2020 Maserati Quattroporte

The original Quattroporte expanded the Maserati brand in two ways: a large sedan and a V8, both first for the Italian company. The first Quattroporte was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sedan and only 230 vehicles were made from 1963 to 1966. The vehicles imported to the U.S. had twin round headlamps instead of the single rectangular ones on European models. Special models were made in 1971 and 1974, but new owner Citroën put the kibosh on these Maserati Indy-based vehicles and instead developed what became the Quattroporte II.

Citroën-owned Maserati unveiled the Quattroporte II at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. This version had front-wheel-drive and a V6 mid-engine configuration. But the oil crisis is 1973 prevented the vehicle from gaining European approval. As a result, most were sold in the Middle East and Spain, which was exempt from the regulatory approval. The front-wheel-drive and V6 combination proved to be unappealing. A last-ditch V8 was developed, but it was too little too late. Eventually Citroën and Maserati went bankrupt and the assets were picked up by entrepreneur Alejandro De Tomaso.

In its third generation, the Quattroporte III/Royale reverted back to a classic pairing of rear-wheel-drive and V8 engines. This was the last generation of hand-built Italian cars.

This Quattroporte was the first car produced under Fiat’s new ownership. A twin-turbo V6 was the initial engine and expanded to include a V-8.

The fifth Quattroporte utilized an entirely new platform with a nearly sixteen-inch longer wheelbase. This platform also spawned the GranTurismo and GranCabrio coupes and convertibles.

This current version of the Quattroporte is the largest of the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sedan. All-wheel-drive is offered for the first time, but only with a V6 engine and only in left-hand drive markets. This version was developed under the Fiat Group, but at a Maserati-only facility. The Quattroporte shares its platform, drivetrains, suspension, and some exterior body elements with its smaller sibling, the Ghibli. In 2015, Maserati developed the Quattroporte Zegna, limited to just 100 vehicles. More recently, Maserati announced another limited edition with Zegna, this time just 50 Quattroporte sedans with PELLETESSUTA woven leather interiors and exclusive exterior colors.