MASERATI Quattroporte . . . the name just trips off the tongue and evokes images of Italian chic, sporting elegance and blistering speed.
An exotic name and an exotic car, but translated, it means the Maserati four-door.
It's hardly the sexiest name for a sporting thoroughbred, but this is still the kind of speed machine that many dream of owning.
Let's face it, at around £77,000 for the 'basic' model, your average car buyer will never get near a model like this, but win the lottery, inherit a packet from a wealthy relative, or just stump up for a weekend with an exclusive car club and a dream could come true.
The Quattorporte is in fact a four-seater Grand Tourer rather than an out-and-out sports car, designed to take on the big German luxury flagships, Aston Martin and the Jaguar XK, all superb cars in their own right and equally expensive.
Maserati has had a chequered history of ownership over the last century, but now a range of new models are coming on the market with the Quattroporte leading the way together with the newly-launched Gran Turismo.
The Quattroporte has two guises, the fully automatic and the the Duoselect, which offers sportier performance.
Three alternative trim levels are available, the Executive GT and Sport GT mode, with the Sport GT S available with automatic transmission.
But all forms of the car feature the powerful 4.2-litre V8 engine that delivers blistering pace.
The power is transferred through a seamless six-speed automatic gearbox which, on the test car, has the option of steering wheel paddles, to offer a sportier driving experience.
The car looks a sensation with sleek lines offset with 19-inch alloy wheels and the trademark wide-mouthed Maserati grille. The front wings feature sporty wire grilles down the side, while the rear end again cannot be mistaken with the word Maserati emblazoned on the boot lid.
Even from the rear, the car looks a million dollars and the interior is even better.
Here there is a riot of soft leather upholstery, luxury wood panelling and insets and a host of electrical toys and goodies to satisfy the most demanding of buyers.
The sumptuous hand-stitched leather seats are both heated and electrically adjustable with drivers able to set the memory for the most comfortable driving position.
A nice extra touch is the oval-shaped analogue clock situated in the centre of the dash, which gives a touch of extra class.
Climate control, navigation and a superb sound system are naturally standard, but I did find the bewildering array of buttons fiddly and confusing.
But there is no doubting the build quality and all four occupants are cocooned in luxury. The boot space is only moderate, so don't expect to be packing too many suitcases.
On the road the 400bhp engine delivers rapid acceleration with the 0-62mph sprint taking 5.2 seconds.
This brutal power is managed by a clever double wishbone suspension system that negates diving under heavy braking and squatting under fierce acceleration.
The unique Skyhook system also provides continuous damping and alters the setting as road surfaces change.
Switch to the sport mode for a stiffening of the suspension and quicker gear changes.
The car is equally at home as a refined cruiser or sporty thoroughbred and is the flagship of a new breed of Maseratis.
Not many will drive them, but everyone can dream.
FAST FACTS
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT auto
Price: £83,415
Mechanical: 400bhp, 4,244cc, 8cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 171mph
0-62mph: 5.2 secs
Combined mpg: 17.9
Insurance group: 20
C02 emissions: 370g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage