Extreme Restraint: Novitec tunes the Maserati Quattroporte
It takes a special kind of customer to take their exotic Italian supercar to Novitec. Starting off with some of the all-around best-performing automobiles ever to grace God's green earth, Novitec rips them apart in an effort to try and make them "more perfect". So what's such a customer to do when he needs to take the family along? If their mods to the Alfa Romeo 159 weren't enough, Novitec has now turned their attention to the sublime Maserati Quattroporte.
Read on for more.[Source: Motor Authority]
Easy there, fellas. That's arguably the most beautiful four-door sedan on the market, and it's no slouch of a performer, either. Thankfully, Novitec hasn't gutted the car and painted it neon orange, but has taken a slightly more conservative route. Under the hood, the modifications to the Ferrari-developed 4.2-liter V8 have been limited to a revised ECU, increased redline (to 7800 RPM) and a new exhaust. The results of the mods are a modest thirteen extra horses and lb-ft of torque each over the stock 400 and 332.
Novitec has also fitted adjustable shocks and 20-inch rims at all four corners, fitted with 245/35 and 285/30 Pirelli P-Zeros front and rear, respectively. Around back the dirty air is let loose through four 83mm stainless-steel exhaust tips.
After seeing some of Novitec's more radical mod-jobs, the Dutch tuning firm's work on the Quattroporte demonstrates their capability to go easy when sensible is the order of the day.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1337 9:16AM (7/03/2007)
"Exotic Italian supercar?!" Who are we kidding? The Quattroporte is in the price range of an S-class or 7-series, and both of those cars are much more car for the money. Most every review of the Quattroporte goes something like this: "Well, we really thought this was a beautiful car, but it drives like a city bus, the engine is underpowered, and the Chevrolet Aveo's transmission is far superior to that of the Maserati." If there were ever a longterm test of this shitbox..er..exotic Italian supercar, it would go something like this: "We really wish Maserati had stuck to two door cars, seeing as all four doors fell off simultaneously the day after we took delivery of this thing. The closest Maserati dealer is 700 miles away, and they are only open on Saturdays, so we have yet to drive the car."
The Quattroporte is the Jaguar X-type of executive cars; the only people who can even tolerate it are those who want to be unique and know less about cars than your average earthworm does.
Wow, I could be a ghostwriter for Jeremy Clarkson... Scary.
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jpb 9:36AM (7/03/2007)
Except that Clarkson loves the Quattroporte, especially now it's got a proper auto box...
1337 9:51AM (7/03/2007)
Wow, really? I'm surprised. From what I've read of Clarkson's articles, he hates everything except a few British cars and some older Volvos. Go figure.
1337 9:51AM (7/03/2007)
I suppose Clarkson also fits my description of Quattroporte fans.
Don 3:25PM (7/03/2007)
Clarkson fits my description of "jackass".
Colin Smith 9:43AM (7/03/2007)
Yes. Jeremy Clarkson is beginning to reveal similarly delusional characterists. You are right there.
As for the rest: bollocks!
This is one of the finest cars made. The new gearbox cures all the transmission glitches, and we are left with the most beautiful four door car made.
Also, it is a delight to drive, and very well made.
We should celebrate excellence like this because, what with energy supplies going the way they are, and a growing public antipathy to extravagant motoring, we may not see too many more.
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Colin Smith 9:55AM (7/03/2007)
Yes 1337, you are right, in as much as Clarkson is beginning to display delusional characteristics as well.
This car is simply the most beautiful four door car made in the world today. As jpb suggests, the new gearbox has cured the only real glitch it had, and we are left with something truly exceptional.
With energy costs rising and public antipathy to indulgent motoring going the way it is we may not see much more of such craftsmanship, so we should appreciate it while we can.
By the way, Mercedes or BMW are not in same league as Maserati. Good cars yes, but not sublime.
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1337 10:27AM (7/03/2007)
I agree that the Maserati is a stylistic masterpiece. However for a similar price, one can purchase the tour de force of style, handling, acceleration, and safety known as the Mercedes-Benz S550. In comparison to the Quattroporte, S-classes are as common as Camries, but turning down the Benz for the comparatively mediocre Quattroporte is lunacy.
I considered attacking the the article's usage of the word "sublime," but calling the Maserati an "exotic Italian supercar" is a greater abomination than calling it "sublime." The S550 is sublime, the Ferrari 599 is an exotic Italian supercar, and the Quattroporte is pretty to look at, but boring to drive. If you want a car that's pretty to look at but boring to drive, look at the Lexus SC430--unlike the Maserati, it's also reliable. (I know I'll get catcalls for calling the SC430 pretty, but some critics accuse the Quattroporte of being hideous, so please keep it in perspective.)
Kunal Shah 10:47AM (7/03/2007)
Clarkson loves his british cars and those volvos...hates the 911 range (no matter how good they are) and basically disagrees with anything the hamster says. But he also drives an SL55 (which he loves and had no comment about the fact that its #4 most liked car in the Gay community.....not sure if he is out of the closet yet) and now he bought a gallardo spyder. This makes me wonder about the guys questionable sence of taste...and the latest rumour has it that he wants to make love to the Stig!!!!
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1337 11:02AM (7/03/2007)
I recall an article from the early 1990s in which he recommended that all British car enthusiests import a 5.0L fox-body Mustang. Thus I think he likes two sorts of cars:
1) Fast cars (of course we all love fast cars)
2) Cars that, deep down, he feels sorry for (i.e. the 1980s Mustangs, 20 year old Volvo 240s, etc.)
bmoredlj 11:49AM (7/03/2007)
I always thought the Quattroporte was a smart alternative to the German and Japanese cars that don't really need a driver anymore. They accelerate, brake, and park themselves. They decide how their suspensions react to different road conditions, and they decide when you're not operating it correctly.
The gorgeous Quattroporte, on the other hand, needs you. It doesn't have 36 microprocessors or radar or sonar or iDrive. It's just a rough-and-tumble, good old-fashioned Italian motorcar, not a mobile driving simulator. And it's a good one.
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Ken 11:55AM (7/03/2007)
I buy Maserati Quattroporte for it's style and it's exclusivity. That's it, it's not a everyday car. It's a weekend car for me. Come to LA, and you will see how many people have Bimmer and Benz, and how many people drive a Maserati. It takes special kind of person to appreciate this car. We are not your average Bimmer or Benz buyers. So simply compare this car with Bimmer 7 or Benz S is just absurd. According to your reasoning, you can buy a lot more car for the money with Hyundai Azera...........LMAO.........by the way, if you don't like how a Maser drives, then you are too old, because it's literately a Ferrari with 4 doors.
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Kunal Shah 1:54PM (7/03/2007)
....And as a Ferrari, it is prone to break down on the freeway...and like a Ferrari the cost of maintanence is through the roof....and on the flip side, like the ferrari the soundtrack is almost feral and the handling legendary. But as you said it, its not for the weak hearted or the boring people of society. Bottom line is if you have a wallet as big as your soul .... this IS the car for you!!!
Rick11 10:27AM (7/04/2007)
Clarkson on Maserati Quattroporte:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCzb-WNk78w
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Barrie Lovelock 5:50AM (7/05/2007)
I sympathise with 1337. he has missed the point and doens't have a clue why. A Timex watch that costs £5.00 will tell the time far better than my Rolex ever can, I can buy shoes for £20.00 which will last longer than the ones I paid £250.00 for, I could buy an S550 and feel safe and comfortable in my choice because everyone else does, but I won't because I am on this earth just the once and will be driven by my heart whenever I can afford it which is why I drive a QP Sport GT, 07 model, with the new much reworked kickass duoselect gearbox that is much more fun in sport manual than any auto could ever be. I know because I have tried both on the road and track.Clarkson is considered buy many in the UK to be a complete Knobhead who for too long has believed his own publicity. Those who are motivated by passion and style will know exactly what I mean, for those who aren't...... Night night, sleep tight, mummies here, everything will be alright.
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Angus Dykman 5:45PM (7/05/2007)
Sorry, calling 1337 out for having no taste in cars.
Couldn't help myself.
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Barrie Lovelock 5:47AM (7/15/2007)
Just read an article in a UK mag saying 62% SL 500s are driven by Gays or Women, 62% of Lexus 400L are driven by company directors on a cost limit budget or accountants (and we all know how much fire they add to a dinner party) 88% of Porches are driven by men, 93% of Ferraris driven by men and 89% Maseratis driven by men. So, we men with taste, it would appear love beautiful cars that go like a bat out of hell. Quite how we like our women then?
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