Maserati Quattroporte 2030: A 1970s Concept...from the Future

The Maserati Quattroporte 2030 Concept is Yaroslav Chumachenko's vision of where Maserati's large sedan could be design-wise should we end up in the world of Minority Report and Tom Cruise is knocking at your door for that crime you're about to commit.

Chumachenko, a 25-year old Ukrainian designer, drew inspiration from dinosaur skeletons, zeppelins, and the Maserati Birdcage to create a car that is futuristic and unique: its modular platform would allow engineers to replace the car's various systems as they evolve and the panels would be uniquely customizable for each customer (in theory).

Its curvaceous exterior body panels use "Stereolithography additive manufacturing technology", the benefits of which are a quick formation process and the ability to adapt to any customer's request, while the four doors - larger front units and smaller rears - can actually fuse magnetically to become two larger doors (or, conversely, simply open as smaller front doors and leave the rear doors in position).

Beneath its body panels, the Quattroporte 2030 has a backbone consisting of the engine and transmission (its "vertebrae"), around which is a rib cage that functions as structural reinforcement and protective bracing.

This is definitely a concept that would most definitely be welcome on the show circuit, hearkening back to the long overhang-wearing pods of the 70's. Something like this would be much more entertaining to view than these "concepts" companies release purely as a means of gauging public reaction to a production car.

By Phil Alex

Images: Yaroslav Chumachenko , Via: CBD

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VIDEO: Maserati Quattroporte Hearse on Transport

Someone has turned Maserati's lovely Quattroporte sedan into a tall, bulky hearse, and there's video of it on a trailer below. Regardless of how it looks, it sure puts the Cadillacs used in America to shame. Unlike Ferrari, who has issues with anyone doing anything heinous to their cars (like making a 360 limousine), Maserati apparently doesn't mind too much.

Spotted near Modena by youtube's lambofanX, who usually doesn't film Quattroportes (but we're sure glad he did), it appears as if there's at least one Italian mortuary out there with mad style. This at least seems a little more appropriate for a funeral compared to those funky car coffins we recently showed you. Who knows, maybe Maserati's just prepping a hearse for the Vatican.

If anyone knows what this is for (other than hauling the deceased, that is) and where it's going, feel free to drop us a line.

By Phil Alex

Maserati Announces Quattroporte Awards Edition Special for Geneva Show

We've seen automakers creating special edition models for numerous reasons or occasions, but Maserati's decision to premiere a limited production version of the Quattroporte sedan to celebrate the 56 awards from automotive and lifestyle publications that the car has received during its six years of life, sounds like the Italians are either running low on cash or ideas - maybe even both...

The distinctiveness of the "Awards Edition" that is based on the range-topping Quattroporte Sport GT S with the upgraded 433HP V8 engine extends to both the exterior and interior appointments.

The special edition model is offered in a uniqueQuarzo fuso exterior colour which is a pearlescent metallic Grey with a golden hue.

Among the exclusive to this model exterior enhancements are the 20-inch Multi Trident dark grey rims in a satin finish, polished Brembo brake calipers and the burnished treatment used on the chrome parts, as well as on the side air vents and radiator surround.

Inside, the Poltrona Frau leather of the seats is combined with perforated Alcantara with a new pattern, and the headlining is also in Alcantara.

Completing the interior upgrades are the special brushed aluminium door sills and Piano Black satin-finish wood mouldings while the boot is finished in black trim and features chrome details and a leather side pocket.

The Quattroporte Sport GT S "Awards Edition" will be go on sale in the latter half of 2010.

Maserati Sells 1,000th Quattroporte Sports Sedan in Britain

Five years after its market debut in 2004 and Maserati has announced that it has just registered the 1,000th Quattroporte in the United Kingdom. Do the math and that comes to an average of 250 cars a year which is insignificant by usual standards but for Maser to issue a press release on the matter, we're guessing it must be good enough for the company. The 1000th car, a Quattroporte Sport GTS in Blu Oceano with Sabbia leather interior, was delivered yesterday by Maserati GB's Head of Sales Peter Denton, to its proud new owner John Burton.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S - Updated Photo Album

While on Maserati's site, we found a bevy of new photos of the Quattroporte Sport GT S that we haven't shared with you. To refresh your memory, the Sport GT S is the high-performance flagship model of the Quattroporte range and it was revealed in its facelift form for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The sportiest Maser saloon is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 433HP. Mechanical updates over the 'S' model include revised gearchange mapping, stiffer springs and lower ride height plus a more sonorous sport exhaust.

The Sport GT S version of the Italian firm's Porsche Panamera rival also features unique styling elements such as the new black grille with red accents and matching black chrome finish around the doors while inside there are new sports seats and a "titanium colored" composite material dashboard trim.