The Maserati Quattroporte is no doubt a car with lots of competitors on the market, so it comes as no surprise that the Italian maker has decided to offer a significantly improved next generation. The new model will be unveiled in 2011 and will receive a new exterior design, improved technology on the interior, and will mostly focus on improving fuel economy. Maserati’s target is a number of about 25%.
For that, Maserati will offer smaller fuel efficient engines, with a V6 engine being a possibility, but also the latest 8 speed ZF automatic transmission (also offered in the BMW 7-Series). Also a first for Quattroporte is that it will be offered with stop-start technology which is said to reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent.
Another piece of big news for the luxury sedan is the availability of a new AWD system, that will make from the Quattroporte a direct competitor to the Audi A8 Quattro and Porsche Panamera 4 models.
Just like the whole world, we were shocked and dismayed to hear about the tragic air plane crash that took the life of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other people last April 10.
Yesterday, Poland bid farewell to the president after over 100,000 people flocked the streets to pay their last respects to their leader and befitting a man of his stature, we were at the very least glad to see that the Polish government spared no expense in giving the president a grand state funeral, which included the use of a Maserati Quattroporte hearse to bring his remains to its final resting place.
We’ve never been to Poland, but we do extend our deepest sympathies to the Polish people for this unspeakable tragedy.
Even if the Maserati Quattroporte has only six years of life it has already received fifty six awards from the most prestigious automotive and lifestyle publications. So, is no wonder why at the Geneva Motor Show we will see the special edition Quattroporte Sport GT S "Awards Edition".
This special edition is painted in an exclusive pearlescent metallic gray with golden nuanced color and features a burnished treatment used on the exterior chrome parts, as well as on the side air vents and radiator surround. It sits on 20"’ Multi Trident dark gray rims with satin finish.
The interior gets Poltrona Frau leather of the seats combined with perforated Alcantara with a new undulated pattern, and the headlining still in Alcantara. Completing the interior space are the special brushed aluminum door sills and Piano Black satin-finish wood moldings.
When you’re dead, you really don’t care as to what car brings you to your grave, right?
So why is it that we’re seeing an increasing number of high-end four-door sedans get turned into a hearse?
We’re guessing that despite being dead, these people would still prefer to ride in class and if taking a Maserati Quattroporte and turning it into a hearse is their idea of class, then hey, who are we to judge.
As far as Quattroporte’s are concerned, we don’t know what it is about this particular car, but it seems that it’s been subjected to a lot of modifications over the years – and not the kind where they soup it up. From being covered in shattered glass, to getting stretched out into a limo, to getting turned into a fire truck, the Maserati Quattporte has undergone more facelifts than Lady Jocelyn Wildenstein. Ok, that’s not true.
Nevertheless, this particular Maserati Quattroporte was modified by Intercar Modena and to be fair, it actually looks classy and elegant compared to other funeral hearses we’ve seen in the past. At least, it has that going for it.
There’s no excuse for crashing a car, let alone doing it while under the influence of alcohol so when we found out that a 21-year-old girl did all of the above – in a Maserati Quattroporte, no less – we kind of figured that she’s going to be in a heck of a lot of trouble.
After having one too many alcoholic beverages for her own good, Alex Ford decided to have an even better time behind the wheel of the borrowed Maserati. Initial reports indicated of a speeding Quattroporte to which, Officer Tracy Sheets was quick to respond to.
It didn’t take long for Ford and Sheets to meet though, after the Quattroporte crashed head-on into Sheets’ police cruiser, severely injuring the police officer and leaving Ford in a pretty bad mess of her own.
Both ladies were taken to a hospital and after some initial concerns about their status, both Ford and Sheets have since been upgraded to good and fair conditions, respectively.
As far as Ford is concerned, her good fortune was all too fleeting as after a blood draw determined her alcohol level, a warrant was issued for the reckless driver where she’s facing charges of intoxicated assault causing serious body injury to a peace officer.
We don’t mind sounding like a broken record in the interest of safety, but drinking under the influence has never – and will never be – a good idea.
