Maserati gives Quattroporte sporting edge

Maserati recently fortified its Quattroporte by the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission, and it now plans to up the ante by offering an overtly sporting variant of the svelte sedan.

Positively dripping with aggression, the new Quattroporte Sport GT S will be unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show before going on sale internationally later in the year.

Although there are no tweaks to the drivetrain, the Sport GT S is billed as a more focussed package than its garden-variety siblings, thanks to a more hardcore suspension set-up, cutting-edge brakes and beefed-up wheel/tyre combo.

The new range-topper sits 10mm lower at the front and 25mm at the rear compared to other versions of the Quattroporte, and it also features new, stiffer springs and dampers.

Stopping power is upped, too, as a result of an innovative braking system developed by Brembo. The system features dual-cast brake discs (which supposedly provide "improved thermal diffusivity and excellent dimensional stability under heat"). Maserati claims it's the first time such a set-up has been employed on a road car.

Unlike traditional cast iron discs, dual-cast discs are made of two materials -- cast iron and aluminium -- to ensure optimised braking performance and providing greater resistance to fade even at the highest temperatures.

The new braking system also benefits from new mono-block, six-piston callipers at the front and tyres developed especially for the Sport GT S (measuring 245/35-R20 at the front and 295/30-R20 at the rear) -- and these are wrapped around a tasty set of 20-inch seven-spoke alloys.

The standard Quattroporte already offers good grip levels for a car of its bulk, and it seems a safe bet the Sport GT S will build on the base model's cornering/stopping abilities, which means rivals such as the Audi S8 and Mercedes S63 AMG may face a renewed challenge in the dynamics department (if not in terms of raw straight-line pace).

Visual cues that distinguish the Sport GT S from more mainstream Quattroportes include a black-chrome mesh front grille, along with blacked-out window trims and exhaust tips. The door handles are in the same colour as the body of the car.

Even the choice of material for the interior of the Quattroporte Sport GT S reflects the car's sporty character, says Maserati.

Traditional Poltrona Frau leather has been combined with Alcantara, which is used to trim the central portion of the seats, the interior door panels and the steering wheel. Maserati has previously used Alcantara for the interior of the Trofeo cars and the MC12.

The dashboard is finished in new carbon fibre with aluminium treads, while the front seats are claimed to have a "more cosseting sporty shape" -- exactly what's required when you're attacking the twisty bits.

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