2009 Maserati Quattroporte

Sometimes, the right stuff all shows up in one place. That's the case with the sportiest, fastest, highest-quality, and all-around best-ever Quattroporte. Maserati's elegant four-door has been a favorite since its introduction, but we wanted more power, a more appropriate transmission than the jerky old DuoSelect, and sportier tuning. These facets converge in the Sport GT S. There are many detail improvements, but the short of it combines the GranTurismo S coupe's 433-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8, a six-speed automatic transmission, 20-inch rolling stock, and edgier suspension, in the big Maser sedan. Think Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG versus S550. The GT S also benefits from last year's mild restyling, plus updated electronics and infotainment.

At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Quattroporte S is but an appearance package. The sedan gains a black grille (much like the Gran Turismo), complete with a chrome trident logo with red accents. Black finish has also been applied to the door pillars, belt line, door handles, and exhaust pipes. Inside, the cabin receives new M-design seats with Alcantara and leather trim, while door and dash panels are accentuated with a titanium-colored composite material. But as this car is intended to celebrate motorsports, Maserati didn't stop at cosmetic changes - they poked around under the hood. The 4.7-liter V-8 receives a re-mapped engine computer, boosting power to 433 hp. The car's suspension has been revised; not only has the ride height been lowered, but it now sports single-rate dampers and stiffened springs.

The big news from the powertrain isn't the slight bump in horsepower, it's the sound. Yes, the Ferrari-supplied 4.7-liter engine gains 8 hp compared to the Quattroporte S for a total of 433 hp and now redlines at 7200 rpm (up 200 revs), but a push of the sport button on the dash unleashes an exotic engine note straight from the gods.

But forget about that for a moment because the Quattroporte offers style and blend of driving dynamics that easily makes up for those potential issues. There is a refreshing lack of gadgets in this luxurious sedan--there is no iDrive or MMI-style interface. The GT S suspension offers no adjustment, resulting in a very involved and focused feel. As you approach and then sit in the driver's seat of the Maser, it feels extremely special. You twist a conventional key in the ignition to fire up the glorious V-8 engine, something that brings a simple reward so lacking in the modern keyless starting system. The chassis balance, powerful engine, and brilliant transmission all combine to make it a near-perfect package in this market.

The latest incarnation is the clumsily named Quattroporte Sport GT S. It uses the same 4.7-liter V-8 from the "regular" Quattroporte S, though it produces an additional eight horsepower for a total of 433. Handling has been tightened with a lower ride height, stiffer springs, and new dampers. Interior accents (and sport seats) join exterior enhancements that include a new, Gran Turismo-like grille and blacked out trim. Just when you thought the Quattroporte couldn't get any sexier...