Maserati 5000 Reviews

This 92-year-old NSW No.6 plate is expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 at this year's Shannon's auction on the last day of the Australian International Motor Show.

One of the exotic Italian supercars to be seen when the Australian International Motor Show begins on 11 October, this stunning super car spent a short time basking in Sydney sunlight for the first time so that it could be photographed for the Australian media. According to Edward Butler, Maserati Australia and New Zealand’s general manager, the company is holding 130 Australian orders for the GranTurismo. "For those people lucky enough to be taking delivery of their own Maserati GranTurismo in coming months, the fleeting first visit to Darling Harbour is proof, as if proof was needed, that the GranTurismo is just as beautiful in Australia as it is in Italy!” Mr Butler said. The GranTurismo packs a 4.2L V8 generating 405bhp at 7,100rpm. 345Nm of its 460Nm maximum torque is available at 2,500rpm, which along with a standard automatic transmission and relatively useable rear seats, makes this a more practical high-speed tourer than many Italian thoroughbreds.  

Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati will all be showing new models for the first time in Australia.

In their infinite wisdom, Italians have had a fetish for fussy transmissions.Not just automatic or manual or straight up and down sequential deals; but these fiddly operations that don't do any of the aforementioned smoothly, quickly or with any degree of finesse.Alfa Romeo has been a classic example with its Q-system tranny.Convoluted they are and Maserati's automated manual DuoSelect system is a quirky affair not suited to everyone's tastes or needs.So it is to a warm welcome that Maserati has added a conventional sequential box to the biggest and most refined car in its streamlined range.Maserati's move to add the highly decorated ZF 6-speed automatic transmission to its cracking, great big Quattroporte saloon, which has used the DuoSelect system since the 2003 launch, was always going to be a masterstroke.The only challenge was that it needed reasonable engineering changes to the 4.2-litre V8 and the floorpan to install the ZF.This auto box is on the back of the engine at the front of the car as opposed to the manual's location longitudinally mounted on the rear differential.The engine has also switched from dry to wet sump lubrication.Well balanced yet sporty, the rear suspension also came in for a rejig.There is a slight shift in the weight distribution with a 49/51 front/rear split as opposed to the DuoSelect's 47/53.Torque has risen 9Nm to 460Nm, of which 75 per cent is available at 2500rpm while the power output of 295kW is reached at a howling 7000rpm.The Sport GT version, priced from $288,000, is dressed in 20-inch wheels with fatter and lower profile Pirelli P Zero tyres fitted at the rear than the front.This version has a split personality that is far from being frowned upon is welcome with open arms.In sports mode the engine sounds angrier, the dampers firm up, the revs rise and gears are held for longer. And you can pick gears on average a massive 35 per cent quicker than in normal mode. This is possible through a bit of tinkering with the electro-hydraulic transmission system's CPU.It is also louder and prouder,  the aural experience more than anything piques your senses and lifts the heart-rate.Use the giant paddles integrated on the sports steering wheel and in this guise the Quattroporte is a blast.Pressing the sport button, one of several in a vertical line on one side of the centre console screen, gives you instant attitude with the sound spewing out of the quad pipes going from a delightfully gruff rumble to a wilder, more manic tune in keeping with its Ferrari roots.On the road the ride is reasonably compliant although there is some compromise over harsher surfaces with the 20-inch wheels (standard with the Sport GT) hanging off each corner.This is but a blip to the overall package.For such a big car, the new Quattroporte with the ZF tranny steers and handles remarkably well.There is a nice balance to the weight of the tiller and it is fairly sharp, while the body remains composed with the active suspension, which Maserati famously calls Skyhook helping to keep a solid contact patch with the road.There are other driving settings to play with like normal, winter and ice but with the latter not conducive to Queensland and normal designed to be employed if you've lost the desire to be entertained, Sport was given a fair workout on this test.If you prefer everything to be less edgy, racy and not as primed, then normal mode does a nice job of giving you the performance and comfort to transport you and passengers to a fine Sicilian restaurant in cosseted luxury.There are enough safety systems to cope with the performance of this piece of Italian exotica with MSP stability and traction control and six airbags and massive brakes.And there is a fifth three-point seatbelt for the middle passenger in the rear seat.A gentle dab on the brakes gives you enormous confidence. These anchors are powerful and the pedal feel is finely modulated.The Quattroporte, like Bentley's similarly aspirational Flying Spur, offers a point of difference, to the traditional German large sedan crowd.What you don't get is a whole lot of boot space, which is compromised and what's more there is no spare to swallow up any room either, although there is a little bit of storage room underneath the floor.Officially the combined city/highway drinking rate of this Quattroporte is 14.7litres/100km. On travels between the Gold Coast and Brisbane in peak hour, our consumption was a little kinder, sitting at 12litres/100km.Some of the controls are a bit cumbersome but then again if you owned one for longer than a week you could probably operate switches and dials blindfolded.Maserati has evolved the Quattroporte, courtesy largely of the ZF box, into a fabulous package.The prediction is that the automatic will quickly account for 80 per cent of sales and after sampling this offering over 400km it is not hard to see why.It feels special, drives exceptionally well, has killer looks and sounds as commanding as an opera in Verona's famous Arena. The QP is not part of the mundane luxury crowd. That's what makes it such a hot package. SnapshotMaserati Quattroporte Sport GTPrice: $288,000Engine: 5 starsLoud and proud yet blissfully smoothTransmission: 4 starsThe 6-speed ZF is a winner, programmed to perfection with the Ferrari-sourced V8Handling: 4 starsMeaty steering and its nimbleness defies its aircraft-style carrier bulkSafety: 4 starsTicks all the boxes with a good dose of electronic brake, stability and suspension aids as well as six airbags.Value: 4 starsEasier to justify with its gorgeous styling and Ferrari engineering flavour than a German number which could have come off a limo fleet Tech specs Body: four-door saloonEngine: 4244cc 90-degree, quad cam 48-valves, wet sump V8Transmission: 6-speed ZF automatic/sequentialPower: 295kW @ 7000rpmTorque: 460Nm @ 4250rpmTyres: front - Pirelli P Zeros 245/35 ZR 20; rear - 285/30 ZR 20Dimensions (MM): 5052 (l), 1895 (w) 1438 (h) 3064 wheelbaseFuel consumption: 12l/100km (as tested)0-100KM/H: 5.6sVerdict for: Exquisite styling, fabulous powertrain, sharp handlingVerdict Against: Some of the onboard controls are a bit tedious, cramped boot.Overall rating: 4 starsHas a spirit that fuses red-blooded touring car performance with six-star pampered luxury 

Dozens of Australian owners of one of the world's hottest sports cars have been asked to return their vehicles for repairs, after it emerged that a software glitch could cause a high-tech stability control system to shut down.Maserati has announced that the glitch could cause problems for models in its Quattroporte range. The models are priced from $269,000 to $298,000.Several models, 30 of which have been sold and registered in Australia, have been recalled due to the problem, which could lead to the vehicle’s Maserati Stability Program (MSP) to disable itself.While Maserati’s website said the MSP stability control includes the car’s ABS and the “electronically controlled braking distributor”, a spokesman said those features will continue working regardless.“It doesn’t affect the ABS brakes or any of the other safety features,” the spokesman said.“It’s a software issue… if the battery gets down to a certain level, the traction control will trip out.”The problem arose from a defect in the MSP caused by “a bug in the electronic software”, Australian distributor Ateco Automotive said in a statement.The statement also said that owners of the Quattroporte 139 automatic model should contact a Maserati dealer for details.The Maserati spokesman said it was not a 'catastrophic' problem and a warning light will appear on the vehicle’s dashboard if the traction control did cut out. 

Dozens of Australian owners of one of the world's hottest sports cars have been asked to return their vehicles for repairs, after it emerged that a software glitch could cause a high-tech stability control system to shut down. Maserati has announced that the glitch could cause problems for models in its Quattroporte range. The models are priced from $269,000 to $298,000. Several models, 30 of which have been sold and registered in Australia, have been recalled due to the problem, which could lead to the vehicle’s Maserati Stability Program (MSP) to disable itself. While Maserati’s website said the MSP stability control includes the car’s ABS and the “electronically controlled braking distributor”, a spokesman said those features will continue working regardless. “It doesn’t affect the ABS brakes or any of the other safety features,” the spokesman said. “It’s a software issue… if the battery gets down to a certain level, the traction control will trip out.” The problem arose from a defect in the MSP caused by “a bug in the electronic software”, Australian distributor Ateco Automotive said in a statement. The statement also said that owners of the Quattroporte 139 automatic model should contact a Maserati dealer for details. The Maserati spokesman said it was not a 'catastrophic' problem and a warning light will appear on the vehicle’s dashboard if the traction control did cut out.  

Do not mistake this for a GranSport replacement. That was the message from Maserati this week as it launched what will surely prove to be the most beautiful new car of the year. The beguiling GranTurismo coupe will sit between the would-be Porsche 911-rivalling GranSport and the Quattroporte exotic/executive saloon.At least that's what Maserati says. Having experienced the versatility of this superb grand tourer in the Italian Alps, we'd say the newcomer upstages both. Its to-die-for design may belie it, but the newcomer is essentially a derivative of the saloon though with two fewer doors and 110kg less strain on the scales. Despite that it's a still thumping 1880kg.The GranTurismo also shares the saloon's drivetrain, namely the same delicious Ferrari-derived 4.2-litre V8 married to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with sport mode and manual function via paddle shifters or the gearstick.Positioned as a rival for everything from Bentley's Continental GT, BMW's 650i, Jaguar's XKR and the Mercedes-Benz CL 500, the GranTurismo will be priced between $290,000-$300,000.The precise price will be announced when the Maser stops traffic at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October.Local deliveries begin in the same month, most of the 2007 allocation having been pre-sold. Australian spec cars receive as standard 20-inch rims, Skyhook adaptive suspension, Bose upgraded stereo and comfort front seats.That operatic 295kW/460Nm V8 lacks low-down torque but gets the GranTurismo to 100km/h from standing in a claimed 5.2 seconds - a time which would necessitate use of the sport mode. Almost as impressively, the big GT can go from that speed to zero in 35m. The newcomer might not be intended to supplant the older coupe, but it's tough to imagine it not taking customers.Seating four adults in luxurious comfort, the GranTurismo is almost 4.9m long, with minimal overhangs on a wheelbase that's been reduced by 123cm from the Quattroporte, but retains a useful 260-litre boot capacity.Capable of relaxed and comfortable daily use, the coupe comes into its own when presented with a challenging road. It's a superbly balanced (weight distribution is 49:51) and confidence-inspiring handler.A bewildering array of cosmetic options, including 19 possible exterior colours, 10 shades of leather upholstery with various stitching and trim options (even the Brembo brakes come in a choice of five colours), ensure that no two GranSports will be precisely the same.Australia is Maserati's ninth-biggest market. The GranTurismo is expected to thrust local sales of the feted marque past 200 next year.    Snapshot Maserati GranturismoPrice: $290,000-$300,000 (est)Economy: 14.3L/100km combinedEngine: 4.2L V8, 295kW, 460Nm, 0-100km/h 5.2 secsVerdict: Weepingly beautiful, the GranTursimo is at home on the freeway and the B-road. 

It's not as though Italy won't do autos, such things are increasingly available in Alfa Romeos even in the ostensibly sporty Brera.It's more that Italians seem to regard slushers as an affront to what they believe fervently is their collective ability to drive like gods of the racetrack.That said, on the whole they make Australians look like the neophytes they are. Then there's the question of the auto's state of origin — the United States.The Italian attitude can be discerned in any car-hire establishment; in their boot-shaped peninsula wherein requests for auto are greeted with by a semi-sneering, eyes-rolled-towards-the-heavens: 'American transmission.'That the feted marque Maserati has fitted a torque converter auto to its flagship Quattroporte sedan and can be seen as a milestone.When the Quattroporte Automatica was presented to the world in Monaco earlier this year, the company suggested that this gambit was being made with women in mind.That's the sort of quaintly patronising candour that would get you hauled up before HR over here, never mind that it happens to be true.In fact, the move stems from Maserati's need to be seen as a genuine alternative to the top-end automated Teutons; (Automoteutons?) such as Mercedes-Benz's grandiloquent tourer, the CLS 63 AMG, and BMW's relentlessly capable but aesthetically appalling 7 Series.Until now, the seductive Masers have come with a 'Formula One-style' DuoSelect gearbox that, while having a Drive mode and no clutch pedal, could be a lurching, jerking and decidedly non-luxurious thing to drive.While the hardcore will cling zealously to these things, the overwhelming majority of new Quattroporte buyers will now tick the automatic box.Miscreants have chided that the six-speed unit used by Maserati is supplied by the firm ZF, who also make the unit fitted to Ford's humble Falcon. The two are to each other what Jacob's Creek Shiraz is to Hill Of Grace.Epic re-engineering was undertaken to adapt the ZF to the car without adversely affecting its near-optimum weight distribution, and to enable it to accept its high-revving, Ferrari-supplied 4.2-litre V8.The means by which this was achieved is a story in itself. Suffice to say it works beautifully and those whose machismo (or lack of it) is not linked to their transmission will find that Quattroporte auto drives almost as adroitly as DuoSelect.Certainly the new deal is sweeter in most forms of driving. In any case, the auto has a manual option that can be enhanced by in the upper-spec models; with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.For the main part, it simply won't occur that a torque converter is present, though flatten the loud pedal and it will kick down the appropriate number of gears whether it's in manual mode or no.Against that, the paddles can override Drive, though full auto function returns if you leave the flippers alone for a bit.Another upshot of the mechanical jiggery pokery; entailed by the auto adaptation is that the new models are actually fractionally better balanced than DuoSelect cars. Forty nine per cent of their weight is toward the front; 51 per cent aft.The 295kW Fazza bent-eight engine now offers lower fuel consumption. Rather more to the point, it offers more torque, the peak level of 460Nm attained at 4250rpm.If the Maser is a balm to the eye, it's certainly a blessing to the ears. The Quattroporte cannot match the autobahn-sturming Merc and Bimmer in a straight-line blast (the auto adds 0.4 seconds to the standard sprint distance), but it will resonate like Pavarotti hitting the climactic bit of Nessun Dorma.If the ride is less cloistering than other luxury sedans, the Maserati's boundless appetite for consuming corners provides a massive pay-off.Accurate, if somewhat bantam-weighted steering, prodigious grip and willingness to hang on through mudguard-scraping bends utterly belie its almost two-tonne unladen weight. The automobile weighs in 70kg above the DuoSelect.Indeed, although always with the exception of the 7 Series, winding roads tend be where the Maser leaves behind those rivals listed below.With the first-class interior enhanced by such contrivances as cupholders and an electronic parking brake, the Quattroporte Automatica can be just as sedate as any luxury barge. However, a smallish boot compromises its golf-club facility.The inside story is one of bespoke elegance. You can stipulate a level of fitting and finish comparable to a suit tailored by Brioni, with myriad combos of wood-grain panels and leather trim.The two new exterior colours, a deep blue and a dark metallic, become the car though not so as well as the pearlescent white. There's also a new woodgrain interior feature, Tanganyka, and a new interior trim, Grigio Ghiaccio.The Quattroporte Maserati has always exuded an air of affluence in keeping the trident badge, it's just that now with the creamy ZF, it won't behave in traffic as though its been stuck in the bum with a trident.Drive the Maserati in the spirit intended and you'll discover not so much a rival for the usual luxury suspects, but a car that attains levels to which they don't aspire — and it does so automatically.Oh, the power and apassionata. At last, a genuine Latin alternative to the Teutons.

Hard-driving, head-snapping clutchless manuals maybe, but a custard smooth, do-nothing self-shifter. Never.Yet, with the six-speed ZF transmission — a refinement of the same box used in the Ford Falcon — slipped into the Quattroporte, Maserati has not only produced an automatic with true sporting character but solved a niggling issue that has plagued the badge for years.Almost as an aside to the re-engineering required to switch from the transaxle rear-mounted DuoSelect layout to the ZF's traditional automatic position behind the engine, Maserati now has steering to be proud of.Gone is the nervous vagueness of previous cars, along with the suspension harshness that is often passed off as “sporty”. In its place is a mature assuredness. Nice off-centre sharpness and a linear weighting as the steering loads up.Moving the gearbox forward resulted in a weight distribution of 49:51.With a reworked rear suspension, new front bushing and retuned dampers, the seemingly minor change becomes significant. Changing the rear suspension geometry in the absence of the rear-mounted gearbox also helped to settle the car. In developing the automatic, Maserati was under no illusion about how important it was going to be to the brand.“There are a small core of owners who enjoy driving the DuoSelect but we had a good deal of evidence of potential owners who steered away from the cars because there was no automatic,” Maserati Australia boss Ed Butler says. “Of the customers who have already ordered the automatic, something like 70 per cent are new to Maserati.”Despite the Gransport being in run-out and almost unattainable and the new Gran Tur-ismo not appearing until next year, Butler has seen a 50 per cent increase in sales over 2006.“Last year we sold 121 Maserati in Australia and New Zealand of which 64 were Quattroporte,” Butler says. “This year we have asked the factory for 180 cars, all but a handful of which will be Quattroporte — and 80 per cent of those are automatics.”At the heart of developing the automatic was the need to protect the dynamic performance-car image of the Trident badge.“When working with ZF it was crucial that the essence of Maserati was protected ... the car must rev to 7200rpm, it must accelerate in the five second range, it must have a sporty character — all the things that make a Maserati a Maserati must remain,” Butler says. “It wasn't an easy task but the result is all we asked for.”With a top speed of 270km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.6 seconds, this is one quick automatic sports saloon — but that is just a small part of the picture.While there is the option of shifting manually — in the manner of a tiptronic — with either the gearshift lever or optional wheel-mounted paddles, there isn't much point in it.With the sport button selected the car quickly adapts to the driver's style with adjustments in throttle sharpness and shift pattern. Drive hard and the gearbox joins in the fun, settle into a cruise and it is laid-back central.The 4.2-litre, V8 has also been tweaked and refined. A wet-sump lubrication system is new along with redesigned inlet manifold and airbox, variable valve timing and modified pistons to improve combustion.Power remains constant at 295kW but torque is up 10Nm to 460Nm at a lower 4250rpm and fuel economy is improved by around 9 per cent.Cabin refinements include an automatic park brake that engages when the engine is switched off and releases as you drive away. There are also two “supersize” cup holders — crucial when the US is the vehicle's largest market. With three trims, the Quattroporte Automatic is similarly priced to the DuoSelect: $269,000 entry level, $288,000 Sport GT and $298,000 for the Executive GT. It is on sale now.

Nine stars of the Melbourne International Motor Show took a quick spin from City Hall to Federation Square to rev the city up for tomorrow evening's big opening at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.Led by a beefy Chrysler 300C police car, about $2 million worth of auto exotica cruised down Swanston St.Lord Mayor John So rode James Bond-style in a $360,000 Aston Martin DB9 Volante convertible.Immediately behind him was a Bentley Continental GTC convertible worth $400,000, but even that was trumped moments later by a Ferrari 599 GTB, costing $600,000.Others in the column included a Maserati Quattroporte, the new convertibles from Volkswagen and Volvo, and a top-of-the-range Lexus LS460.Most unusual was the Bonning B3 three-wheeler, the personal project of designer and artist Brad Bonning.But there would be plenty more to see at the show itself, said the extravaganza's director, Russ Tyrie."That's just to give people a taste of what they will see on Friday," Mr Tyrie said."The parade is a great way to bring the show to Melbourne and to give people an idea of what an exciting and dynamic thing the car industry is."The covers will come off quite a few new cars at the show."With some of them it's going to be as much a surprise to us as it will to everyone else."