Currently reading: New Maserati Quattroporte scooped

Latest spy pics of Maserati's all-new luxury saloon in winter testing

Testing of the next-generation Maserati Quattroporte is stepping up ahead of sales starting in the first quarter of 2013. However, Maserati is still to decide whether to launch its new V8 petrol-powered sports saloon at the Paris show in September, or wait until Detroit in January 2013.

Being developed under the codename M156, the new Quattroporte will shift upmarket to make space in the range for Maserati’s forthcoming mid-size saloon — a competitor for the Jaguar XF and BMW 5-series and known internally as Project M157.

See the latest spy pics of the new Maserati Quattroporte

The Quattroporte’s new smaller saloon sibling, which is aimed at top-spec BMW 5-series models and will get V6 petrols and diesel engines, will also go on sale in 2013, Autocar has learned, after a debut at the Frankfurt motor show in the autumn of next year.

Maserati insists the new Quattroporte will be based on a “new” platform, but it’s likely to feature elements of the Chrysler 300C in its structure.

It is also expected to employ the latest ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, with a stop-start system, in place of the six-speed automatic that’s fitted to some current models. Updated versions of today’s V8 petrol engines will be carried over to the new car.

The new look is understood to be evolutionary but aims to give the Quattroporte a more expensive look to position range-topping versions in what Maserati calls the “super-luxury portion of the G-segment”.

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BriMarsh 21 February 2012

Re: New Maser Quattroporte scooped

I surprised there haven't been posts along the lines of "it will never be competitive when a diesel engined version is made available in Europe". God save us.

giulivo 21 February 2012

Re: New Maser Quattroporte scooped

Another traveller wrote:
If Maserati is launching a 4-door saloon smaller than the Quattroporte, what will it be called?

I dunno, but perhaps they can still find a wind name that's not patented by VW. Or recycle one of the old ones (Ghibli?). Or call it Biturbo, since that's what it's going to add to existing Chrysler Pentastar and VM 630 engines. Or call it America, since most of the parts are going to come from there...
glorfindel 21 February 2012

Re: New Maser Quattroporte scooped

Myk wrote:
Am I mistaken or is this just a development mule using the existing cars bodywork? I seriously can't tell the difference.
Of course it is. Little differences are just because they need to adapt the mule to the new chassis.