We're not sure why a beautiful Italian sedan needs all-wheel drive, and that's why we're not product planners. Undoubtedly, the answer is because Maserati could make money by offering an AWD option, just as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz do.
In an interview with Automotive News, Harald Wester, CEO of the Maserati division, noted that the more critical objective for the next-generation Quattroporte will be to cut fuel consumption by 25 percent.
To that end, the Quattroporte will incorporate stop-start technology, plus downsized V6 and V8 engines. For the V8 version, we'd guess that means something on the order of 4.0 liters with a turbocharger or two. The current V8s aren't exactly huge-displacement -- just 4.2 liters and 4.7 liters, respectively, in the base and S models. As for the V6, it's hard to say where Maserati would source that. The only north-south V6 we can think of under the current Fiat Group umbrella is the new Chrysler Pentastar engine...
Wester also told AN that the Quattroporte would get the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, which is very good news indeed.
Automotive News (sub.req'd)
justinsrq says:
01:07 PM, 06/28/10
That's not a picture of a Quattroporte.
felonious says:
01:27 PM, 06/28/10
I'm not sure how AWD and "improved fuel economy" are going to work out, unless they have some magical AWD drivetrain that doesn't suffer from as much parasitic losses.
Erin Riches replied to comment from justinsrq
01:40 PM, 06/28/10
Well, uh, nothing to say there, except to replace the photo and beg forgiveness.
lexuslvr says:
01:58 PM, 06/28/10
No doubt going after the Porsche Panamera I see with the AWD and V6 and such.
justinsrq says:
03:58 PM, 06/28/10
Erin,
Haha, no harm done. Honestly I'd rather look at a picture of a beautiful GT any day then Quattroporte. I see then here is Sarasota all the time with no more then 2 people in them and just think to myself "why didn't they get something good looking?"
estreka says:
08:43 AM, 06/29/10
I wouldn't buy a Maser for the fuel economy, but if the engine and drivetrain see significant innovation, that could be noteworthy.