2014 Maserati Quattroporte GTS

Highlights

• Stunning 530bhp super-saloon
• Ferrari-developed F154 V8 engine
• Exquisite styling inside and out
• Recent full brake overhaul
• Rare satin interior veneers

Overview

There are some languages that sound truly fantastic no matter what words you choose to use – and among them, Italian has to be the best.

How about ‘bidone della spatzattura’ for one, which has to be the world’s most elaborate way of saying ‘dustbin’, or the cute and cheery ‘scopino’ for toilet brush? That’s how Maserati got away with being lazy and calling its flagship model the four-door. No imagination, admittedly, but how cool does ‘Quattroporte’ sound?

It has the looks to match, too. Whether it’s the original Frua and Vignale mash-up from 1963, or the very latest generation, styled in-house by Centro Stile Maserati under the guidance of Lorenzo Ramaciotti (the man who gave us such gems as the Ferrari 360, Alfa Romeo 4C and Peugeot 406 Coupé), there has never been an ugly Quattroporte. Each has been very much of its era, admittedly, but if it was hip to be square in the 1980s, then in the 2010s, it became cool to be retro.

It looks like nothing else on the road – a harmonious blend of sharp lines and sinewy curves, rounded off with a distinctive snout that harks back to the grille of the 1960s original. Pretty, yet at the same time challenging – as a good Maserati ought to be.

The sixth-generation Quattroporte was with us for a decade (from 2013 to 2023) and has yet to be replaced – listen up, Stellantis, because it’s about flippin’ time we had another – making it the most recent iteration of a 60-year legend, and also the biggest. At 5.2 metres long, it’s almost as long as a Jaguar XJ (another car that ought to be due a comeback) to distinguish it from the smaller Ghibli. It was booted further upmarket, too, as a result.

This one is the daddy of the bunch – a Quattroporte GTS, which means it has the 3.8-litre F154 V8 engine under the bonnet. Before you ask, yes, that is the same motor as you’ll find in a Ferrari California or Portofino, albeit in a lower state of tune – though 530bhp is hardly wilting away into insignificance, and it makes the same fantastic noises.

Inside, it exudes an atmosphere of handcrafted luxury and Italianate flair. In this case with lots of brushed alloy and unvarnished veneers, and an aura of sophistication that few, if any, can match – it might not be as opulent as a Bentley, nor as clinical as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the Quattroporte has something that no other car can come close to mustering. We’re not sure exactly what it is, but if it’s something so good that you can call the car the ‘four-door’ and get away with it, then it has to be pretty special.

That’s certainly what the current owner of this example thought when he bought his Quattroporte GTS back in 2022, but after three years he fancies a change, meaning here’s your opportunity to get behind the wheel of a car that has the luxury of a Jaguar or Bentley, but with the heart of a Ferrari. We can certainly get on board with that as a construct.

History and documentation

• UK V5C in the owner’s name
• MOT to March 2025
• Two keys
• Last three years’ service history
• Two major invoices from current ownership, documenting a complete replacement of the braking system in 2024 for a cost of almost £1,800 and a major service in 2023, at 53,149 miles, to the tune of £1,139
• Current mileage of around 57,000
• Personal plate OP53OHP, with reference to the power output (530HP), is included in the sale

Interior

• Hand-stitched black leather upholstery
• Correct GTS leather-edged floor mats
• Brushed alloy details
• Trident-embossed head restraints
• Grey Alcantara headlining
• Stylish, discreet satin wood veneers
• Central touchscreen infotainment system with nav, Bluetooth, USB and smartphone connectivity
• Huge specification with climate control, electrically adjustable seats, heated seats and electronically adjustable driving settings
• No major faults or damage, other than light age-related wear

Exterior

• Original ‘Grigio’ paintwork – and yes, that does mean ‘grey’
• Paintwork is very smart and free of any major damage
• The vendor reports that there are a few small chips and marks commensurate with the car being used, and that there is one small scuff above the nearside rear wheel arch
• No evidence or record of previous accident repair
• Original factory 20-inch six-spoke alloy wheels – these are tired in places and the vendor reports that they would benefit from a refurb.
• Matching set of Pirelli tyres
• Privacy glass
• Original discreet GTS badges
• Trapezoidal GTS tail pipes
• Underside was brushed back and rust-treated with protective wax in 2023

Mechanical

• 3.8-litre F154 V8
• Eight-speed automatic transmission with manual function and steering wheel paddles
• 530bhp power output
• 710Nm of torque
• 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds
• New brake discs and pads front and rear in 2024
• Reported by vendor to drive well, with no known problems

Summary

Next time you go on holiday to Italy, here’s a tip – tell your family you’re going to go to the hire car desk and ask for a nice, sensible four-door. Then, when you come back from the counter with the keys to a Maserati, plead ignorance and tell them you thought you were picking up a Fiat Tipo.

If that ruse doesn’t work, or you don’t fancy the added extras and the fully comprehensive insurance surcharge, then our advice is to throw caution to the wind and have a bid on this instead – cars don’t really get much cooler, truth be told, so it’s worth coming up with any excuse under the sun to get your hands on one, before life passes you by and your dreams end up in the bidone della spatzattura.

This car is with our concierge partner SPR Car & Classics in Newent, Gloucestershire. To arrange a viewing, please contact them on 07725 042124.