NOVITEC wields 445kW Quattroporte

Maserati's 'regular' Quattroporte GTS, priced at $319,800 plus ORCs in Australia, is powered by a Ferrari-built 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 that smashes out up to 390kW/710Nm.

But clearly it's not enough spice for some, as Italian car tuning specialist NOVITEC has come up with business case for even more performance by way of engine, suspension and body modifications.

Extracting new levels of performance from the Maranello-made twin-turbo V8, which is expected to deliver around 495kW/850Nm in Ferrari's upgraded 458M, the NOVITEC TRIDENTE program boosts the output of the Quattroporte GTS by 55kW and 120Nm to a supercar-like 445kW/820Nm.

It does so without any mechanical changes, via the installation of a processor-controlled 'plug-and-play' tuning module that adjusts the fuel-injection and ignition mapping and increases boost pressure slightly.

Top speed and acceleration have been lifted accordingly, from 4.7 to 4.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and top speed from 307 to 318km/h.

The German tuning company reckons that together with its "sportily styled" clear-coated carbon-fibre body components, unique 22-inch wheels, updated suspension and new interior style, the Quattroporte becomes an even more refined machine.

In order to deliver improved ride and handling, NOVITEC TRIDENTE cars can be optioned with 35mm-lower and fully adjustable suspension, including variable damper rebound and compression rates.

Available for both the Quattroporte and Ghibli, the big alloys come in a variety of finishes: silver, matt black, titanium and titanium with polished surfaces.

NOVITEC will also beef up the V6 engines of the Quattroporte S and Maserati's first diesel, should owners make the request. The former is taken from 301 to 350kW, and the latter from 202 to 237kW.

The Quattorporte plays a key role Maserati's aggressive expansion plan, which along with the smaller Ghilbi sedan and upcoming Levante SUV are predicted to grow global sales from 12,000 in 2013 to 75,000 in 2018, by which time 1500 Maseratis are expected to be sold annually in Australia – up from just 134 last year.