Mid-life nip-tuck for Maserati Quattroporte

Four years after its international debut, Maserati's suave Quattroporte has come in for a mid-life overhaul, with a host of cosmetic and technical tweaks headlining the upgrades.

Due here in spring, the revised Quattroporte line-up includes a new flagship S model that gains the 316kW 4.7-litre V8 recently installed in the range-topping GranTurismo S.

However the entry-level model retains the 295kW/451Nm 4.2-litre V8 that powers the existing Quattroporte. Both variants come standard with the smooth-shifting six-speed ZF automatic transmission.

You don't need to squint too hard to spot the visual changes, as up front there's a new grille with vertical slats reminiscent of the GranTurismo. The headlight cluster has also been remodelled, now featuring the LED daytime running lights that have become an Audi trademark of late.

LEDs are used at the rear, too, helping differentiate the new Quattroporte's derriere from that of its forerunner.

Meanwhile, the flanks are adorned with a new sill panel, while the reprofiled bumpers have a wider protective band and "more pronounced rear styling".  The door mirrors are also new, with a more streamlined mounting to the door.

Inside, there's a new central console, and the controls are allegedly grouped more closely to put them within easier reach of the driver. The car's range of navigation systems is also updated, now comprising the 'New Maserati Multimedia System'.

Two new shades of leather, Marrone Corniola and Sabbia -- replacing the beige that was previously offered -- also debut on the Quattroporte S and Quattroporte respectively.

The revised Maserati Quattroporte will make its Australian and New Zealand public debut at the Australian International Motor Show in October, with deliveries of the new car starting early next year.

Existing owners will also be invited to private and exclusive viewings of the new car in Australia and New Zealand.

The current-generation Quattroporte has been a vital element in revitalising the trident brand's flagging image after a lacklustre period in the 1980s and '90s, during which it trundled out a series of boxy, uninspiring models.

The Quattroporte is the most successful Maserati of all time, notching up 15,000 global sales over the past four years, and bagging 46 international awards in the process.

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