2013 Maserati Quattroporte Review: A Fresh Start
Over the last decade or so the luxury car market has exploded. The concept of luxury cars has strayed away from giant SUVs and limousines to sleek four-door saloons. Leading this charge are the usual suspects, the German and British automakers. They have built and perfected the luxury sedan for years and brought about some of the finest cars in the market. Yet, the luxury sedan market has one major caveat, it is stale. The designs are all too executive and the cars are all too boring. There is a lack of excitement in this sector. People want to see a car that can thrill them and provide them with a different experience.
Enter the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte. The iconic Italian carmaker decided to enter this segment to switch things up. It is the only Italian automobile brand to have a four-door saloon. The uniqueness of this prospect meant that Maserati could do things differently, and they certainly did.
The Quattroporte: A four-door Monster in Disguise
The four-door saloon or luxury sedans as they are referred to were designed with the high-class of society in mind. As a result, they are refined, smooth, and very tame vehicles. Maserati sought to challenge this notion. They introduced the Quattroporte in the mid-2000s and it is one fascinating machine. It comes with a Ferrari-built engine, a Fiat-based design, and luxurious leather interiors. In one fell swoop, the carmaker came up with a vehicle so radical that it immediately captured people’s hearts and minds.
The Quattroporte looks far different from anything else in this segment. The design is muscular and menacing. The loud feedback from the engine is not for the elitists, it is for the purists. The interiors might have you thinking this is indeed a luxury car, however, once you plant your foot down on the throttle, you will forget all the luxury. You will be immediately catapulted to a world of thrills and spills.
So what does the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte have in store for us? Let us find out.
A New Generation
As unique as the Quattroporte is, it is a car that has been around for nearly a decade without many changes. This is becoming noticeable. Maserati has heard our calls and the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte is a whole new car.
The design is still striking and singular. It is also far bigger than the previous iteration with a wider wheelbase and a longer body. The car also comes with multiple engine options. There is a twin-turbocharged V6 and V8 option.
The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte represents the 6th generation of Quattroporte cars. As a result, this line was the first to introduce a design change, suspension setup change, and the inclusion of rear-wheel as well as all-wheel drive options. The interiors are affected as well, with Maserati enlisting the help of Ermenegildo Zegna for the luxurious touch. The new Quattroporte aims to bring a refreshment to the line of cars that has redefined a segment.
What is New for 2013?
Multiple engine options, rear and all-wheel drive, fresher interiors, a wider and longer design, and a stunning new design come as updates for the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte. It is one of the first cars to come with a brand new powertrain that has been made and designed in collaboration with Ferrari. The newer engine is more powerful and eco-friendlier.
The rear of the car has also been made wider to accommodate passengers. The fuel tank has been shifted to under the floor. There is a brand new ZF eight-speed transmission system. The interiors look a little different too.
The Italian automaker has stunningly introduced the new generation. This generation of the Quattroporte comes with a slew of refinements that will help it go toe-to-toe with other cars in the category.
More Engine Options than ever Before
There is a brand new engine and it has been developed in collaboration with Ferrari, once again. Maserati has made substantial efforts to make this engine as small as possible and has managed to fit in 530 brake horsepower in a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8. It also produces an eye-watering 524 lb-ft of torque due to an overboost option.
Maserati has decided to throw the sink at one last attempt to fight the bigger dogs in the segment and it will find relative success. The new engine has led to a complete paradigm shift in favor of the Maserati, it can now go toe-to-toe with any car from the segment and perhaps even best it. The performance is simply ridiculous. It does zero to sixty in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 191 mph, none of that electronically limited mumbo jumbo here.
If we are talking about the engine, we have to mention how it sounds. Italian cars sound simply staggering and this one is no exception. It is an Italian V8 and like any other Italian engine, it has a propensity to make some noise. It wants to rev and Maserati has set the redline at 7200rpm just for that. The best part about this new powertrain is that Maserati has ensured that it does not sound like it is limiting itself at higher RPMs, instead the exhaust bypass valves open up at high revs giving the car an angrier grunt.
It grunts and barks as soon as you start the car. Once you put the pedal to the metal, the beast truly comes alive, letting out a roar as you race to the redline. The engine is rather raucous and we mean this in a good way. Luxury sedans are not supposed to sound this raw, but Maserati does not care. The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte is a car that lets you know that it is a monster, but one that can be tamed.
But if all that power is not to your specific tastes, then the more relaxed V6 Twin-Turbo engine might be more suitable for you. It produces are respectable 410hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, propelling you from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds whilst retaining all of the other luxuries Maserati has included in this gorgeous package.
Fresh Design from the Parent
Unlike the previous generation, the 2013 Maserati Quattroporte is one of the best-looking sedans out there, if not the best. It is also designed by Maserati’s parent company, Fiat, yes the same company that makes the 500. However, if anything the car looks better, more modern than before. It still retains a lot of aesthetics from the old car, because let’s face it, it is a one-of-a-kind design that will remain timeless. This year the car is much wider at the back and longer too. Yet despite the added size, it does not look bloated. The car still fits within the lines of the design.
For those that are unaware of the sheer beauty of a Maserati Quattroporte, it all starts from the front. The design aesthetic is meant to intimidate anyone who looks at the car. It is low, crouched, and mean. The grille is a Maserati signature and only adds to the appeal. The trident emblem is stunning to look at and is a reminder that you are looking at a rare car. The lines work well and it sweeps through the striking windshield, the sculpted roof, and to the curved back. The Maserati is deceptively neat for its size. You will never realize the sheer magnitude of the car from just one look.
The new design, while being a little longer and wider has helped it become more slippery. An interesting point of note is that this new design has made the Maserati’s drag coefficient drop from 0.35 to 0.31.
Interiors Fit for a King
We did mention that the interiors have been reworked a little, by a little we mean a lot. A majority of the buttons, switches, and knobs have been redesigned. It looks sleeker and purposeful. They look more high-end and suited to the technological appeal of the 2010s. A lot of the clutter has been removed. The instrument panel looks better, there is a center stack that looks far more luxurious than the previous iteration. The new touchscreen infotainment system is also much more functional than the previous one.
The car is roomier, the width at the back helps the Quattroporte’s appeal as a limousine.
The interiors as usual are wrapped in supple and plush leather. There are options for wood, carbon fiber, or metal trims.
Safety Aspects
While it is now a widely known fact that no luxury car undergoes crash testing, they are among the best for safety. The 2013 Maserati comes loaded with safety features. Electronic stability control, traction control, side and curtain airbags, parking sensors, and tire-pressure warning systems come as standard.
How Does it Feel on the Roads?
In one word? Spectacular. The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte is longer and wider, there is a little more bulk and heft to the car, but it does not feel like that, not even one bit. The top of the line model feels amazing to drive. It is Maserati’s fastest production model yet and it is a rocket ship.
The newer engines feel a little more refined and the addition of the turbocharger means you can feel the engine extract every ounce of power it can. The exhaust is a little muted as compared to the previous version, but it does not lack the bite. There is also an electronic exhaust baffle control button that does allow you to open up the pipes a little and experience some of that roar.
Despite its size, it is a breeze to drive. It does well in corners and you can feel the power under the hood when you step on the gas. The 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension system, and thick steering wheel are all driver-oriented. This is a car made for those that derive pleasure out of driving.
Verdict
The 2013 Maserati Quattroporte marks the start of something new. It is the sixth generation in a line of legendary cars and it beckons you to look at luxury sedans from a different perspective. This version of the Quattroporte is nearly flawless. It has the right engine, adds a bit of flair to the classic design, the interiors are refined, and it is bigger. It is a luxury car that wants you to drive it and yet promises to give you a comfortable ride if you ever decide to take the back seat.
