Skinny espresso

Downsizing: it's increasingly the name of the game when it comes to luxury cars, and for good reason. In the face of ever-mounting pressure from environmental lobbyists and government legislation, exhaust emissions and fuel consumption need to be reduced, and Maserati isn't immune from this. The company's CEO, Harald Wester, recently told The National that he has no time for hybrids or electric-powered cars, so there's only one way for Maserati to go: reduction.
In Europe, Maserati has a range of diesel engines powering the four-door Quattroporte (it's a literal Italian translation), but for this market and others, where diesel isn't on drivers' radars, we're being treated to a smaller yet still-potent petrol motor in the shape of a twin-turbo V6. On paper at least, this thing really delivers in spades, giving little away to the V8-powered range topper. And with the exteriors of the two models being indistinguishable except for the shapes of their exhaust pipes and a one-inch diameter deficiency in wheel size for the V6, is there any point at all in plumping for the big one? There's only one way to find out.
My route for the day takes me from Fujairah to Ras Al Khaimah, literally from coast-to-coast, over some of the UAE's most scenic and dynamic driving roads, so it's as close to perfect as we can get for testing the abilities or otherwise of this gorgeous luxobarge. And it really is a lovely car to spend time in, with an interior that's classier than its rivals from Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and BMW, if not quite as precision engineered. There's a feeling of hand craftsmanship at play here, and it makes for a special environment that has moved the game on considerably from the outgoing model.
It's a large car, there's no getting away from that, but Maserati insists that it's still a sports car at heart. And that thumping heart is a Ferrari-designed-and-manufactured six-pot that's basically the V8 with a couple of cylinders missing and two larger turbochargers. It isn't the symphonic masterpiece that is the V8, but it does still produce an addictive soundtrack when you really get on it – at higher revs it's remarkably vocal, and there's a delicious gargling and blowback from the exhausts when you lift off the throttle or the gearbox shifts up a cog.
Performance is brisk, with acceleration that might embarrass a 911 driver at the lights, but there is a discernible lag courtesy of those larger turbos – it's just a tad less responsive, but in the big scheme of things there really isn't a noticeable deficiency when compared to its big brother. You just have to be different with your inputs if you're to wring the best out of it.
The smaller wheels on the standard car (19-inch as opposed to 20) should afford the Quattroporte extra levels of comfort, but it's still remarkably stiff for a luxury car. It's the trade-off that you normally have to live with when a car aims to deliver driving thrills as well as the trappings of the high life, but it would be nice to have more adjustability for a softer ride. On a more positive note, however, some of the hideous road surfaces that I take the car across prove it to be far better built than its predecessors, with no squeaks, rattles or other unwanted sounds emerging from the interior's surfaces.
Roadholding is excellent across the board, with the enormous mass that this car possesses remaining well hidden on all but the tightest of twisty road sections. And it's a car that manages to relax its occupants while entertaining them – a rare combination that bodes well for the rapidly expanding range of Maseratis. There's very little to distract the driver, save for an infuriatingly slow and sometimes inaccurate satnav, with Maserati claiming that it only fits the electronic aids that a driver actually needs, rather than what the competition foists upon drivers. I know what they mean, and it's a blessed relief to not have a luxury car tell me off when I step out of line or try to rearrange my lines because it thinks that it knows better. The balance of technology and driveability is well executed.
The new Quattroporte has been an instant worldwide sales hit, and it's easy to see why. It's better in every conceivable way than the old model (although the looks are undeniably less distinctive) – it's quicker, more efficient and better built, but it still manages to make you feel incredibly special. It's good value, too, making a strong case for itself in the face of fierce Germanic competition. When Maserati says that it wants to sell 50,000 cars a year, models like the Quattroporte S make that seem eminently doable. But would I take one over the V8? If it was my money on the table, I probably would.
khackett@thenational.ae

Kevin Hackett gets behind the wheel of the six-cylinder, four door Quattroporte from Maserati.