. It is safe to say that the market is currently saturated with a flurry of options. People these days have more purchasing power and are not afraid to splash the cash, especially when it comes to vehicles. Cars are a statement in society. The superior your car, the higher your stature that is how it goes.

Keeping this fact in mind automakers have frenzied their way into one particular segment, the luxury sedan. While this segment was previously reserved for the elite carmakers, it feels like every big carmaker wants to try their hand at making a luxury sedan.

Enter Maserati. The Italian carmaker has built some of the finest automobiles over the course of the last hundred years and while their stature might have diminished a little, they are making a comeback. Maserati is throwing down the gauntlet with the Quattroporte, the question now remains, is this car worth your money? Let’s find out.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati’s gamechanger

The name Quattroporte means ‘four doors’ in Italian, that’s it, four doors. Yet it’s a name that rolls of the tongue so smoothly and has that exotic feel to it. This is the beauty of Italian cars, from the time you utter their name, you know you are in for something special. The Maserati Quattroporte is a special car. While it is not a new entrant in the space by any means, it is a car that offers you something unique, something special.

Unlike other manufacturers, Maserati had no experience in making a four-door luxury sedan. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that their take on a luxury car is simply unconventional. One glance at the Maserati Quattroporte and you will see that it evokes a different type of emotion.

Every other car in the segment looks bland and tasteless almost. You can distinguish them by their exterior, which is almost like a business suit. Compare that to the Quattroporte and you can immediately feel the difference; the suit it wears is Italian and you can tell. But how has this car, which has stayed almost the same for the last 6 years changed? Our in-depth coverage is here to tell you how.

The many faces of the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte

Off-the-bat the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte is unlike any other car in any dealership. It wears many faces. One is that of a luxury car and another is that of a sports car, yet it feels like it is neither. For 2011, there is a new spoiler to improve performance and a slightly revised bodywork. There are now LEDs head and taillights. The base Quattroporte also gets 19-inch wheels as standard.

It comes in three trims, the base, S, and Sport GT S. While the changes are minor, the car still maintains its exotic value. It is unlikely you will find a car with a similar build and mold as that of the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte. While it may cost far more than any other car in the same segment, there will be no buyer’s remorse once you sit inside and put the pedal to the metal.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte

The heart of a Ferrari

Italians build engines unlike any other. They make some of the meanest sounding engines and it is this very factor that lures people into buying Italian cars. Unlike newer cars, the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte retains a Ferrari-made V8 and there are two variants. The second one is further split into two configurations, with the Sport GT S model getting a slight bump in power.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte – Base Model

The base model gets a 4.2-liter 400 brake horsepower V8 that can deliver 339 lb-ft of torque. You also get a six-speed automatic transmission that helps this car fly through the gears. While it may not look like it is powerful when compared to the others, it can pack a mean punch. Another important factor here is that since the engine is designed and built by Ferrari, it can outperform a lot of other models in the market. It can do zero to sixty in 5.6 seconds, which is rapid for a car from 2011.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte S

The S trim comes with a 4.7-liter 425 brake horsepower V8 that delivers 361 lb-ft of torque. The size of the engine gives it more room to breathe and it feels like the power delivery is much better on the S. It also gets an adaptive Skyhook sport air suspension system and Brembo brakes for superior performance. The added power means it can rip from zero to sixty in under 5.5 seconds.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS

The crown jewel in the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte lineup, the Sport GTS comes with the same 4.7-liter V8 but delivers 433 brake horsepower. The torque figures are the same but the roominess of the engine and the slight increase in horsepower make a big difference. The six-speed transmission, Skyhook suspension setup, Brembo brakes, a performance tuning mode, and launch control make the Sport GTS feel more like a sports car than a luxury sedan. The added size and heft of the engine allow it to gun it from zero to sixty in just a smidge over 5 seconds.

No matter which model you choose, one thing is certain, you will feel ecstatic every time you drive this car. There is no other car that comes close to matching that feeling and at the heart of it all is that Ferrari-made V8.

Curves and lines

Style is permanent, fashion is temporary is how the saying goes and the Maserati Quattroporte in many ways is an embodiment of that statement. The design of the Maserati Quattroporte has not drastically changed throughout the years because it is still a stunning car. The long hood is flanked by the typical Maserati vertical grille. The trident is prominently placed, letting you know of the car’s heritage. It swoops to the back and the combination of curves and lines is nearly perfect. The huge 19-inch wheels flanked by the wheel covers give the car a very muscular look.

The 2011 Maserati Quattroporte feels like it is crouching, ready to pounce, and in a way it very much is. It is a mean-looking car and certainly bashes the suave look that most luxury sedans adopt.

Italian opulence all the way inside

The Quattroporte might look menacing on the outside, but on the inside it is well-behaved. It is spacious and can easily accommodate five people. When you step inside you can immediately feel and smell the plush leather. The wood trim on the dash and everywhere else radiates exuberance.

There are also chrome accents to add a bit of flair. You can opt for Alcantara headliners to extend the plush feeling and even add in heating in the rear seats. There is dual-zone climate control for maximum comfort. Everywhere you look, you will see that the car has been made with the luxury aspect in mind. The Maserati does not skimp on the opulence and the interiors say wish-fulfillment unlike anything else.

2011 Maserati Quattroporte

A beast on the roads

This review would not be complete without telling you what it feels like on the road. In one word, stellar. The 2011 Maserati Quattroporte is a car that feels like it was made to be driven more than it was made to be ridden. The V8 engine is a thing of beauty and it certainly sounds better than anything else on the road. The powertrain grunts and comes to life as soon as you start the engine and continues to make unnatural sounds as you touch the redline. We believe that there is no car in this segment that can even remotely make the exhaust sounds that the Maserati Quattroporte does.

The suspension is firm and the low stance means it is ready to attack corners. The transmission is superb, flying through the gears and pushing the engine to its limit rapidly. The car is fast, blisteringly fast. You can immediately tell it was made by the Italians when you push this car to its limits because instead of shuddering or creaking, it stiffens up and lets you know it is ready.

Safety standards and some drawbacks

A car from 2011 does not come with a myriad of safety features. Despite this statement, we need to tell you it does have side-impact and side-curtain airbags along with the standard set of airbags. ABS, traction control, and electronic stability systems come as standard.

If we are really nitpicking, the Quattroporte does seem expensive and you might even get other cars with slightly better performance. There is also the cheap plastic switchgear borrowed from FCA, it feels out of place in an otherwise flawless interior.

The verdict

Despite it not having the maximum appeal for a luxury car, the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte is a fascinating prospect. It feels like Jekyll and Hyde, except this time it is inverted. The exterior design and the engine of the Quattroporte are brutish, while the all-leather interiors tell a different story. This car is not aimed at regular buyers. It is designed for those that wish for something different. They want to stand out and by choosing the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte, you certainly will.

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