Maserati test drive thru the streets of Shanghai

luke — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:58:09 +0000

2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

By Shanghai D.D’s Club

Spring 2009
Expected Pricing: 2.6 million RMB

Maserati describes the Sport GT S, as “the ultimate expression of Maserati’s sportiness in the Quattroporte range.” In short, it’s a big, sensuous four-door that goes fast and handles sharply. Up close, this Quattroporte has the sheer presence of even more expensive cars. . It’s the most visually striking car available in this price range. Despite weighing about 4,400 pounds, the Maserati Quattroporte manages to feel like a car half its size with well-weighted steering, limited body roll and a captivating eagerness to change direction. Even though the QP is nearly 200 inches long, it drives like a vehicle half its size. Contributing to this is Maserati’s “Skyhook” adjustable suspension, controlled by a button on the dash. Skyhook can be set to the more comfortable “Normal” mode or the noticeably firmer “Sport” setting

The Sport GT S isn’t a lot different from Maserati’s current sedans, the Quattroporte and Quattroporte S. Changes to the GT S are subtle, but they work to create a noticeably different bent. Perhaps this car is more sinister, and certainly more self possessed.

The Sport GT S is equipped with Maserati’s larger 4.7-liter V8, like the Quattroporte S, rather the 4.2-liter engine in the standard Quattroporte. The V8 is tuned to deliver 433 horsepower, or eight more than the Quattroporte S, thanks to a freer-flowing (and deeper-sounding) exhaust system. Its electronic throttle is tuned to respond more aggressively to movement on the gas pedal. Both come only with a six-speed automatic transmission that features manual-override shift paddles. While the QP’s acceleration is bracing, the aural stimulation emanating from the engine bay is positively hallucinogenic. Even when driving the QP like a stoner, the F-1 soundtrack says Warp 3. The headers are heady stuff indeed; the exhaust note alone is worth the price of admission.

The Quattroporte’s six-speed automatic is one of the most effective conventional automatics anywhere, and in the Sport GT S it will be tuned for sportier, more aggressive gear-change strategies. The Sport GT S suspension has firmer springs and a lower ride height than the other Quattroportes, with no-compromise single-rate shock absorbers. Such shocks are better than variable rate shocks for responsive handling, but they invariably mean a stiffer ride.

Styling tweaks are subtle, too, but there’s nothing on the Sport GT S body that can be called bright work. Its grille is black, featuring concave vertical fins and a black-trimmed Maserati Trident, and it’s eye-catching. The headlights have a metallic titanium finish, and the wheels and other adornment have a deep metallic finish that Maserati calls Shadow line. It’s all very shiny, but not really bright. They are very fragile; we scrape 3 out 4 of the rims. We were backing in the parking elevators and scrape the rims on the side.

Inside, the Sport GT-S has the same bespoke, hand-stitched quality as the other Quattroporte sedans, but the trim is a deep gray carbon-fiber weave. The quality of the QP’s cabin materials is beyond reproach. The lustrous wood, fragrant leather, plush carpet and elegant liners are superior to those found in any German car you can name– unless you cite Bentley, and even then the sumptuousness quotient is virtually identical. As long as you tailor your QP using a dark palette– the light colored interiors approximate a modern bordello– you couldn’t ask for a more luxurious carcoon. The seat inserts and door panels are rich, suede-like material in dark hues. It’s all very luxurious, with a subtle hint of danger. Sliding into the back seat means ducking under the low roofline. It requires a bit more work than climbing into the typical large sedan, but once inside rear passengers are treated to acres of legroom and a form-fit seat as comfortable as the best sport buckets anywhere. Once inside, the interior is more expansive than expected; the rear seats are tight in some dimensions, but legroom is not one of them. The middle armrest reveals yet another unexpected delight: a button that glides the passenger seat forward.

The most immediately obvious advantage the 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S has over the regular S isn’t the single-rate Bilstein dampers, the blacked-out grill and headlights or even the 20″ wheels, but the volume of the exhaust through the new dual-oval exits. In Sport mode this is a seriously loud car, belying the luxury of its Alcantara-clad interior and the class of its updated exterior. If the color red could be embodied by a sound, this would be it. Angry looks match the angry noise.

That sound isn’t the only reason I’m in Sport mode – pushing the button opens two valves in the exhaust, essentially creating straight through pipes – it also delivers improved throttle response, much quicker shifts from the auto box, increased propensity for kick down, rev-matched downshifts and permanent control of the gear position through the bigger wheel-mounted paddles. The Quattroporte drives and sounds so good in Sport that it’s nearly unconscionable to try it otherwise. It is very low to the ground. When driving out of the garage we bottomed out at the half way point. Also when were driving thru Fuxing Park the front air dam scraped and floor on a small down speed bump.

Driving again and again through the narrow alleys and back streets of Shanghai, the bright grey Maserati and I are starting to draw the wrong sort of attention. The unmuted growl of the 4.7-liter Ferrari-sourced V8 reverberates down the street. Children are grabbed by stern-faced mother’s blocks away as I accelerate harder and harder. From light to light you can get from 0-90km with no problem. Cyclists pull over and dismount at the sound of my approach. Traffic stops. Everyone’s pissed off, including me. The reason I’m driving like a pro is because the GPS system is not working in China. The only people that appear to benefit from all this are the gathering crowds of guys and girls, as indicated by their excited repetition of the brand in question and the puzzled looks on their faces as they realize the unholy racket is coming from a four-door luxury car. It’s those kids of looks that make that 2.6 million RMB worth every bit of money.

The first thing you have to do with this Maserati is throw away any number comparisons. With 433 HP, 391 lb-ft, a 0-to-60 time of 5.1 seconds and a 178 MPH top speed, which I tested on Huai Hai road and the car did do it in 5.1 seconds as stated in the manual. It’s a very powerful 4 door sedan. Listen to the engine not the girl that was in the car!!

But this Maserati isn’t about numbers, it’s about experience… It’s peaky in ways that don’t look promising on a 4,387 lb car purporting to offer luxury accommodation for five. But, equipped with the new faster throttle response, louder exhaust and improved gearbox you end up reveling in each one of those revs, not wanting for low-end torque or more power, but more roads on which to use what’s available.

With my right foot buried in the carpet at over 200 km, over some of Shanghai’s new highways and tunnel with no speed cameras yet. The Sport GT S is utterly composed, delivering Porsche-like confidence and Ferrari-like sound. Braking hard into the 90 degree left at the end of the straight, the newly feel-full steering tells me exactly how fast I can push the front through the corner, the rear snapping wide as soon as I get back on the power. Turns and cornering at 90 -100 km an hour is no problem. As we were passing 220kms the car was a monster. It is the fastest 4 door sedan I have driven. It handles better than the AMG Benz. The Maserati was tight and fast! As seen in the vid we moved in and out and around car quick and easy! It was very responsive, to the slightest move of the steering wheel.

As you’re probably guessing, it was driving like this that drew the attention of the police. It’s wasn’t much for speed but deep sounding exhaust. They pulled me over and checked out the car and gave me a breathalyzer test. Which lucky to say were 17, under 20 you get a warning? 20 to 26 take away your license for a month. 26 and over gets you 15 days in jail! I got off with a warning.

The trunk is huge and is said to be able store 4 golf bags. I would say 3 for sure 4 if you have small golf bags

video can be seen at

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/home.php?filter=app_2392950137

D.D's Club » Shanghai fast cars

Maserati test drive thru the streets of Shanghai