Maserati Quattroporte to Get a True Automatic Gearbox
Kalbfell says that Quattroporte customers mentally link the exotic sedan’s price of entry to Bentley’s new Flying Spur, which is good company but out of the reach of most buyers at $227,465.
Jaguar’s 400-horsepower supercharged XJR, at $105,000 is a superb value compared to its premium competitors, although if outfitted with similar luxury options as the Quattroporte bridges the gap significantly. More questionable from a value perspective is VW’s top-line Phaeton W12 at $147,050; no wonder it and the V8 version are being discontinued.
Another competitor that may hurt Quattroporte sales is Mercedes-Benz’s new CLS 55 AMG, starting at a more affordable $125,600. While tighter dimensionally in the rear seating area, it’s styling rivals the Maserati sedan and engine output even more robust; although handling, while good for a Mercedes-Benz, is reportedly not as agile as the Quattroporte.
Porsche’s upcoming Panamera four-door coupe could also steal some potential sales from Maserati’s four-door, as could a similar model expected from BMW.
While Maserati’s Kalbfell believes he can increase the Quattroporte’s sales dramatically during 2006, it won’t be an easy ride. Still, you can’t wail along to Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good” with any sort of integrity in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz… “My Maserati does 185…”