2008 Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati's Quattroporte is a four-door luxury sedan with distinctly sporty characteristics. Similar in size to the Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-Series, the Quattroporte is about 400 lbs lighter and a couple inches lower. These characteristics make it comparable to the Jaguar XJR, while its exotic styling put it in a similar league as the Mercedes CLS.

Power comes from a 4.2-liter V8 delivering 394 horsepower at a screaming 7000 rpm. Maximum torque is 333 pound-feet at 4500 rpm.

When it was first launched, the Quattroporte was offered with a DuoSelect automated manual transmission only. Like Ferrari's F1 gearbox or BMW's SMG system, DuoSelect is essentially a manual transmission with a computer controlled clutch and paddle shifters instead of a shift lever.

Although the DuoSelect transmission offers extremely fast gear changes and quick acceleration, some customers found it too jerky at low speeds. As a result, Maserati began offering a regular automatic transmission in 2007. The "Automatica" model has optional paddle shifters, giving it much of the functionality of the DuoSelect version.

With the DuoSelect gearbox the sedan has a front-rear weight distribution of 47/53. In Automatica guise, that figure becomes a more balanced 49/51.

The Quattroporte is available in three trim levels: the basic configuration, Sport GT, and Executive GT. The Sport GT has an improved transmission, tuned exhaust, 20-inch wheels, sportier suspension, a mesh grille, and various "Sport GT" interior and exterior accents.

The Executive GT model has 19-inch wheels, an Alcantara suede interior headliner, a chrome grille, chrome side vents, a wood-trimmed steering wheel, ventilated heated and cooled seats, massaging rear seats, retractable wood tables in the rear, and curtain shades on the windows.