Mirage77

Maserati North America Product Update
MY2007 Quattroporte Automatic (US Version)
October 2006

Vehicle Enhancements Include:
1. New V8 Engine (only for Automatic)
2. New Automatic Transmission
3. New Transmission Layout
4. New Central Console
5. New Electronic Parking Brake
6. Updates to the Exterior Color Palette
7. Updates to the Leather Range
8. Updates to the Interior Trim

1. While most of the V8 engine architecture remains the same, there are some
significant features that make this engine new:
• Wet sump vs dry sump, with a single oil pump that reduces noise
• New inlet and air box for improved fuel efficiency
• Modified piston to improve fuel economy and increase low end torque
• Redesigned cylinder head cover painted in “Blue” for a distinctive engine
compartment


2. New Automatic Transmission
The new 6-Speed automatic transmission is specifically designed by ZF for
Maserati to offer customers a traditional automatic while maintaining the
Quattroporte’s sporty character.

• The new QP Automatic can be configured in two ways:
o Traditional console shifter only
o Traditional console shifter with steering column mounted paddle
shifters (optional on Quattroporte and Executive GT, standard on
Sport GT)

3. New Transmission Layout
The new automatic transmission allows the engine to still be placed behind the
front axles, maintaining desired rearward weight distribution and a low center of
gravity.

4. New Central Console
The Central Console for the new shifter is also updated and will include the
following items (only on the Automatic):
• Automatic gearshift knob in Wood/Leather
o “Manual” shift mode actuation is forward to Downshift and Upshift the
opposite direction
• Electronic Parking Brake lever
• Gear-shift mode display
• Two new, big cupholders
• New ashtray

5. New Electronic Parking Brake
The Parking Brake is automatically actuated when the engine is turned off and deactivated at vehicle start-up when the brake pedal is depressed. Additionally, the Parking Brake can be actuated via a small electronic lever in the center console, or deactivated with the engine off via the “PARK OFF” button at the upper part of the dashboard.

6. Updates to the Exterior Color Palette
• NEW colors:
o Blu Oceano (similar to the Blu Nettuno, slightly darker)
o Grigio Granito (dark metallic charcoal grey)
• The following exterior colors have been discontinued:
o Grigio Nuvolari
o Grigio Palladio
o Argento Luna
o Blu Sebring
o Blu Malago’
o Verde Goodwood
o Bronzo Montecarlo
o Acquamarina

7. Updates to the Leather Range
• NEW color:
o Grigio Ghiaccio (slightly brighter than Grigio Chiaro)
• The following interior colors have been discontinued:
o Grigio Chiaro
o Blu Medio

8. Updates to Interior Trim
• NEW Standard trim:
o Tanganyka (a very light colored wood)
• The following interior trim has been discontinued:
o Titanium

• The following items have either been reconfigured or discontinued:
o Rear Climate Package: Rear climate controls with the rear sun-blinds
are no longer available as stand-alone options
o Perforated leather only available with Seat Ventilation
o Sport Package: Discontinued
o Executive package: Discontinued
o 18” Run-flat tires: Discontinued

What do you guys think? I think the QP retains its true character with the Manumatic - this automatic is mainly to open up the QP to the mass market.

Curb Zone

 

PC Valkyrie

The biggest thing is the availabilty of a 6 speed automatic transmission. This does suit the car better for most people who won't drive on a race track. Almost every review I've read or seen about the Quattroporte complains about the horrible sequential gearbox when driving the car on everday roads at slow or moderate speeds.

Mirage77

I understand that and I agree with that... My dad actually reconsidered his order for the manumatic. The dealer said that it wasn't a big problem anymore about replacing the clutch frequently because updates have been made to it (I don't know how true is this) but I certainly can vouch for the gear changes on everyday roads or slow speeds - it isn't very bad at all. I actually like the 'pausing' sensation everytime the gear changes, it gives the drive some emotion, to put it in a way. The automatic gives me the impression that it'll soften the QP a little. My dad decided to keep the manumatic order in the end, after all why get an automatic when he already has the Phaeton for smoothness.

I have a few questions from this article:

- Who is ZF, the company who makes automatic transmissions for many car makers?

- What's the difference between a wet sump and a dry sump? What is a sump?

- What is an air box?

Appreciate if anyone can answer these for me.

I wonder how this automatic will be priced... I reckon it'd be cheaper than the manumatic, if it maintains that 4.2V8 (without upgrading to the rumoured 4.7LV8).

Germaniac

Can only attempt to answer this, I'm not exactly sure who ZF is (other than a gearbox manufacturer, I think from Germany), but they provide gearboxes for many many top European car manufacturers... Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, Rolls Royce, Audi and Bentley amongst others - it's the 6-speed Automatic all the magazines rave about... debuted on the E65 7 series.

Mirage77

Ah I see... Thank you Germaniac.

The Emperor

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Monster

1) ZF, full name is Zahnradfabrik Passau GmbH. Gearbox manufacturer in Germany, and as Germanic said supplies gearboxes to a lot of european car companies.

2) Difference between wet and dry sump. Basically A wet sump engine has an oil pan at the bottom of the block to store the engine oil. A pump at the bottom of the pan will supply the oil to the rest of the engine. A dry sump engine has an oil storage tank outside the engine. A pump is required to supply the engine oil to the engine, and another pump is required to return the oil from the engine back to the tank.

The reason why most high performance engine uses dry sump lubrication is because the oil pan for the dry sump engine is very small, therefore the engine can be placed lower in the engine bay than before, this can lower the centre of gravity of the car.

3) incoming air flows through the airbox and then to the intake mainfolds. The airbox contains filter to clean the air going into your engine. Redesigning the airbox can increase engine performance or economey by increasing the mass flow rate through the airbox, and to the engine.

hope that helps, and hope what i said make sense

Mirage77

Thank you Tycoon and monster! Yes monster you helped a lot!

The Emperor

Thank you for the karma...!

Bruce

New stuff on the Automatic Quattroporte

December 7, 2006 - Top Gear

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"The Maserati Quattroporte doesn't leave much to gripe about. Beautiful, devastatingly quick and with four luxurious seats, it does just about everything, and does it well.

Our only niggle with the Quattroporte - and it's not even a biggie - is the clunky semi-automatic paddle-shift gearbox. It's a bit hesitant and agricultural, especially in auto mode.



So Maserati's decision to equip the Quattroporte with a proper six-speed auto 'box is good news. The all-new transmission system promises to smooth up gear changes and, thanks to a torque converter, boost low-rev pick-up without limiting power.



We wouldn't have said no to a nice manual 'box, but we're old-school like that.

The Quattroporte Automatic is set to show off its new transmission at the Detroit motor show in January and goes on sale soon after. "

Curb Zone