New entry-level Quattroporte on the agenda

A new entry-level petrol version of the Maserati Quattroporte is very likely to come to Australia.

First unveiled at the 2013 Shanghai motor show, the 243kW/500Nm twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 version of the luxury saloon would flow into the range here between the $198,800 Turbo Diesel and the $240,000 Quattroporte S.

The latter gets the same Ferrari-designed engine, albeit punching out 301kW and 550Nm – the same as the top-shelf Ghibli S.

If the final green light is given, the new model – simply badged as the 'Quattroporte' — would go on sale in Australia later this year or early next.

“Today we have the Quattroporte diesel, the Quattroporte S and the Quattroporte GTS,” Maserati Australia MD boss Glen Sealey told motoring.com.au.

“There is a 330 horsepower version of the Quattroporte which is fundamentally the engine which comes out of the Ghibli 330.

“Would it work here? I think there are opportunities for that car here.”

Sealey said Maserati was “at the point now” when it comes to making a decision about the car.

He confirmed the pricing structure by referring to the Ghibli, which starts with the turbo-diesel as its entry-level and then adds only a $1090 impost for the ‘330’ Ghibli.

“It would be a petrol variant that would actually be slightly more expensive than the diesel,” Sealey confirmed.

The ‘330’ generates peak power at 4000rpm and peak torque between 1500 and 4500rpm. Available overseas in both rear- and all-wheel drive, it comes standard with an eight-speed ZF AT70 automatic transmission.

Maserati claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds for the 330 and a top speed of 263km/h. Combined fuel consumption is claimed at 9.8L/100km with CO2 emissions of 228g/km.

The addition to the Quattroporte range is likely to be the last model to arrive from the Italian marque in Australia before the Levante SUV hits our shores in 2016.

Ahead of the Levante launch, the smaller Ghibli sedan is driving a huge growth in Maserati sales, albeit off a small base. Sales were up 199.3 per cent in 2014 and after three months of 2015 are up 220.9 per cent.

However, year-on-year Quattroporte sales are down 50 per cent from 21 to 10.