First images of the new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S have begun to circulate today as information on the revised model, due to be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, slowly emerges. The Quattroporte was itself launched in Frankfurt exactly four years ago at the German show, and during the intervening period it has driven the Trident brand's recovery forward, helping it towards its recently announced first quarterly profit under Fiat ownership. In Frankfurt the sedan will take its place alongside the GranTurismo which after its 'preview' in Geneva last March is set to be shown in full production form with its first deliveries commencing around the time of the show.

At the North American Motor Show in Detroit back in January the Quattroporte range received a big fillip when a conventional automatic option finally made its way onto the production models, and this new version has accounted for most sales of the super-luxury four-door saloon ever since. The new Sport GT S model will incorporate this 6-speed auto option (the only specification it will be available in) and it will be a further extension of the popular Quattroporte Sport GT, which was itself introduced at the last Frankfurt IAA, held two years ago - alongside the sister Quattroporte Executive GT model.

When launched in September 2005 the Sport GT featured big new 20-inch wheels, a new large mesh front radiator grille painted black with a similar treatment being meted out to the three side vents, while inside it had new sports seats, heavy use of carbon fibre on the dashboard and door trims, and racing-style pedals.
 

Technically, a 'Sport' button made gearchanging faster (by an average of 35 percent), while the 'Skyhook' suspension was upgraded (and lowered) and the exhaust was reconfigured to give off a much more intense sound at high-revs. Other detailing changes included a new steering wheel, handbrake lever and gearknob; and bigger cross-drilled rotors as well as stainless-steel brake hoses.

Despite the premium commanded by the Sport GT (and Executive GT) these two models quickly accounted for most sales of the Trident sedan. Now the Modena-based sports car maker will build on the success of the Sport GT by rolling out the Sport GT S. Details are sketchy but the revised model is expected to leave the 400 bhp 4.2-litre V8 engine relatively untouched. Instead the engineers' focus of attention will be paid to the suspension with the Skyhook suspension reported replaced with fixed dampers. The whole car is lowered by an additional 10-20 mm. The massive 9x20 (front) and 11x20 (rear) alloy wheels will be shod with specially-developed new Pirelli tyres 245/35R20 (front) 295/30R20, and on the braking front, after further development carried out in conjunction with Brembo, even bigger rotors (made of an alloy-iron mix to reduce heat-induced fading and to increase resistance) will be shoehorned in while enormous new 6-pot calipers will be fitted, optional in blue or yellow.

Cosmetically the Sport GT's dark radiator grille and three side vents are retained while the cabin glass will be darkened further and the large aluminium door handles now colour-coded. The chromed door window frame trims will also be blackened, as will be the headlight housings, the white reverse light sections of the rear light clusters, the horizontal boot trim incorporating the catch, and the two twin-exhaust tailpipes. Inside, the sports interior will see additional carbon fibre/aluminium trims being incorporated and a new pattern carbon-fibre dashboard, while yellow stitching will become an option. New sports seats (with inserts either of leather or Alcantara) will be fitted. The comfort of the rear seats has reportedly been enhanced.