Fresh from their Frankfurt showing, the Quattroporte Sport and Executive GTs have arrived in Sydney for their southern hemisphere debut. Due to go on sale in Australia early in 2006, the new models add an extra dimension to the Quattroporte range, with, in Maserati’s words, “the Executive GT setting a new benchmark for distinctive luxury, while the Sport GT further emphasises Maserati’s performance heritage.”

The the Quattroporte versions are, in fact, unique, and it is indeed a special privilege for them to be at the Sydney Motor Show. As Maserati’s General Manager in Australia, Edward Butler, noted during the press conference, “We have spent several weeks negotiating to bring these cars to Australia and they are, in fact, the very first (and so far only) right-hand drive cars to be built, prior to full production starting next year...they arrived just four days before we (had) to move them into the exhibition centre.” 

The two cars have a number of feature distinguishing them from the ‘standard’ Quattroporte, if there is such a thing. The Executive GT lists a chrome mesh grille, side chrome grille, wood and leather steering wheel, roof section in Alcantara, and 9-spoke 19” ball-polished wheel rims amongst its additional equipment.
 

The Sport GT, meanwhile, has to its name a carbonfibre-trimmed interior, aluminium pedals and 20” wheel rims, whilst on the performance front the gearbox software has been reprogrammed for 35% faster shifts, a redesigned exhaust system delivers an even sportier sound, and specific Skyhook software improves the suspension setup. The engine, a 400bhp 4.2 V8 derived from that in the 4200 Coupe, remains essentially unchanged.

These new versions of the Quattroporte go hand-in-hand with exciting times for Maserati in Australia, with a transfer of distribution responsibilities over to European Automotive Group on October 1, a subsidiary of Ateco Automotive. This month has seen the opening of a new Maserati/Ferrari dealership on William Street; this will be augmented late next year by a brand-new dealership just to the south of Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD). Although limited by supply, European Automotive Group plans a 30% rise in Maserati sales both here and across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand, aided in no small part by these new variations of the Quattroporte.

by Shant Fabricatorian in Sydney