The Automobiliac Proposes Vol. # 7: Maserati Quattroporte

New photos have come out of the new generation Quattroporte today, and it's a step in the wrong direction.  I fear they took what I felt was a very special car --the last true Italian GT sedan-- and turned it into a mix of Mercedes and Hyundai styling dreck.  Now the Gen 1 Quattroporte always had a headlight cluster that I found unappealing, but the rest of the car was just sublime enough to forgive that one flaw.  With the new generation, the boring, conventional headlights really kill the design.  The rear end is even worse, basically using warmed over cues from the Gran Turismo that don't work well on a sleek sedan.  The Gen 1 rear end was one of the all-time cleanest, most timeless ass-ends ever.  Why did they mess with perfection?

As retaliation, please enjoy my own proposal for the headlight cluster I would like to see on the Quattroporte.  First, they reference the compelling "cat eye" shape of the original 1960's Quattroporte's lights.  Second, they tie in much more closely with the well executed, and crisp grill treatment going on.  I felt that this nicely creased form language should carry into the headlights and front fenders.  Right now there is a disconnect between the flush-mounted Hyundai lights and the super crisp grille and hood treatment.  Last, I decided to outline the headlight opening in an LED ring so that when the headlights are off, you just see a nice clean ring profile that accentuates the shape of the opening. I think you'll agree the resulting shape is far more exotic, more consistent, and more differentiated than what they actually did.

Click HERE for more photos of the new Quattroporte.  Try not to wince when you see the back end!

Comments

[Mario Carneiro Neto]

Man, I wish Maserati hadn't chosen souch and idiotic color to present this car to the world in... I mean they MUST know that this is the color of boredom... of the mundane... of the Camry's and Hyundai's of this world...

If you look at the videos of the car, it doesn't look as bed as the pictures suggest... I want to see it in a nice darker color. Maserati has some beautiful shades of blue and grey, and even dark burgundy red which would look good on this car...

Can't say I agree with your design proposal, but this design also didn't do it for me. It's pretty, sure, especially in profile, but the best thing about this new model coming out is that the old ones are going to get cheaper. They look a lot better.

[Walter Jamieson]

I think the latest Maserati Quattro Porte in it's first version (when was that? 6, 7 years ago or so ago?) was the very best looking 4-door car made anywhere. Absolute perfection for its class and any other. So, where else could it go but down?

After looking at the other views: They have ruined a gorgeous car. I hope sales resistance follows.

[nicke]

Why make such a lame design? The old one would been soo easy to evolve into something great. The only good news is that series 1 (of the modern car) will now get cheaper to by used....

[Daniel]

Walter - 100% agree. Boy do these new Maseratis depreciate! Only wish the QP had a manual shifter. Sigh...

Automobiliac - Nice effort on the headlights but not quite doing it for me. Hey, the best designs tend to grow on you.

[Spannerhead]

Absolutely horrid. They took a sensual, romantic shape and, as you say, genericized it completely. The headlight clusters look absolutely tortured, like a giant fist grabbed them and simply squeezed. They really should take notes on Jaguar's latest efforts to bridge the old and the new, design-wise.