2014 Maserati Quattroporte Gets Twin-Turbo Ferrari Engines

As the most powerful Quattroporte to ever grace the Italian automaker’s lineup, the new 2014 Maserati Quattroporte just debuted on the show floor here at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

Two engine options are available, both of which use twin-turbocharging and direct injection. Opt for the V8, and buyers will get 523 hp and up to 524 lb-ft of torque, bringing the 0-60 mph time to 4.6 seconds. Or for the more economical buyer, the smaller V6 displaces 3.0-liters and makes 404 hp, driving the car to 60 mph in five seconds or less. Thanks to an overboost function on the V8, torque can be momentarily lifted to 530 lb-ft. Both engines are built by Ferrari in Maranello, and are said to be the more powerful and fuel efficient than any previous Quattroporte model.

Transmission options are non-existent, as the sole option is a ZF eight-speed, though all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive are both available. The all-wheel drive setup, known as “Q4,” delivers 100-percent power to the rear wheels in regular conditions, though it has the capability to spread the power 50/50 from front to rear.

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Design wise, the new car carries over many of the styling cues from the previous generation, such as the grille, three side vents and the triangular C pillars, while a new muscular hood, and car length belt line are all new for 2013.

The interior is typical of a six-figure luxury car, with leather wrapped everything and a 8.4-inch touchscreen. Maserati takes a simple approach to interiors, “stressing the simplicity of lines and the full functionality of the on-board instrumentation. Functional elements are blended with soft quality surfaces made of prestigious woods and refined leathers,” said the head of the Maserati design center, Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

The redesigned Quattroporte is all part of a push to hit a sales mark of 50,000 units a year by 2015, a target that will be helped by the new Ghibli, and an SUV called the Levante.