The 2009 Maserati Quattroporte has brought the world's finest sport sedan bang up to date, with a restyled front end which emphasizes the family link to the trend setting stylish GranTurismo. And with the choices on offer – Quattroporte, Quattroporte S with the new 4.7-liter V8 engine, and Quattroporte Sport GT S, with the larger engine and a more hard-edged, sport-oriented focus – together with the many options which can be added, there is a variant to match the most exacting requirements. Repeatedly emerging triumphant in comparison tests by Motor Trend magazine, it isn’t hard to see why – almost no other four-door which offers space for four adults does so with such luxurious interiors, with such breathtaking performance or with such a uniquely rewarding driving experience.

As such, the 2009 iteration is simply the latest in a noble line of Maserati four-doors, stretching back over forty years. In the early 1960s Maserati had made the significant step of moving from individual hand-built cars such as the A6G Gran Turismo and the A6G54 Gran Turismo to series production with the 3500 GT coupe. That was followed by the 5000 GT, a true made-to-order super-coupe fitted with a racing-derived V8 engine. Then, in 1963, came another momentous event – the unveiling of the Quattroporte, the first ever four-door Maserati.

It was the success of the 3500 GT which led to the new model; clients loved the striking looks and sparkling performance of the coupe, and wanted something similar in a sedan. So in 1961 the decision was made, and Giulio Alfieri oversaw the project, which broke new ground for Maserati. Not only was this the company's first four-door car, it was also the first to use a monocoque chassis pressed out of sheet steel - nowadays the standard construction method for mass-produced cars. The body was designed by Frua, a styling house which had previously created several bodies for both the 3500 GT and 5000 GT; the Quattroporte bore more than a passing resemblance to the 5000 GT which Frua had styled for the Aga Khan.

The engine was also familiar: the 90-degree V8 was based on the engine used in the legendary 5000 GT but with the capacity reduced to 4.1 liters, and with a lower rev limit more suited to a car intended to be used as primary transport. Not that it was lacking in power; the 260bhp on tap enabled the Quattroporte to sprint to around 140mph, enough to be the world's fastest production sedan. This performance, unheard of in sedans of that era, meant Maserati created an entirely new kind of car: the Quattroporte was the first sport sedan, and with true luxury features - a genre the latest Quattroporte continues to define. Later in the production run an option of increased capacity, to 4.7 liters, was offered - making for a top speed in excess of 150mph. All this from one of the world's finest sedans, with an interior offering all the comforts expected of a hand-built Italian car.

Over 750 examples of the original Quattroporte were built; at the time, that made it the second most popular car the factory had ever produced, beaten only by the 3500 GT. In stark contrast, circumstances meant that the second generation was virtually stillborn, with less than 20 cars taking to the road.

At this point the Quattroporte almost followed the route set by the 3500 GT and 5000 GT; individual models being individually designed and crafted to order. The Aga Khan commissioned a special car for himself – designed by Giugiaro’s Italdesign styling house and based on the earlier version. At the same time Frua also constructed a one-off prototype, but the factory decided against proceeding with the project. The Frua car was sold to King Juan Carlos of Spain; it can still be seen today in the Riverside International Automotive Museum, run by Maserati fan extraordinaire Doug Magnon.

Both the Frua and Italdesign cars came to be described as ‘Quattroporte II’ – confusingly, so did another car. In the mid-1970s Maserati were collaborating with Citroën, designing and building the V6 engine used in the French company’s flagship SM sedan. Maserati set out to create a Quattroporte which used the same drivetrain; styling was by Bertone. The result was a wonderfully relaxing, luxurious sedan that raised the standard of European luxury cars and created enormous excitement in the motoring press and among enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, circumstances conspired against it; the oil crisis hit demand for luxury cars, and the potentially very fruitful collaboration with Citroën was nearing its end due to the French company's financial circumstances. As a result, the then-new Quattroporte car was never certified in Europe, and the small production run was sold primarily to customers from the Middle East. Nonetheless, the Quattroporte II continued the tradition set by Maserati's original sport sedan, and lit a new path with its increased luxury and efficient high performance.

In 1979 the company returned to what it knew best: creating a sedan with continent-crossing touring ability coupled to a genuinely luxurious interior, powered by a muscular V8 engine. The styling of the Quattroporte III was equally muscular, in keeping with the squared-off, sharp-edged style in fashion at the time; the large chrome grille flanked by twin square headlights made for an imposing sight in the mirror of cars it was overtaking. The 4.7-liter engine could power the car to over 135 mph, and when the engine was taken out to 4.9 liters, top speed went over 140 mph. And when the Quattroporte III was given a restyle, which softened some of the earlier sharp design, Maserati opted to create a version which was even more luxurious. The Royale amply justified its name – standard equipment even included a minibar, and wiring provision was made for a radio-telephone, perfectly in keeping with the car’s role as ideal transport for statesmen and high-flying businesspeople.

The Quattroporte IV was the next iteration, unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1994. Marcello Gandini came up with a design which was smaller and more sleek than previous versions; the hood rose from two narrow headlights to the raked screen, and the body line led to a rising tail. Powered by 2.8 V6 initially, then a 3.2 V8, both engines had twin turbos to boost output. Combined with the slippery shape, the Quattroporte IV was comfortably faster than any of its predecessors, able to hit 160mph.

So the fifth generation of Quattroporte had a lot to live up to – and it hasn’t disappointed. As there was close co-operation with Ferrari, Maserati was able to turn to the famed Pininfarina styling house for the design; the Turin-based designers pulled out all the stops, and the result was an instant classic. The distinctively elegant looks of the exterior melded perfectly with a wonderfully luxurious interior to provide a visual and tactile experience far ahead of its mass-produced competitors. With a 4.2-liter V8 designed and built by Ferrari, performance was as breathtaking as the looks – 167mph and 0-62 mph in just 5.6 sec. All this while the driver sat in a seat clothed in fine Poltrona Frau leather, with fine wood veneers on the dashboard.

The Quattroporte makes a fine Grand Tourer; the trunk provides ample space for luggage, and four adults can be carried in perfect comfort. Not that Maserati has rested on its laurels since the 2004 introduction of the Quattroporte V; 2007 saw a new 6-speed Automatic transmission become available, which proved so popular that it soon became the only transmission offered. The 2009 model year saw the Quattroporte S hit the streets, with its 4.7-liter V8 taking top speed beyond 170mph, and now the Quattroporte Sport GT S takes that same 4.7-liter engine, mixes in a specially-tuned single-damper suspension set-up with sharpened engine and transmission software to provide the most sporting iteration of the luxury sedan.

What does the future hold for the Quattroporte? Only time will tell, but on past evidence, whatever developments emerge from the Maserati factory in Modena will prove to be well worth the wait.

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