Although the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide have been making all of the latest headlines in the four-door performance world, the Maserati Quattroporte (literally "four-door" in Italian) was the first to arrive. With its Ferrari-supplied V-8 engines—a 4.2-liter for the base car and a new 4.7-liter for the S—and 6-speed automatic transmission, the Quattroporte lineup provides a thoroughbred driving experience, marrying a supple ride with superb cornering. Inside and out, the Quattroporte exudes the kind of sex appeal one associates with the finest Italian automobiles. For 2010, Maserati’s sedan manages to become even more appealing, thanks to the Quattroporte Sport GT S with its more powerful engine, freshened front and rear fascias with LED lights and a revised center console with specialized interior trim. A charismatic alternative to the better-known brands, the Quattroporte’s exclusivity may work against it at trade-in—but owners buy this car for love, not money.
Pros: Still the only four-door tailored in Italy.
Cons: Maserati now has strong competition from Germany and Great Britain.
