Auto Shows

2006 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT Auto Show Photo

Italy’s gentleman’s express just got a more sharply tailored suit. The Quattroporte, Maserati’s full-sized luxury flagship, will now be offered with a “sport package” as if it weren’t already pretty darn sporty. The Sport GT rides on more aggressive 20-inch rolling stock (replacing the previous 19 inchers) and its suspension is retuned to increase handling performance. Several interior panels get the carbon fiber treatment, and splashes of red-and-blue stitching adorn the steering wheel and handbrake. The grille is , and finished in satin black. Maserati has reportedly tested a V-12 powertrain for the Quattroporte, but it has yet to break cover. But power has never been the 4P’s problem, and its 400-horse, 4.2-liter V-8 still gets the job done – quickly. The Quattroporte’s Achilles’ Heal has been its autoclutch manual transmission. It’s jerky in operation, and shifts too slowly, something S-Class and 7 Series buyers aren’t used to and won’t put up with. The trans has been recalibrated for both quicker and smoother shift action; we plan a road test of the Sport GT soon, and will report on how well the modifications work. The Sport GT is on sale now.

30 Featured LA Auto Show Vehicles
2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Daytona Pace Car	2006 Fisker Latigo	2006 Fisker Tramonto
2006 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT	2006 Maybach 57S	2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
2006 Porsche Cayman S	2006 Spyker C12 LaTurbie	2006 Volkswagen Eos
	1 - 9 of the 30 Auto Show Photos	Next 9 Photos >>