The engine is the same, but installing the ZF automatic transmission required quite a bit of reengineering to the rest of the car. The automated manual was located at the rear of the drivetrain against the differential; the new six-speed transmission is mounted to the engine itself. However, Maserati says that the Quattroporte’s weight balance has been preserved, and boasts that the Ferrari 4.2-liter V8’s 7200 rpm redline is the highest of any automatic transmission-equipped car. The result is a sedan that should appeal to a much wider audience who previously wouldn’t have considered the Maserati.

Photos courtesy of Ron Perry