Maserati has announced the introduction of the conventional automatic version of the highly rated Quattroporte. The car will be on sale worldwide from January.

The name, Quattroporte Automatic, describes the car’s main innovation; it is fitted with an torque-converter automatic six-speed ZF gearbox, which ensures a smooth, fluid gear change while allowing for rapid shifting, for improved driving comfort.

The all-new transmission system results in a slightly different weight distribution ratio (49% front, 51% rear, vs 47% front 53% rear of the DuoSelect version with transaxle layout), but still preserves the sporting gentleman's carriage nature of the Quattroporte. The torque converter also boosts the progression of the V8 Maserati engine at low to medium speeds, without limiting its power.



The existing DuoSelect, sequential paddle-shift transmission will remain in the range.

The international press will be given a preview of the Quattroporte Automatic at the Detroit Motor Show, and the car will be on sale worldwide from January.



Maserati at the Bologna Motor Show 2006

Making its début at the Bologna Motor Show is the Maserati MC12 Versione Corse, a car designed to offer a highly select clientele the chance to try their hand at driving one of the most extreme supercars now available on the market.

The MC12 Versione Corse is based on the MC12 GT1 which won the FIA GT1 Manufacturers’ Championship in 2005, the Team Championship in 2005 and 2006, the Drivers’ Championship in 2006, and two consecutive editions of the Spa 24 Hours, in 2005 and 2006. The main differences between the two vehicles are: the 755 horsepower (MC12 Versione Corse) compared to the 600 horsepower (MC12 GT1), electro-hydraulic Cambiocorsa in the Versione Corse compared to the manual gear change in the GT1, the passenger seat in addition to the driver’s seat fitted to the Versione Corse.

The MC12 Versione Corse is available in the official “Blue Victory” colour, but it can be customised on request with a number of optionals, including colours and livery, manually adjustable shock absorbers and data acquisition.

The price (identical for all markets) is EURO 1,000,000 plus taxes. It is marketed worldwide starting from December 2006.



Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Classic Driver