2018 Maserati Quattroporte Granlusso Diesel

A gorgeous automobile that’s best experienced from behind the wheel

- Rishabh Bhaskar

The Maserati Quattroporte needs no introduction. It is, by far, one the most good looking luxury sedans in the world and its for this very reason that the car has carved out a distinct identity. The last time we sampled the Quattroporte in India, it was the 2016 GTS variant that had a fire breathing, twin-turbo V8 petrol nestled under its hood. Needless to say, we were quite blown away. This year, the Quattroporte line received a mild facelift and this time around we are driving the GranLusso variant with a V6 diesel engine. Does it still offer that Maserati driving experience?

Design

Before we delve into finding that out, let’s step back and soak in the sight of the Quattroporte. I actually feel that words fall short of describing the way the car looks. It really is that gorgeous! Take the front end, for instance. The massive, ten-slat grille, with the Maserati trident adorning its centre and the sleek new, all-LED headlamps lend the Quattroporte a classy face with just the right amount of aggression. The 2018 model also gets a touch of chrome over the air dams that complements the grille.

With its low-slung stance, long bonnet and the prominent boot lip, the Quattroporte’s silhouette is equally arresting. The front fender has Maserati’s signature triple vents and the rear haunches are simply a sight to behold. The rear end is not as dramatic but it surely looks elegant, an effect achieved thanks to the re-profiled bumper.

Driving the car around town, I lost count of the number of people who literally stopped in their tracks, slackjawed at spotting the Quattroporte. Mumbai has no dearth of luxury cars, so for the Maserati to elicit such reactions speaks volumes about how special the Quattroporte looks.