Spy photographers have caught in tests at Nurburgring a large Maserati coupe very similar to the Quattroporte. Due to the large size of the test vehicle and generous wheelbase, we imagine it couldn’t have been the next GT Coupe, but a larger two-door able to offer four comfortable seats.

The test prototype was masked with fake rear doors that were meant to disguise the car into a Quattroporte. Overall proportions and visible design details clearly point that this future coupe is closely based on the Maserati sedan.

For the new battle of the four-door coupes soon to be joined by Porsche, BMW, Audi and Aston Martin, Maserati already had the Quattroporte that is a very sporty saloon, placed in a class of it’s own and not an actual competitor for the S-Class or 7 Series. We can then guess that Maserati has chosen to diversify their offer by producing a large size classic coupe, a true granturismo to compete against the Merc CL-Class, BMW 6 Series, Aston Martin DB9 & Co.

The design of the new Maserati large coupe will be done by the famous Pininfarina, Italian design house that have also penned the Quattroporte. Therefore, exquisite beauty is expected to surround the whole vehicle. Our team of artists has prepared a few renderings with the future coupe, to give you an impression of how the future vehicle might look like.

Our best guess is that the engine offered for the new Maserati will be that already presented on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. That is an upgraded version of the Quattroporte engine with a displacement increased from 4.2 liter to 4.5 liter. This V8 is expected to produce more power on the Maserati than it does on the Alfa, and reach up to 500 bhp. This would also be required in order to make the car a match for its competitors.

Other technological goodies will be a brand new ZF six-speed automatic with flappy-paddles and an improved version of the Skyhook automatic damping control system. The prices are expected to start at $100,000.

The basis for the new Maserati Coupe is the Quattroporte saloon – designed by the famous Pininfarina house –the ultimate embodiment of qualities for which is well known worldwide: respect of beauty and good living, style, sophisticated engineering, genuinely sporty temperament and alluring exclusivity.

Other features also make this new Maserati a truly exclusive car: the compact, light, sophisticated 4.2-liter V8 engine that punches out 400 bhp; the Skyhook automatic damping system; the renowned MSP (Maserati Stability Program); electronically controlled power steering; and a powerful braking system.

What makes the Maserati Quattroporte absolutely irresistible is the combination of the technical solutions, the lack of any fussy details or complications, the sensuality of a line created by the world’s most famous stylists and a sophisticated bespoke leather and wood interior personalized to suit each individual owner.

Although there are other premium sedans that offer equal or greater luxury for less money, the Maserati Quattroporte is certainly the most exclusive and possesses the most flair among the sport-oriented luxury sedans.

The present form of Maserati Quattroporte combines strength and power in a sensual package, in which every last detail has been carefully finished. Its styling is unmistakably Italian: elegant yet aggressive and devoid of even the slights hint of fussiness; the lines flow clean and fluid, while its high waist-line gives it a sense of solidity and robustness. The Quattroporte is a big, refined car, yet sporty due to the beautifully balanced proportions of an athlete, which lend it an air of confident dynamism. It was designed over a long wheelbase with a cab-back stance that highlights the length of the bonnet.

There are three trim levels of the 2006 Maserati Quattroporte: base, Sport GT and Executive GT. The base Quattroporte includes 18-inch wheels, an adjustable Skyhook suspension system, bi-xenon high-intensity-dislarge headlights, dual-zone climate control, a navigation system and a Bose audio system with CD player.

The Sport GT benefits of more performant hardware: 20-inch alloy wheels, drilled brake disks, sport exhaust, a modified six-speed sequential shift gearbox for faster gear changes, carbon-fiber interior trim and aluminum racing pedals.

Text by Andreas Conradt
Copyright by AUTOMEDIA
edited 10-17-2006


One of the biggest mysteries in the business of spy-photography recently has been the appearance of a lot – some say: too many – coupé-prototypes from Maserati. But with a lot of help from insiders and sources outside the factory we reckon we have solved this: There’s actually three new cars in the pipeline – and they all promise to be exciting and worth the Maserati name and badge.

We admit that we don’t know yet which of the three cars will be the first to be unveiled or when the fireworks of new models will be started, but it’s obvious that the Quattroporte-based 2+2 Coupé is the one with the least disguising. While side profile and rear strongly remind of the exclusive four-door saloon, the front of the car will be all new. This seems to be the car that’s going to replace the current GT coupé.

The new soft-top Spyder is disguised somewhat more, but nonetheless major keys of the design are visible and making the illustration was a rather easy task for our artist. The car is going to be a pure two-seater and might become a strong competitor to the Mercedes SL, though it won’t come with the SL’s folding metal roof.

That seems to be reserved for the third new car to come – a first for Maserati: the four-seater CC with a retractable hard-top but space enough for four adults plus luggage. The actual prototype is still heavily disguised, but you can see the car’s relatively long wheelbase, comparatively short door and very low front. Guessing from the level of disguising we reckon the 4-seater CC will be the last of the three new Maserati cars to be presented – although we would wish we’d be wrong here ...

That is the most GHETTO test mule I've ever seen!

To be sincere we should not publish these pictures: by the way they still are just uncomplete sketches, as the title of our article suggest. Anyway, as Halloween night is coming, we feel like naughty fellows, and we can not help doing it. Trick or treat? It is up to you to decide, infomotori.co.uk is actually glad to show you these first pictures of future Maserati Cabrio Coupè.

For sure all Maserati fans would find these pictures a sweet candy to taste and chew, but for all the others they could be a nice trick...as if they figure what new Maserati Cabrio Coupè will really look, competitors should just start trembling for fear!
Cabrio Coupè has become fashion even on luxury supersports cars, and Maserati, the maain producer in this segment, can not be less. We hope this elaborations will be ready subsituted with the real ones...
31/10/2006 Team Infomotori.co.uk