KEY POINTS:
Maserati's quietly building a niche as a credible sports-GT maker, one that offers Italian passion with the sort of exclusivity which normally costs far more than even these $300,000-odd prices.
Now it's consolidating, adding more sporting derring-do to both the four-door Quattroporte and its hoodlum GranTurismo sibling. This
move doubles the brand's current line-up, with two S cars alongside their more pedestrian siblings.
What's new?
Among a host of smaller changes, there's a larger, 4.7-litre engine alongside the 4.2 for Quattroporte S, and a retuned variant of the same engine for the GranTurismo S, its 323kW and 490Nm making that car the most powerful Maserati ever made.
The company line
Maserati's product development manager, Benedetto Orvietani, isn't worried about the financial crunch. This is a small niche market, but the value of the Maserati brand is seen as higher than its price.
Then there's the value of a sports car that genuinely seats four. "We didn't design the GranTurismo to compete with Porsche, but Porsche owners are trading for Maseratis - many wanting a sports car for everyday use," he says.
What we say
Either car fulfils Orvietani's everyday sportster brief.
The Quattroporte is handsome, luxurious, with the special character imparted by the brand. But the GranTurismo S takes four seats and injects excitement - it boasts fantastic looks, impressive handling and a soundtrack that thumbs its nose at wowsers.
On the road
The Quattroporte S is impressive, the suspension compliant and comfy without compromising control during the truly atrocious weather conditions of our Italian mountain drive. The extra power is needed; the smaller-engined car struggling to keep up at times.
But the GranTurismo S is king of this event. Modified springs, bars and dampers for the suspension ably control what is at 1880kg a heavyweight coupe, the slight rear weight bias and the stability control system's ability to allow some tyre-slide allowing you to appreciate this car's driving balance.
It goes like the sexy sports car its looks suggest, yet fits four adults. It's finished in cosseting luxury and can be driven casually, but it's also an unrepentant hoon, with a gloriously uncouth soundtrack that oozes testosterone from every pore.
Tap a switch and valves route air through the silencers, or not. Not was our preference, particularly as the road switchbacked upwards, the heaving tarmac a challenge at any pace - even without wet leaves and lashing rain. Such conditions mandate care; that we could have fun speaks volumes.
Why you'll buy one
You'll choose the Quattroporte S because you want elegance, attention to detail and comfort with sporting pretensions, without spending Bentley Flying Spur money.
You'll take the GranTurismo S for its leg-crossing soundtrack, plus its blend of feral attitude and distance-eating comfort, while both offer the brand's elite flavour.
Why you won't
There are faster (lighter) luxury GTs, and as for the name - you think the appeal of heritage and short-supply is over-rated, or prefer the safety of conservative choice.