The Maserati Indy ( Tipo AM116 ) is a four-seater fastback grand tourer produced by the Italian car manufacturer Maserati from 1969 to 1975. It was the first car produced by Maserati under Citroën ownership.
97-408: The Maserati Quattroporte ( Italian pronunciation: [ˌkwattroˈpɔrte] ) is a four-door luxury sports sedan produced by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati . The name translated from Italian means " four doors ". The car is in its sixth generation, with the first generation introduced in 1963. The original Maserati Quattroporte ( Tipo AM107 ) was built between 1963 and 1969. It
194-492: A front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) layout. The FR layout is more expensive to produce and produces lower fuel economy than a front-wheel drive layout; however, it allows for larger engines (particularly straight-six , V8 , and V12 ) to be used. Some American luxury cars during the 1970s through the 1990s switched to a front-wheel drive layout with transverse engine , due to the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 and
291-496: A 2-rows option with four seats, which typically have more features than their cheaper counterparts. By the early 2020s, manufacturers have found additional strategies to improve technologies, such as new materials, new systems, and improving exteriors. Examples of luxury MPV models include Mercedes-Benz V-Class , Lexus LM , Buick GL8 , Hongqi HQ9 , Toyota Alphard , Volvo EM90 and the Zeekr 009 . Maserati Indy The Indy
388-551: A 3.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8 Quattroporte was added to the range in 1996: the new AM578 engine, an evolution of the Shamal V8, generated a maximum power output of 335 PS (247 kW; 330 hp). The top speed was claimed to be 270 km/h (168 mph). At the same time, some minor updates were introduced on all models: new eight-spoke alloy wheels and aerodynamic wing mirrors , and seicilindri or ottocilindri (Italian for "six" and "eight-cylinders" respectively) badges on
485-493: A 4.1-litre (4,136 cc or 252 cu in) V8 engine , rated at 260 PS DIN (191 kW; 256 hp) at 5,000 rpm, and equipped with either a five-speed ZF manual transmission or a three-speed Borg Warner automatic on request. Maserati claimed a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). The car was also exported to the United States, where federal regulations mandated twin round headlamps in place of
582-517: A 50% controlling stake in Maserati S.p.A.. Ferrari immediately undertook a renewal of Maserati's dated production facilities, as well as made improvements to the manufacturing methods and quality control. The steps taken by the new parent company resulted in the improved Quattroporte Evoluzione which was introduced at the March 1998 Geneva Motor Show . It featured 400 all-new or modified parts out of
679-623: A 65 cm longer limousine version, fully equipped with white leather, "abundant burr walnut", mini-bar, video cassette player and many other necessities. The price of the Diomante limousine at its introduction in 1986 was 210 million lire . The fourth generation of the Quattroporte ( Tipo AM337 ) was manufactured from 1994 to 2001 and was the first car to be produced under the Fiat ownership after Alejandro de Tomaso sold his entire holding to
776-513: A V8 engine, but the Tipo 107 V8 engine was too large for the Citroën SM based chassis on top of being too obsolete. A prototype for a 4.0-litre V8 engine was built from two compact Citroën-Maserati V6 engines. Maserati cut through the rear cylinders in half on one block (2.5 cylinders per bank, discarding the rear) and the middle cylinders in half on another block (1.5 cylinders per bank, discarding
873-565: A car manufacturer, De Tomaso presented the Maserati Royale in Modena, a built-to-order, ultra-luxury version of the Quattroporte. It featured a higher compression 4.9-litre V8 engine, generating a maximum power output of 300 PS (221 kW; 296 bhp). Besides the usual leather upholstery and veneer trim, the car featured a revised dashboard with an analogue clock, four electrically adjustable seats , retractable veneered tables in
970-559: A convex front grille with vertical bars instead of horizontal, new headlights and tail lights with directional bi-xenon main beams and LED turn signals . Inside there was a new navigation and entertainment system. All Quattroporte models now used the ZF automatic transmission, with the DuoSelect being discontinued. The 4.2-litre Quattroporte featured single-rate damping comfort-tuned suspension and 18 inch wheels. Debuting alongside
1067-594: A long-travel coil-spring suspension and an aluminium V8 engine. In the mid-1990s, the SUV market expanded with new entrants. By the mid-1990s, the entry-level Ford Explorer and upscale Jeep Grand Cherokee were the market leaders for SUVs. The fastest-growing sector of this market was for the so-called luxury SUVs, which included the Jeep Grand Cherokee ... the Grand Cherokee's allure: "This vehicle
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#17327811317001164-401: A maximum power output of 284 PS (209 kW; 280 hp) and allowing the car to attain a claimed top speed of 255 km/h (158 mph). As local taxation strongly penalised cars over two-litre in displacement, Italian buyers were offered a 2.0 L version, which developed a little more power (287 PS or 211 kW) but less torque than the 2.8-litre version; on the home market,
1261-524: A maximum power output of 440 PS (324 kW; 434 hp), ten more than the Quattroporte S, owing to a revised intake and a sport exhaust system with electronically actuated bypass valves. Other mechanical changes were made to the suspension system, where the Sport GT S single-rate dampers took place of the Skyhook system, ride height was further lowered and stiffer springs were adopted. The exterior
1358-569: A new dashboard . In 1972, Maserati added the Indy 4900 to the range, equipped with the new 4.9-litre V8. Production of the Indy ended in 1975. In total 1,104 were produced, 440 of them were Indy 4200s, 364 were Indy 4700s and 300 were Indy 4900s. The Indy used unibody construction. The suspension layout was shared with the Ghibli. At the front there were double wishbones , with coaxial hydraulic dampers and coil springs , and an anti-roll bar . At
1455-553: A separate marque (e.g. Lexus , launched by Toyota in 1989) or purchased one (e.g. Bentley , by Volkswagen in 1998). Occasionally, a luxury car is initially sold under a mainstream marque and is later rebranded under a specific luxury marque (for example, the Hyundai's Genesis to Genesis G80 as well as the Citroën DS to DS 5 ). For mass-produced luxury cars, sharing of platforms or components with other models
1552-481: A status symbol for conspicuous consumption . However, since many European luxury car buyers shy away from conspicuous consumption, brands offer buyers the option of removing exterior badges that identify the model name or engine size. The suspension system of most luxury cars is tuned to prioritize ride quality over handling , however, some are marketed as "sports luxury" and have a greater emphasis on handling characteristics. Traditionally, luxury cars have used
1649-401: A time when luxury car sales suffered a 1% decline, and non-luxury SUV sales were flat. By 2004, 30% of major luxury brands' U.S. sales were SUVs. Crossover SUVs became increasingly popular in the mid-2000s, and manufacturers also began to produce luxury versions of crossovers. The Lexus RX was the earliest luxury crossover on the market, and it has since been the best-selling luxury vehicle in
1746-478: A total 800 main components. Powertrains and performance remained unvaried, save for the adoption of the same BTR transmission from the 3.2 V8 for the automatic 2.8 V6 model. The Evoluzione no longer had the oval Maserati clock on the dashboard and had redesigned wing mirrors. Ferrari management decided to drop the 2.0 L V6 from the Evoluzione lineup, when they were offered alongside the new 3200 GT , and so
1843-462: A waist coachline, matched to Cuoio tan tufted leather upholstery and Wengé trim inlaid with mother of pearl . Standard equipment comprised most of the available infotainment options. The facelift Quattroporte débuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show . Overseen by Pininfarina, the facelift featured redesigned bumpers, side sills and wing mirrors (the latter carried over from the GranTurismo),
1940-482: Is a four-door, five-seater saloon with a steel unibody construction. The overall layout remained unchanged from the Biturbo from which the car descended: longitudinal front engine , rear-wheel drive , all- independent suspension with MacPherson struts upfront and trailing arms at the rear. Despite these similarities, the suspension had been re-engineered: rear trailing arms had a tube framework structure like on
2037-515: Is common, as per modern automotive industry practice. A compact executive car or a compact luxury car is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car . In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment . In North American terms, close equivalents are "compact premium car", "compact luxury car", "entry-level luxury car" and "near-luxury car". Compact executive cars are usually based on
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#17327811317002134-461: Is proof you can have a true off-road vehicle without giving up luxuries and amenities" with the Jeep providing a crucial new intangible factor for buyers—image. The SUV models generated higher profit margins than passenger cars, and car manufacturers began introducing new luxury SUVs during the late 1990s. SUVs such as the 1995 Lexus LX , 1997 Mercedes-Benz M-Class , and 1998 Lincoln Navigator were
2231-710: Is relative and partially subjective, reflecting both objective qualities of a car, as well as the projected and perceived image of the vehicle marque . Luxury brands rank above premium brands , though there is no clear distinction between the two. Traditionally, most luxury cars were large vehicles , though smaller sports-oriented models were produced. " Compact " luxury vehicles such as hatchbacks and off-road capable sport utility vehicles are more recent expansions of luxury qualities in various cars. Increasing comfort features, materials quality, interior space, innovations, and or performance have consistently been competitive strategies between car makers practically throughout
2328-557: The Maserati Coupé , with an increased power output of 400 PS (294 kW; 395 hp) and new black plastic inlet manifold instead of an aluminium cast one. Due to its greater weight compared to the Coupé and Spyder, the 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration time for the Quattroporte is 5.2 seconds and the top speed is measured at 275 km/h (171 mph). Over 5,000 cars were built in 2006. The Maserati Quattroporte
2425-588: The Maserati Indy platform. Rory Brown was commissioned as the chief engineer of the project. The car received the 4.9-litre V8 engine ( Tipo AM 107/49 ), rated at 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp). Carrozzeria Frua designed the car, the prototype of which was displayed in 1971 and 1972 in Paris and Geneva respectively. The car was production ready, even receiving its own chassis code (AM 121), but new owner Citroën used their influence to have Maserati develop
2522-672: The Maserati Kyalami chassis. The SM V8 engine prototype under development in the Citroën ownership was also scrapped and the staff was replaced, the most notable being head engineer Giulio Alfieri who was replaced by Aurelio Bertocchi. The hydraulic system of the Quattroporte II was replaced by a conventional power steering setup and the suspension geometry was akin to the Jaguar XJ . Initially badging reading "4 PORTE "
2619-650: The Mopar parts bin on early US-spec cars. In 1984, the climate control system was upgraded to share parts with the mass produced Biturbo . The Quattroporte III marked the last of the hand-built Italian cars; all exterior joints and seams were filled to give a seamless appearance. From 1987 onwards, the Royale superseded the Quattroporte. The Quattroporte III was an instant success and 120 units were sold in Italy in 1980 alone. On 14 December 1986, at Maserati's 60th anniversary as
2716-613: The Rolls-Royce Phantom , Maybach 57 and 62 , Hongqi L5 , Bentley Mulsanne , Cadillac Celestiq , Toyota Century , and Aurus Senat . High-end sports cars which are targeted towards performance rather than luxury are not usually classified as ultra-luxury cars, even when their cost is greater than US$ 100,000 . The history of a brand and the exclusivity of a particular model can result in price premiums compared to luxury cars with similar features from less prestigious manufacturers. Ultra-luxury cars are usually selected as
2813-610: The Shamal , together with the limited slip differential . These two components were attached to the body via a newly designed tubular subframe . The fifth generation of the Quattroporte ( Tipo M139 ) debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 9 September 2003 and made its U.S. première at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance ; production started in 2003. Exterior and interior design was penned by Pininfarina 's then chief designer Ken Okuyama . The last M139 Quattroporte
2910-422: The official state car . Grand tourers are essentially high-performance luxury vehicles. These vehicles are generally two-door coupes and are made for long-distance driving, combined with the luxury of an executive car or full-size luxury car . Long before the luxury SUV segment was defined and became popular, the 1966 Jeep Super Wagoneer was marketed at the time as a fully-equipped station wagon. It
3007-531: The 1950s, including the Toyota Crown (1955–present), Prince/Nissan Gloria (1959–2004), Nissan Cedric (1960–2015), Mitsubishi Debonair (1964–1998), Nissan President (1965–2010), Toyota Century (1967–present), Mazda Luce/929 (1969–1991), and Honda Legend (1985–2021). Since the 1980s, overseas sales of Japanese luxury cars have increased, challenging traditional European luxury brands. Several East Asian manufacturers have created sub-brands for
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3104-738: The 1979 fuel crises which eliminated many FR platforms in favor of the more economical front-wheel drive (FF) layout. From the early 2000s, several of these American luxury cars reverted to FR layouts. Since the introduction of the Bentley Continental GT in 2003, additional luxury grand tourers feature all-wheel drive . Prior to World War II , a wide array of European producers made luxury cars, including Rolls-Royce , Bugatti , Delage , Delahaye , Talbot-Lago , Bentley , Alvis , Avions Voisin , Isotta Fraschini , Horch , Simson , Stoewer , Maybach , Mercedes-Benz , Hispano Suiza , Daimler Company , and Spyker . France
3201-427: The 1990s. The personal luxury car emerged into mass popularity and affordability as an America-specific category of popularly-priced cars made from the 1950s by the four domestic manufacturers (GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC) that reached peak popularity in the 1970s. The cars were stylized, mass-produced two-door coupés or convertibles , relying on standard components. These distinctively styled cars were targeting
3298-662: The 2.8 was not offered until a year after its introduction. The cabin was fully upholstered in Connolly leather and trimmed in elm burl wood veneer. Weight was also reduced by at least 300 kg (661 lb) as compared to the Quattroporte III primarily due to the compact Biturbo underpinnings and by the use of a compact powerplant. After having been displayed in December 1995 at the Bologna Motor Show ,
3395-590: The 2010s. For example, Rolls-Royce Cullinan , Bentley Bentayga , Aston Martin DBX , Maserati Levante , Lamborghini Urus , and Ferrari Purosangue . Some brands, such as Lincoln , have even moved to an all SUV and/or crossover lineup. Manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz , Toyota , Lexus , Buick , Hongqi , Zeekr and Volvo have marketed upscale luxury MPVs as luxury vehicles, mainly marketed for Asian markets. Luxury MPVs generally have 3-rows of six or seven seats; however, range-topping flagship models may also offer
3492-414: The 4.1-litre a 4.7-litre version became also available ( AM107/4700 ), developing 290 PS (213 kW; 286 hp) DIN. Top speed increased to a claimed 255 km/h (158 mph), making the Quattroporte 4700 the fastest four-door sedan in the world at the time. Around 500 of the second series were made, for a total of 776 Tipo 107 Quattroportes. Production ended in 1969. The first generation of
3589-542: The American luxury department store Neiman Marcus offered a limited edition of the Quattroporte, only available for order through the retailer's 2004 Christmas Catalog at a price of 125,000 USD. Each of the 60 Neiman Marcus Quattroportes was finished in Bordeaux Pontevecchio (wine red) exterior colour and featured a chrome mesh-front grill along with side vents and 19-inch ball-polished wheels. The interior
3686-673: The European Commission. The next category of luxury cars is known in Great Britain as a "luxury saloon" or "luxury limousine," and is known in the United States as a full-size luxury sedan, large luxury sedan, or flagship sedan. It is the equivalent of the European F-segment and the German Oberklasse segment. Many of these luxury saloons are the flagship for the marque and include
3783-594: The Italian marque in 1993. It was built on an evolved and stretched (by 5 cm) version of the Biturbo saloon's architecture, and used the twin-turbocharged V6 and later the new AM578 V8 engine from the Shamal flagship grand tourer. For this reason, the car retained very compact exterior dimensions, and is smaller than any of its predecessors and successors. As the designer's signature angular rear wheel arches gave away,
3880-522: The Maserati Tipo 107 V8 engine . The exterior was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro . From 1974 to 1976, Giorgetto Giugiaro presented two Italdesign show cars on Maserati platforms, called the Medici I and Medici II . The latter had features that would make it into the production version of the third-generation of the Quattroporte. A pre-production Quattroporte was introduced to the press by
3977-541: The Mercedes-Benz brand, later joined by BMW , which acquired Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 1998, as well as Volkswagen which much later controlled or acquired additional brands such as Audi , Porsche , Bentley , Lamborghini , and Bugatti brands. In the Soviet Union, the manufacturer ZiL (then called Zis) began producing representational limousines in the mid-1930s. In the early 1950s, GAZ joined with
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4074-530: The Quattroporte II was very different from its predecessor and the other Maserati automobiles of the past. Based on a stretched version of the Citroën SM 's chassis, the Quattroporte II featured a front-mid-engine, front-wheel-drive layout , hydropneumatic suspension , four fixed headlamps with two swivelling directional headlights , and a V6 engine. The bodywork was designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone . Maserati had planned to equip Quattroporte II with
4171-502: The Quattroporte had a steel unibody structure, complemented by a front subframe. Front suspension was independent , with coil springs and hydraulic dampers . Rear suspension used a coil sprung De Dion tube featuring inboard brakes on the first series, later changed to a more conventional Salisbury leaf sprung solid axle with a single trailing link on the second series. On both axles there were anti-roll bars . Brakes were solid Girling discs all around. A limited slip differential
4268-825: The SM-based Quattroporte II instead. Only two vehicles were finished, chassis #004 was sold by Maserati to the Aga Khan in 1974, and the prototype #002 went to the King of Spain , who bought the car directly from Frua. The second generation Quattroporte, named Maserati Quattroporte II ( AM 123 ), was introduced at the Paris Motor Show and the Turin Motor Show in October 1974. As the result of Citroën 's joint-venture with Maserati in 1968,
4365-652: The Trident badges, as on vintage racing Maserati models. Inside, there were aluminium pedals, a sport steering wheel and carbon fibre in place of the standard wood inserts. A new 6-speed ZF -supplied automatic transmission was presented at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007, with the first cars delivered right after the launch, marketed as Maserati Quattroporte Automatica . As all the three trim levels were offered in both DuoSelect and Automatica versions,
4462-576: The US. Some luxury crossovers are built on a platform shared with sedans or hatchbacks. For example, the Infiniti FX is based upon the same platform as the Infiniti G35 sedans and coupes. While early luxury crossovers released in the late 1990s have resembled traditional boxy SUVs, later crossovers, such as the Infiniti FX and BMW X6 , have been designed with a sporting appearance. Despite
4559-615: The V8 engine programme. A single running prototype of the Quattroporte II was built and tested in 1974. The 1973 oil crisis and the collapse of Citroën's finances in 1974 prevented Maserati from gaining the EEC approval for the European market. The production did not commence until 1976, and each Quattroporte II was built to order and sold in the Middle East and Spain where the type approval
4656-530: The cars were originally fitted with Pirelli Cinturato 205VR15 tyres (CN72). Milanese coachbuilder Carrozzeria Pavesi outfitted several armoured Quattroportes during the 1980s. One of them, a 1983 Blu Sera example nicknamed Calliope , was notably used by President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini as the official state car during his tenure. Autocostruzioni SD of Turinese coachbuilder Salvatore Diomante also offered
4753-576: The entry-level luxury segment remained strong throughout the GFC, due to prices being lowered to compete with well-equipped non-luxury cars. For example, in Canada, several luxury manufacturers set sales records in August 2009, due mostly to discounted pricing on entry-level luxury vehicles. Some auto manufacturers market their luxury models using the same marque as the rest of their line. Others have created
4850-421: The first SUVs produced by these luxury car brands. Some of these early luxury SUV models used unibody construction, becoming part of the trend moving away from the body-on-frame construction traditionally used by off-road vehicles. During the mid-2000s, SUVs from luxury car brands grew by almost 40% in the United States to more than 430,000 vehicles (excluding SUV-only brands like Hummer and Land Rover ), at
4947-431: The front fenders, denoting which engine was under the bonnet. As standard, all the three engines were mated to a Getrag 6-speed manual transmission , while 4-speed automatic transmissions were available on request with the 2.8 and 3.2 engines respectively— 4HP22 by ZF Friedrichshafen and a computer-controlled transmission supplied by an Australian firm BTR . In July 1997, Fiat's subsidiary Ferrari acquired
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#17327811317005044-417: The front) then welded the blocks together. The output was 190 kW (258 PS; 255 hp). The new V8 engine was fitted to the Citroën SM for durability testing which lasted for 17,000 km (10,563 miles). This was done to prove that the chassis was robust enough to handle the additional power of the larger engine. Alejandro de Tomaso , the Italian entrepreneur who took over Maserati in 1975, cancelled
5141-558: The front. Skyhook active damping suspension and 19 inch V-spoke wheels were standard. Trim differences from the standard 4.2-litre cars were limited to a chrome instead of a titanium-coloured front grille. Production of the facelift Quattroporte models started in June 2008. The Quattroporte Sport GT S premièred at the North American International Auto Show in January 2009. Its 4.7-litre V8 has
5238-505: The history of the automobile. Several car classification schemes include a luxury category, such as: Luxury cars have traditionally emphasized higher levels of comfort and safety. Manufacturers often introduce new safety technologies and comfort amenities on luxury models before they are available on more affordable models. Some brands, like Audi and BMW have expanded their marketing by "introducing lesser priced and strip-down economy versions of their products." Luxury vehicles can be
5335-526: The increased popularity of crossover models, traditional luxury SUVs remain in production. Examples include the Lexus LX , Infiniti QX80 , and Lincoln Navigator . Research data from the mid-2000s suggested that luxury SUV buyers did not consider traditional luxury cars (e.g. sedans and coupes), therefore the SUV is becoming the key to bringing new customers into luxury dealerships. Luxury car companies have increasingly introduced SUV or crossover models in
5432-482: The lack of a historical legacy has hindered these efforts. In 2014, Citroën introduced DS Automobiles sub-brand to market luxury cars. Pre World War II intermediate car manufacturers like Renault , Fiat , Opel , Lancia , Škoda , Riley , Praga , Peugeot , Hillman and Tatra made luxury cars but were forced to make economy cars and superminis post World War II . Following World War II, Germany rose to become an export powerhouse, building on success with
5529-532: The last cars built and were limited to only 50 examples. Available in both V6 and V8 Evoluzione variants, all were equipped with the automatic transmission. This special edition is the only Quattroporte to have a Maserati badge inserted into the C-door-pillar. Even though other Evoluziones had the Lassale clock replaced with the Maserati trident, this edition retained the original timepiece. The Quattroporte
5626-526: The lineup grew to six models. The Quattroporte Sport GT S was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. Taking further the Sport GT's focus on handling, this version employed Bilstein single-rate dampers in place of the Skyhook adaptive system. Other changes from the Sport GT were a lowered ride height and 10 mm wider 295/30 rear tyres, front Brembo iron/aluminium dual-cast brake rotors and red-painted six-piston callipers. The cabin
5723-551: The market. In the 2000s, both Ford and General Motors produced luxury pickups: 2002-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT , 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood , and 2006-2014 Lincoln Mark LT . In the late 2000s, the Cadillac CTS and Cadillac DTS led to a resurgence in the brand's luxury sedans. The equivalent sedan from the Ford group, the 2008 Lincoln MKS , was also regarded as a significant improvement over previous models. In 2010, BMW
5820-642: The marketing of luxury cars. The first of these was the 1986 launch of Acura (a Honda sub-brand), followed by Lexus (Toyota) in 1989, Infiniti (Nissan) in 1989, and Genesis (Hyundai) in 2015. The time of the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession was the first time since the Great Depression that the luxury car market suffered considerably, something not seen in previous economic downturns. Many such customers saw their net worth decline during this time. For example, some of
5917-474: The needs of individual customers, not an entire family. The longest running model lines were the 1958-1997 Ford Thunderbird , 1956-1998 Lincoln Mark Series , and the 1967-2002 Cadillac Eldorado . In 1990, American luxury brands dominated, with Cadillac selling over a quarter-million cars, and Lincoln had its best year ever at 231,660 units. However, the market was changing with an ever greater acceptance of smaller, more efficient imported luxury brands while at
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#17327811317006014-464: The new cars were distinguished from the earlier models by V6 evoluzione or V8 evoluzione badges on the front fenders. Production of the fourth generation of the Quattroporte ended in May 2001 and 2,400 units were made in total with 730 being the Evoluzione versions. Japanese importer Cornes & Co. ordered a special numbered edition of the Quattroporte for their customers. Cornes Serie Speciale were
6111-584: The newest automotive technology. Several models are available in long-wheelbase versions, which provide additional rear legroom and may have a higher level of standard features. Examples of luxury saloons / full-size luxury sedans include the BMW 7 Series , Jaguar XJ , Cadillac CT6 , Genesis G90 , Audi A8 , Mercedes-Benz S-Class , Lexus LS , Hongqi H9 , Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte . Luxury cars costing over US$ 100,000 (as of 2007) can be considered as "ultra-luxury cars". Examples include
6208-427: The platform of a mid-size car (also known as large family car or D-segment ), while some models may be based on a compact car (also known as small family car or C-segment ). Executive car is a British term for an automobile larger than a large family car . In official use, the term is adopted by Euro NCAP , a European organization founded to test for car safety. It is a passenger car classification defined by
6305-565: The postwar era. From 1946 until the late 1990s, Cadillac was the top-selling brand of luxury cars in the U.S., while Lincoln was second. The most successful and long-running model names during this era were the Cadillac DeVille , Lincoln Continental , and the Chrysler Imperial . The Lincoln Mark Series and Cadillac Eldorado were positioned in the personal luxury category, and competition between them continued into
6402-433: The rear doors, and a mini-bar . Visually, the Royale was distinguished by new disc-shaped alloy wheels and silver-coloured side sills. A limited production run of 120 cars was announced, but when production ceased in 1990 only 53 cars were completed. In all, including the Royale, production of the Quattroporte III amounted to 2,155 units in total. The Quattroporte III utilised an all-steel unibody structure. The chassis
6499-425: The rear there was a live axle with semi-elliptic springs , a single longitudinal torque arm , hydraulic dampers and an anti-roll bar. Brakes were vented and servo-assisted discs on all four wheels. The engines were Maserati's own all- aluminium , four overhead cam Tipo 107 V8 family, and were fed by four Weber 42 DCNF twin-choke carburettors ; they had a wet sump , and were thus related but different from
6596-556: The rear windows. The exterior was distinguished by 19 inch eight-spoke ball-polished alloy wheels and chrome mesh front and side grilles. The Quattroporte Sport GT variant offered several performance upgrades: a re-configured transmission providing faster gearshifts and a firmer Skyhook suspension system; courtesy of new software calibrations, seven-spoke 20 inch wheels with low-profile tyres, cross-drilled brake rotors, and braided brake lines. Model-specific exterior trim included dark mesh front and side grilles and red accents to
6693-497: The same time, the domestic manufacturers were downsizing their models with product decisions that backfired on quality and brand respect. Since the late 1990s, Japanese and German brands have sold the most luxury-type cars in the United States. However, the Cadillac Escalade has led the luxury SUV segment sales in the United States since its introduction in 1998, with the highest sales for 15 out of its first 20 years on
6790-447: The single rectangular ones found on European models. Maserati manufactured 230 of its first generation Quattroportes Between 1963 and 1966. In 1966, Maserati revised the Tipo 107, adding the twin headlights already used on the U.S. model. A leaf-sprung solid axle took the place of the previous De Dion tube. The interior was completely redesigned, including the dashboard which now had a full width wood-trimmed fascia. In 1968 alongside
6887-967: The somewhat smaller "Chaika" model range. In 2018, Aurus Motors was established to produce luxury vehicles for the Russian market. The luxury car phenomenon began at the start of the automobile industry when the wealthy frequently invested in manufacturing such models to gain social prestige. Emphasis was also placed on custom-built coachwork. The 1920s and 1930s were the apogee of production of these very large luxury automobiles from many manufacturers. The significant North American manufacturers from 1910 until 1940 included Auburn , Buick , Cadillac , Chrysler , Continental , Cord , Daniels , DeSoto , Duesenberg , Franklin , Imperial , LaFayette , LaSalle , Lincoln , Marmon , Packard , Peerless , Pierce Arrow , Ruxton , Stearns-Knight , and Stutz . The Great Depression put many luxury car manufacturers out of business; others would hold on before going defunct during
6984-537: The steepest drop-offs came at the high end, including the BMW 7 Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom , and in 2010 Mercedes-Benz dropped the price of the W212 E-Class . The unusually sharp decline in luxury car sales has led observers to believe that there is a fundamental shift and reshaping of the luxury automotive market, with one industry official suggesting that the marques no longer command the premiums that they used to and another saying that conspicuous consumption
7081-464: The then Maserati president Alejandro de Tomaso on 1 November 1976, in advance of its début at the Turin Motor Show later that month. It was only three years later though, in 1979, that the production version of the car went on sale. De Tomaso, who disliked Citroën, removed all of the influence of the French marque from the car. The quad-cam V8 engines built since 1963 were used in a stretched version of
7178-578: The wedge-shaped aerodynamic ( C d =0.31) body was penned by Marcello Gandini . The world première of the fourth generation of the Quattroporte took place at the April 1994 Turin Motor Show and the car went on sale towards the end of the year. Initially the Quattroporte was powered by the twin-turbocharged, 24-valve V6 engines from the Ghibli . For export markets there was a 2.8-litre unit, generating
7275-413: Was a large saloon powered by V8 engines—both firsts for a series production Maserati automobile. The task of styling the Quattroporte was given to Turinese coachbuilder Pietro Frua , who drew inspiration from a special 5000 GT (chassis number 103.060) which he had designed in 1962 for Prince Karim Aga Khan . While the design was by Frua, body construction was carried out by Vignale . The Quattroporte
7372-510: Was a leading producer of powerful luxury automobiles before World War II. After World War II, the French government used puissance fiscale tax regulations to encourage manufacturers to build cars with small engines, and French motorists to buy them. The Maserati-powered Citroën SM and the Citroën C6 were arguably the last domestic French luxury cars. In the 2010s, some French manufacturers have attempted to develop luxury cars, however
7469-542: Was built on 20 December 2012. Built on an entirely new platform named the M139 , it was 50 cm (19.7 in) longer than its predecessor and sat on a 40 cm (15.7 in) longer wheelbase. The same architecture would later underpin the GranTurismo and GranCabrio coupés and convertibles. Initially, the Quattroporte was powered by an evolution of the naturally aspirated dry sump 4.2-litre V8 engine , as used in
7566-478: Was conceived as an alternative to the Ghibli offering a V8 engine and room for four people; it effectively replaced both the ageing six-cylinder 2+2 Maserati Sebring —which descended from the 1957 3500 GT — and the first generation Quattroporte . Two coachbuilders showed their proposals at the November 1968 Salone dell'automobile di Torino , both based on a Maserati 4.2-litre chassis. On Ghia 's stand there
7663-399: Was distinguished by a specific front grille with concave vertical bars, black headlight bezels, red accents on the Trident badges, the absence of chrome window trim, body colour door handles and black double oval exhaust pipes instead of the quad round exhaust pipes found on other Quattroporte models. On the interior, the veneer trim was replaced by "Titan Tex" composite material and the cabin
7760-497: Was initially offered in only one configuration, equipped with an automated manual transmission, marketed as DuoSelect . The base Quattroporte DuoSelect featured a chrome grille with horizontal slats, adaptive suspension, marketed as Skyhook and 330 mm brake disks with four piston calipers at each wheel. Maserati offered fifteen exterior paint colours, Poltrona Frau leather upholstery in ten colours, contrasting seat piping and stitching and three types of wood inserts. In 2004,
7857-705: Was introduced at the October–;November 1963 Turin Motor Show , where a pre-production prototype was on the Maserati stand next to the Mistral coupé. Regular production began in 1964. The Tipo 107 Quattroporte joined two other grand tourers, the Facel Vega and the Lagonda Rapide , capable of traveling at speeds of up to 200 km/h (124 mph) on the new motorways in Europe. It was equipped with
7954-404: Was linked to the chassis only by a single lower wishbone , the half shafts doubling as upper control arms, and was sprung by twin coaxial dampers and coil springs units. Rear brakes were mounted inboard, the callipers were bolted directly to the housing of the differential. The entire assembly was supported by a bushing -insulated crossbeam . Initially a Salisbury-type limited slip differential
8051-454: Was no longer attractive in poor economic conditions. Additionally, mainstream brands have been able to offer amenities and devices such as leather, wood, and anti-lock brakes, previously found only on luxury cars, as the costs decline. However, luxury vehicle sales remained relatively high compared to their non-luxury counterparts. This was aided by growing interest in luxury vehicles from emerging markets such as China and Russia. Sales in
8148-653: Was not needed. Only twelve production cars were built from 1976 to 1978. The engineering and development had cost Maserati about four billion lire by the time the production ended in 1978. The third generation of the Maserati Quattroporte ( Tipo AM 330 ) was developed under the Alejandro de Tomaso -GEPI ownership. After the Citroën-era front-wheel drive Quattroporte II, the third generation returned to rear-wheel drive with an enlarged variation of
8245-592: Was optional. The long lived quad cam , all-aluminium Maserati V8 engine made its début on the Quattroporte. It featured two chain-driven overhead camshafts per bank, 16 angled valves , hemispherical combustion chambers , inserted cast iron wet cylinder liners , and was fed through an aluminium, water-cooled inlet manifold by four downdraft twin-choke Weber carburetors —initially 38 DCNL 5 and 40 DCNL 5 on 4200 and 4700 cars respectively, later changed to 40 DCNF 5 and 42 DCNF 5 starting from December 1968. In 1971, Karim Aga Khan ordered another special one-off based on
8342-552: Was preferred, and the production model was launched by Maserati at the Geneva Motor Show the following March. The car was christened Indy in honour of Maserati's two victories at the Indy 500 . At its launch in 1969 the Indy was offered with a 4.2-litre V8 engine. From 1970 a 4.7-litre Indy 4700 was offered alongside the 4200; the same year some interior updates were introduced, including seats with retractable headrests and
8439-603: Was related to that of the Kyalami , in turn derived from the De Tomaso Longchamp and therefore ultimately related to the De Tomaso Deauville luxury saloon. Front suspension was of the double wishbone type, with single coaxial dampers and coil springs and an anti-roll bar . The rear axle used a peculiar layout very similar to Jaguar independent rear suspension . Each cast aluminium hub carrier
8536-543: Was the Quattroporte S , powered by a wet-sump 4.7-litre V8 engine, the same engine utilised in the Maserati GranTurismo S , with a maximum power output of 430 PS (316 kW; 424 hp) and maximum torque of 490 N⋅m (361 lb⋅ft). In conjunction with the engine, the braking system was upgraded to cross-drilled discs on both axles and dual-cast 360 mm rotors with six piston callipers at
8633-486: Was the Simùn, a 2+2 berlinetta designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro ; on Carrozzeria Vignale 's, a sleek 4-seater fastback penned by the internal technical office led by Virginio Vairo and Elio Mainardi. Both coachbuilders had already an established relationship with Maserati, as Vignale had been responsible for the 3500 GT Spyder, Mexico and Sebring, while Giugiaro had recently penned the Ghibli at Ghia. Vignale's prototype
8730-532: Was the best-selling luxury vehicle manufacturer by sales, with Audi and Mercedes-Benz the second and third highest selling luxury brands. Chinese manufacturer Hongqi was launched in 1958, making it the oldest Chinese luxury car marque. Later newcomers joined taking advantage of the rise of electric powertrains, with NEV brands such as Nio in 2014, Lynk & Co in 2016, HiPhi in 2019, and Zeekr in 2021 producing luxury electric and hybrid vehicles. Japanese manufacturers have been producing luxury cars since
8827-420: Was the first off-road SUV to offer a V8 engine and automatic transmission along with luxury car trim and equipment. Standard features included bucket seating , a center console, air conditioning, a seven-position tilt steering wheel, a vinyl roof , and gold-colored trim panels on the body sides and tailgate. By the late 1970s, optional equipment included an electric sunroof. The 1978 Jeep Wagoneer Limited
8924-488: Was the spiritual successor to the Super Wagoneer and was the first four-wheel drive car to use leather upholstery. The Range Rover was released in 1970 as a two-door vehicle for off-road durability with few "creature comforts." A four-door version was added in 1981, and the model was pushed upmarket in 1983 by introducing an automatic transmission (Chrysler's A727 TorqueFlite ) as an option. The Range Rover had
9021-625: Was upholstered in ivory Poltrona Frau leather accented with Bordeaux piping and mahogany wood trim. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2005, Maserati introduced two different trim levels for the Quattroporte, the Executive GT and Sport GT. The Quattroporte Executive GT was a comfort and luxury-oriented specification; it came equipped with a wood-rimmed steering wheel, an Alcantara-suede interior roof lining; ventilated, adaptive, massaging rear seats, rear air conditioning controls, veneered retractable rear tables, and curtain shades on
9118-543: Was upholstered in mixed Alcantara and leather, with carbon fibre accents; on the exterior, the door handles were painted in body colour and the 20 inch wheels and the exhaust pipes were finished in a "dark chrome" shade. At the 2008 North American International Auto Show , Maserati launched the Quattroporte Collezione Cento, a special edition of the Quattroporte limited to 100 examples. Its unique specification featured an ivory paint colour with
9215-459: Was upholstered in mixed Alcantara and leather. Luxury car A luxury car is a car that provides above-average to high-end levels of comfort , features, and equipment. Often, more expensive materials and surface finishes are used, and buyers expect better build quality . The usually higher pricing and more upscale appearance are often associated with the users' higher social status compared to low- and mid-market segment cars. The term
9312-479: Was used, but this was changed in 1981 to ones spelling out "Quattroporte". Two versions of the V8 engine were available: a 4,930 cc (4.9 L) version generating a maximum power output of 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp), and a smaller built-to-order 4,136 cc (4.1 L) engine generating 255 PS (188 kW; 252 hp), which was phased out in 1981. The interior was upholstered in leather and trimmed in briar wood . The climate controls came from
9409-408: Was used; in 1984 it was replaced by a more advanced Gleason -licensed Torsen —or "Sensitork" in Maserati parlance. The engine was an evolution of Maserati's own all-aluminium, quad overhead cam V8 , fed by four Weber carburetors . The automatic transmission used was a three-speed Chrysler A727 "Torqueflite" gearbox. The manual gearboxes are ZF S5 five speed units. When leaving the factory all
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