66 June 2013 www.bahrainthismonth.com When we think of an exclusive top-of-the-mind luxury car, Maserati sits comfortably alongside the very best. It’s also remarkably affordable. Think of an Italian lifestyle and we start to roll off a series of superlatives; fabulous fashion from the catwalks of Milan, beautiful jewellery and classical home furnishings and accessories. The variety of cuisine styles encountered from the snow-covered mountains in Northern Italy to the foot of the boot in Palermo is almost a sin; no country should ever have been allowed to be so well endowed with such delactable delights. And, then there are the cars. Not just any cars, but sculptures that belie the mechanical mind to deliver a poetry of motion that races the blood. Conjure up the word ‘Maserati’ and the full indulgence of everything Italian is laid bare in front of you. The flagship of this automotive icon is the Quattroporte GTS; in English the name simply translates to ‘four door’. In essence that’s the appeal of an Italian brand — simplicity refined. The styling and the design speak for themselves; there’s no requirement for superficial naming conventions. Of course, in the case of the Quattroporte, it helps if it’s also the fastest Maserati ever built. With a top speed of 307 km/h, the V8 engine option is as fast as most two-door equivalents. The 3.8-litre, twin turbo charged beauty delivers a massive 530 hp of power and an even more impressive 710 Nm of torque (with overboost). The ‘brochure’ states this Quattroporte accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. It’s the sort of statistic one is inclined to test; the opportunity to do so was offered by Maserati with a trip to Dubai to cruise the city and its environs. On a suitably secluded road we’d have to say we believe the brochure! When easing the Quattroporte from 70 km/h to 170 km/h, the five seconds required to up the cruising speed just flies by. It’s not just the sheer power, though, that stands out when ensconed behind the steering wheel in the driver’s cockpit; it’s the effortless simplicity which delivers a smoothness that matches the performance. italyinbahrain Simplicity Refined Model Maserati Quattroporte Model year 2013 Engine type 3.8-litre twin turbo charged Displacement 3,798cc Horsepower 530 hp @ 6,500rpm Torque 710Nm @ 2,000rpm Transmission Eight-speed transmission Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 4.7 sec Top speed 307 km/h DAVID M. ROBERTSON Members of the media and Maserati staff at the test drive event in Dubai
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