Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
Image: Maserati
NewsBy: Alex Shahini
Sedan sales may be dwindling, but Maserati has recently celebrated 60 years of the iconic Quattroporte. Here is a look at the nameplate over the long-standing period.
Image: Maserati
Many brands on offer in South Africa haven’t existed for 60 years, let alone offer a product line that has spanned this time but Italian automaker Maserati is celebrating its iconic sedan; the Quattroporte in its six generations of stylish sedan.
On 30 October 1963, the Turin Motor Show – then one of the biggest motoring events in the world – opened the doors to its 45th edition. At the Maserati stand, the Quattroporte made its debut.
Image: Maserati
Since then, over 75 000 units of the Quattroporte (translated literally from Italian as four door) have found homes, making it one of the longest-serving and popular models in Maserati’s illustrious lineup.
Pioneering the segment, the first iteration of the model from the 1960s boasted an 8-cylinder motor derived from racing which helped market the sedan as a “living room on the move” capable of reaching 230 km/h. Behind the elegance of the nameplate throughout the years were all Italian greats; Bertone, Giugiaro, Gandini and Pininfarina but it was Frua who plotted the initial form of the first generation.
While the second-generation Quattroporte was a more daring and less memorable attempt, the Quattroporte III – in the hands of De Tomaso – marked a resounding success; followed by a new challenge that was fully overcome toward the end of the intense 1990s; then by a model that severed ties with the past while remaining faithful to its winning formula as did the multi-award-winning 2003 generation, and that – with the sixth-generation – has taken to the stage once again in its most modern version years later. After all the restyling, progress in engineering, changes in corporate structure, and the countless models produced, this saloon has retained its potent approach to exclusivity.
Image: Maserati
The Quattroporte also succeeded off of the road by earning a keep in the garages of regal clientele and side stars of over 60 film productions.
Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO: “Quattroporte is Maserati’s history. A car that tells our story and has prestigiously represented us in the world of saloon cars, for over half a century. Since 1963, it has chronicled the evolution of one of the most beloved and appreciated Maserati models, inaugurating a segment that had previously been uncharted territory. It’s a source of pride for us and an acknowledgement of the distinctively Italian character that Maserati has always aimed to export around the world with its creations. Now as before, Quattroporte remains our flagship, synonymous with a unique luxury. It’s appreciated for its refinement, attention to detail, superior performance, quality, and enveloping spaciousness – all of this combined with its timeless stylistic touch – has made Quattroporte eternal.”
Keyword: Maserati’s Quattroporte Title Turns 60 Years Old