Parked my 2007 QT next to its younger brother. Two very different eras of Maserati.
Pulled into the parkade today in my 2007 Quattroporte and happened to find this newer Quattroporte sitting there. Obviously I had to park beside it.
Seeing them side-by-side really shows how much the Quattroporte changed while somehow still looking unmistakably Maserati.
Mine is the 2007 M139, the fifth-generation Quattroporte:
• Pininfarina-designed
• 4.2L naturally aspirated 90° V8
• 400 hp @ 7,000 rpm
• 275 km/h / 171 mph top speed
• About 1,970 kg
• Rear-wheel drive
• And that wonderful old-school Maserati combination of leather, wood, an analog clock, questionable Italian electronics and an engine that makes you forgive basically everything else.
One thing I love about 2007 is that it's an interesting year in Quattroporte history. Maserati was actually selling both versions of the M139 drivetrain around this period: the original DuoSelect layout with its dry-sump V8 and rear transaxle, and the newer Quattroporte Automatica with the conventional 6-speed ZF automatic and wet-sump version of the V8.
Then look at the younger car beside it. I believe this is a facelift sixth-generation Quattroporte, but I'll let the Maserati experts here identify the exact year/trim from the photo.
If it's an S Q4 from this era, we're talking roughly:
• 3.0L twin-turbo V6
• 404 hp
• 8-speed ZF
• Q4 AWD
• 0–100 km/h around 4.9 sec
• 286 km/h / 178 mph top speed
Which is kind of hilarious when you think about it.
My old naturally aspirated V8: 400 hp.
The newer twin-turbo V6: 404 hp.
Similar headline power, completely different philosophy.
The M139 feels like Maserati built a four-door Ferrari-era Italian GT that happened to have room for three passengers. The newer generation became much more technologically advanced, faster off the line, more usable year-round and probably a far more rational luxury sedan.
But looking at them side-by-side, I have to admit I still think the Pininfarina M139 has aged incredibly well. The low nose, small grille, long hood and relatively delicate proportions make it look almost understated compared with the much more aggressive vertical grille of the newer car.
Another bit of Maserati trivia: "Quattroporte" literally just means "four doors." Only the Italians could give a car the most utilitarian possible name and somehow make it sound exotic.
And the 2017-era facelift had another wonderfully Italian detail: Maserati offered the GranLusso with an Ermenegildo Zegna interior incorporating actual Zegna silk into the seats, doors, headliner and sun visors. Because apparently leather alone wasn't Italian enough.
Two generations. Two interpretations of the same idea.
I know which one I'm taking home. 😎 🇮🇹 🔱
Maserati people: what generation of Quattroporte do you think has aged the best? And can anyone pin down the exact year/trim of the one parked beside mine?