The interior of the new Maserati Quattroporte has raised the bar when it comes to comfort. This improvement is down to the radical changes made to the driving position, the seat set up, the multi-function steering wheel with its sports grip, the commands now situated on the centre console, the revised instruments and, near the chic clock, the addition of a small storage compartment in the centre tunnel.

The Quattroporte has electronically adjustable seats that can be set to fourteen different positions (including the seat back in four different ways). The driver’s seat has three memory settings and an easy entry/exit system (that pushes the seat back and lifts the steering column). Owners can also have the luxury of the front seat comfort pack that provides heating, ventilation and massage functions as standard.

Passengers in the back can relax and enjoy the ride in a well-insulated cabin, free of any annoying vibrations. The Quattroporte offers an array of rear seat positions thanks to a multitude of functions including their independent, electronic movement. The separate lengthways shift (10cm) and reclining movement means that passengers will have no trouble finding a comfortable position. The rear seats can also be fitted with heating, ventilation and massage capability, as an option.

The spacious, 450 litre boot has an even shape and is especially roomy widthways (it can fit in three or four golf bags, depending on their size). Every inch of room in the boot can be exploited thanks to the luggage set specifically designed for the Quattroporte and available as an option. Boot space has been found to accommodate the puncture repair kit that includes a pump. 

There is a range of other standard equipment that comes with the Quattroporte, including a sunroof, cooler compartment hidden inside the front armrest, two glass holders that tuck away into the rear armrest and an electronic blind for the rear window.

Interior: switchgear
 
The main commands inside the Quattroporte can be accessed easily and quickly. Switchgear linked to the driving dynamics (Park Off, Low Grip, Sport, MSP deactivation) is set close to the driver. To one side, on the right of the centre display, are the commands to lock/unlock the doors and the window blinds. Lower down on the console is a group of commands for the dual-zone automatic climate control that has its own display.

Simplicity and speed of use are the concepts behind the interior’s design. Each switch does only one thing and the graphics make using them intuitive and immediately understandable.

The electronic handbrake is located on the centre tunnel. It is operated by the simple press of the button (that is slightly recessed to avoid turning it on accidentally). To deactivate the handbrake you need to press the button again or depress the accelerator pedal. The Maserati Quattroporte is also fitted with the 'Park' capability that turns on the electronic handbrake every time the engine is switched off. This function can be deactivated via the Park Off switch when you need to move the car with the engine off. To complete things, twin, chrome edged glass holders and an ashtray and cigar lighter can be found on the centre tunnel.

Interior: prestigious woods

As Maserati tradition dictates, attention to detail and a refined interior lie at the heart of the new Maserati Quattroporte design. The flawless styling is a celebration of Italian craftsmanship. Wood, that most classic of materials, covers vast areas of the interior, giving the cabin a welcoming warmth.

Seven prestigious woods are available with the Quattroporte: Starwood (standard on the Quattroporte), Vavona, Polished Wenge, Rosewood, Walnut Briarwood, Mahogany and Moonwood. These woods prove once more the lengths Maserati will go to in sourcing new materials. For those who prefer a sleeker look, high gloss Black Piano is also available.

Starwood stands out for its elegance and modernity. The vertical grain on the centre console and horizontal grain on the door panels, combined with a neutral grey-green hue, combines perfectly with cooler colours if the client wishes to create a clean and modern interior. Starwood also works with warmer colours to generate a contrast that brings out the vivid shades. 

Vavona has warm, amber tones. The wood is recognisable for the rounded and florid form of its grain. It is a wood that works particularly well with all the warmer leather colours in the range.

Polished Wenge, with its stretched grain, is a tropical wood. It is dark and dense and brings warmth to any environment with its brown toned grain.  

Specially sourced, all the woods undergo treatment that is a combination of traditional working methods and the most advanced precision technology. Owners can even personalise their choice of prestigious woods with inlays.

The interior: Poltrona Frau® leather

The Poltrona Frau® leather that adorns the interior of the Maserati Quattroporte is the result of a special selection process aimed at guaranteeing the finest quality in a material that is pleasing to the touch. The tanning treatment it undergoes makes the leather supple, hardwearing and practical and adds to the overall aesthetics.

Poltrona Frau® represents workmanship of times gone by. It combines this time-honoured expertise with more modern techniques. This process makes the leather extremely soft and comforting in winter but cool in summer. Poltrona Frau® leather also ages well, another reason it is rated so highly.

The most discerning Maserati owners can opt for the Luxury Pack in natural Poltrona Frau® leather, the last word in elegance and exclusivity. The leather is extraordinarily supple, something that will give passengers a sensation of refined extravagance. The Poltrona Frau® logo and the double stitched seats embellish the look.

Comfort and life on board

The navigation and entertainment system on the Maserati Quattroporte has been completely revised and is called the new Maserati Multimedia System.

Created by Marelli, the Multimedia System includes, as standard, an on-board computer, satellite navigation system (a digital map, where available), voice control, Bluetooth® Wireless Technology, a CD player that also supports MP3 formats, a 30GB hard drive on which you can store thousands of music files while a USB connection and iPOD interface provides instant access to your own personal music player.

Sound is delivered courtesy of the Bose® Surround Sound System. The speakers reward occupants with breathtaking acoustic performance that was designed specifically for the Quattroporte. 

Controlling the system is easy and instinctive thanks to the commands located in the middle of the dashboard. You can also access the most frequently used functions in total safety via the steering wheel mounted buttons. Safety is also the theme behind the voice controls that work the audio system, the satellite navigation and the telephone.

The on board computer allows you to view information provided by the Trip Computer. This details average fuel consumption, the trip time, distance covered, average speed, the speed limit and the kilometres/days until the next service is due.

One of the available options is the rear seat entertainment system made up of a centrally mounted rear screen and a DVD player. There is an AUX input jack for video games or external plug-ins (for example, a video camera), with sound transmitted via headphones or through the main speaker system.

The colour display panel that faces the driver feeds back useful information about the journey. This includes the settings of numerous electronic functions fitted to the car (MDS transmission, Skyhook, when the MSP kicks in or when the road surface is icy, for instance). The display also reports information from the satellite navigation system (when it is on), to help the driver with easy to read moving images.

Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control

The Maserati Quattroporte comes with dual-zone automatic climate control as standard, further improving the on board environment. A series of sensors measure the quality of the air coming into the car and, for example, prevent unclean air or unpleasant odours from entering the cabin by automatically activating the recycle function. A second sensor stops the glass from misting by reducing the level of humidity in the air whenever it detects that the windows are at dew point.

Rear seat passengers also benefit from an excellent climate control system featuring six inlet ducts (two on the centre console, two on the centre pillars and two at foot level). The system can be enhanced with the addition, as an option, of a rear command panel. This allows rear passengers to control the climate, the intensity of the ventilation and the airflow split between the ducts.

Other on-board features
 
Among the other electronic equipment that comes as standard on the Maserati Quattroporte are the light sensors. These automatically measure the strength of ambient light and turn the headlights on and off accordingly. There are also rain sensors that activate the windscreen wipers and regulate their frequency, cruise control that sets the cruising speed automatically without the driver having to keep his/ her foot on the pedal, an alarm (with perimeter and volumetric sensing and an anti-lift device), and the automatic locking of the doors when the ignition is switched on.

For added convenience and safety, the Quattroporte includes front and rear parking sensors as standard, as well as a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that will alert drivers if any of the tyres start to lose pressure. The TPMS is also a valuable standard feature of the Quattroporte.

Electro-chromic wing and internal mirrors are also standard features available on the Quattroporte.