V6 RUMBLE

Two sporty, yet luxurious sedans go mano a mano

- Rivan RS

The Italian-German rivalry — whether in sports, in the political theatre, or, most importantly, in the world of automobiles has been going on for centuries. Two relatively new uber luxury sedans have hit the Indian market recently, and ever since I had a first go in them both, I wanted to bring them to the same road. The Maserati Quattroporte got a minor touch-up, and a rejigged variant lineup a few months after the V6 version came to India, and what you see here is the base' GT trim. Audi India brought the A8 L back to its lineup after a bit of a hiatus, and it's in a petrol-only V6 avatar. Doesn't that seem like a match up made in heaven?

A specific curvy and matronly, yet fiery, Italian woman immediately comes to mind when I look at the Quattroporte. It has got that allure that makes you want to stare at it for hours, and it'll definitely turn heads wherever it goes. It's not just the shape, but the finer details that also catch the eye the way the rear fender and roofline meet, those chromed intake ports behind the front fender... just writing those words made me stop and take a breath. And like with anything so beautiful, I can't stop gushing about how much I like it. To some, that rear end looks a bit bulbous, but I like big butts, and I cannot lie.

The A8 L comes across as a strong contrast - nearly straight lines stretch from the front to the rear, giving the impression of a more simple, yet elegant design. The Audi is far from bad-looking (that imposing grille can be polarising), but, to me, it brings to mind a sturdy Oktoberfest waitress, by which I mean pretty, but functional. The A8 L also gives off a stronger 'luxury barge' vibe than the Maserati, while the Italian definitely has the sporty limo appeal. I have to admit, the overall build is also a mite better on the German, which means she'll likely endure our roads a bit longer. The Audi's rear end is toned and fit, but, to me, lacks curvature.