The Maserati Coup is a true four-seater capable of comfortably seating two adults in the back The Maserati Spyder is a soft-top convertible that is electronically operated by a pushbutton on the center console. The top automatically stows beneath a hard cover that sits flush with the body in front of the boot. In late 2004 the Coup and Spyder underwent a very slight facelift.This meant a new, somewhat larger grille with its lower edge pulled somewhat lower into the lower lip of the front bumper. Also the Spyder got a glass rear window in 2003 instead of the standard plastic material. The new grille also features horizontal bars, while the 1963 style oval Maserati logo now mounted on the C-pillars, and a new air outlet featured on the lower rearmost sides. The Maserati Coup� and Spyder both have a light alloy double wishbone suspension. The rear suspension is fitted with a toe-in regulator bar which enhances the precision of the drive train and provides balanced cornering. The front suspension layout incorporates ?anti-dive? features to prevent nose-diving when braking. The suspension system is completed by front and rear anti-roll bars. Perhaps the most highly regarded option is a computer-controlled suspension damping system called "Skyhook". This adaptive damping system uses coil-over shock absorbers and a set of six accelerometers that continually monitor the movement of the wheels and car body and transmits this information to a control unit. The vehicle's computer analyzes this data and coordinates it with the Cambiocorsa transmission and other Maserati safety systems. Skyhook then calculates, and recalculates, the data at least 40 times per second and instantaneously adjusts each shock absorber accordingly. When placed in the Sport mode, the suspension firms up for better cornering.Both vehicles are equipped with front and side driver and passenger airbags as well as seat belt pre-tensioners. Driving stability is provided by Maserati Stability Program (MSP) which became standard on the 2004 models and controls the engine and brakes to help the driver control the vehicle in extreme driving situations. The MSP system integrates four different vehicle systems - the anti-slip regulation traction control (ASR), the motor spin regulation (MSR), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and anti-lock braking system (ABS). The wheels employ a high-performance Brembo braking system with light alloy four-piston calipers and cross-drilled large ventilating discs.The Maserati Coup and Spyder utilize the same vehicle systems engine, transmission, suspension, and interior driver and front passenger controls and safety equipment. Their performance specifications are almost identical, with some reviewers claiming that the Coup has better performance due to its lesser weight and more rigid body structure, while others measured faster performance from the Spyder. Both models came standard with 18 inch alloy wheels that originally had a 15-spoke design, but after 2003 most buyers chose the optional 7-spoke sport wheels which became standard by 2005. Maserati offered sixteen exterior colours, ten shades of leather interior along with the ability to select among colours for various interior details such as the piping and stitching used. Five colors for the Spyder's convertible top were also offered. When you've got a Ferrari built V8 up front, four supremely comfortable seats and the kind of road presence few sportscars can match, you know you are driving something right... Maserati Quattroporte GTS is a ridiculous expense you must splurge on I've driven the Ghibli a few days ago and today is the turn of the Quattroporte. The reason we called for the Quattroporte after the Ghibli was because we just had to finish with the Maseratis on a high sonorous note. It had got to be the Ferrari sourced twin turbo petrol V8 in the Quattroporte GTS test car scaring the living daylights off early morning joggers and not the 'utilitarian' diesel in the Ghibli. Both cars charge a hefty premium for the Italian roots and sexy design so if I had to put my money on one (the kind of money I don't have), it had got to be the ludicrously loud petrol Quattroporte. Alright case made for an entertaining day ahead. The Quattroporte gives the impression of a properly intimidating mafia car. It feels like the car Marlon Brando or Al Pacino would roll into on the sets of a Godfather remake. Even in this shade of brown, you?d be scared of its occupants. Strange how despite the similarities between the Ghibli and Quattroporte, both come with two very different characters. This is the sixth generation of the Quattroporte and the most European influenced car bearing the nameplate. The Italian dominance in design is toned down to appeal to a wider audience and I am still a fan of its immediate predecessor for the purity of its Italian design.The Quattroporte still has quite a few elements to link it to its roots though? The gaping oldschool sportscar like nose, gills on the front fenders, frameless doors and the Maserati Trident sitting pretty on the C-pillars. That swooping roofline and the overall profile of the car will make the otherwise attractive BMW M6 feel more of a common man?s car. It?s not easy to beat Maserati on the styling front. That bonnet has a big bulge hiding the Ferrari V8 underneath and the multispoke alloys over those GTS-only shiny red calipers certainly look the part of a top spec Italian sports sedan. For pure road presence, the Quattroporte is hard to beat.The Quattroporte is a proper limo for four tall adults to sit in perfect comfort. Legroom, shoulder room and headroom is more than enough for all passengers, It may look like the swooping roof line will compromise headroom but the seats are set low and particularly in the rear, sink in a bit to accommodate its very rich passengers in its lap of luxury. The interior design however is a bit of a mixed bag.The Quattroporte interior is better built than the Ghibli and comes with a certain finesse, be it with the chrome lines across the air vents, the clock on the dashboard or the minimalist centre console. There are many such elements that fit the role perfectly. But there are a few elements that do not appeal as well. My biggest grouse is with the carbon fibre panels inside the cabin. It?s a four door sedan that weighs 1.9 tonnes. I?d like nicely textured wood there instead and thankfully it can be specified. Also, the plastics like the Ghibli, designed to match the colour of the leather seats look a bit cheap. The leather wrapped steering is nice to hold and weighs up so well while cornering, but again, the leather squeaked as it rubbed against the steering column at turn ins. The Quattroporte is a full size luxury limo that costs almost as much as S63 AMG money and we?d like more sophistication inside the cabin.What I like about the Quattroporte is that Maserati has specified all models and not just the range topping GTS we have here with the full set of safety features. You get front, side and head airbags, the blanket Maserati stability programme that covers all safety electronics including ABS, EBD, ASR (acceleration slip regulation) and Drag Torque Control. There?s even a tyre sealing compound and air compressor packed in the boot. The GTS gets twin trapezoidal exhaust pipe tips compared to circular ones on other variants, black gloss grille and red Trident on the alloys instead of the standard black ones. Aluminium gearshift paddles, electrically adjustable front seats, 8.4 inch Touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, and an optional Bowers and Wilkins 15 speaker surround sound system.
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