The Maserati Quattroporte is a four-door with the performance of a sports car 12/06/2010
Previously, luxury cars with a price tag over $100,000 were usually coupe-based designs that packed big engines. While the engines are still huge, nearly all luxury automakers have introduced "four-door" coupe models for drivers who want the roominess of a sedan with the performance of a sports car.
Maserati and Aston Martin are two of the most prestigious brands, and both offer similar vehicles in the four-door segment. The Maserati Quattroporte (literally "four doors") and Aston Martin Rapide are both seriously high-powered vehicles that will set their drivers back a pretty penny. Yet even with such high price tags, one is a better buy.
The Rapide holds the performance advantage because of an extra four cylinders in its V12 engine compared to the Quattroporte's V8. To make the gap closer, we looked at the Quattroporte Sport GT S, which offers a slightly larger engine and increased performance. With 470 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, the Rapide outclasses the Quattroporte's 433/361 numbers.
But will drivers really use all that power? Unlikely, as there's no Autobahn in America. There's no denying that the Rapide is a slick car, but it's not as if driving an Aston Martin is significantly more prestigious than a Maserati. And with similar interiors and a $60,000 price difference between the two, the Rapide doesn't impress enough to justify it's nearly $200,000 price tag when compared to the $135,000 Maserati.