Carmel Valley, August 18, 2007 -- It's Saturday morning, the sky is an improbable color of bright blue, I'm on a twisting, turning, two lane blacktop in the Carmel Valley, driving way over the posted speed limit, and in the driver's seat of a brand new Maserati. Oh, and did I mention that I have a police escort? Am I dreaming? No, I'm not.
One of the attractions of the Pebble Beach weekend is the number of ancillary events that take place around the official festivities. Like many car clubs, loyalists to the Maserati marque, have for many years taken advantage of the convergence of so many of their fellow club members to sponsor a rally event. However, this year, they arranged for Maserati itself to organize their annual event, and Maserati took up the challenge.
With all proceeds going to charity, the company arranged a road rally to the Historic Races at Laguna Seca that included a winding road course in the hills surrounding the Carmel Valley, with a stop for an elegant breakfast at the upscale Bernardus winery.
We meet at 8:00 am at the Bernardus Lodge, and after a lengthy registration, coffee, orientation, and general milling around process, we finally line up our cars from oldest to newest for our first stage rally to breakfast at the Bernardus Winery, about 18 miles away. The good folks at Maserati have given me a brand new champagne colored Quattroporte to drive in the Rally, and I couldn't be more pleased.
The vehicle is elegant with stunning good looks and an interior that is way nicer than my living room. The tasteful interior treatment includes a suede headliner and visors that, of course, match the fine leather covering the seats and doors. Subtle touches include matching suede on the back of the paddle shifters – something that never would have occurred to me, but I did appreciate once I noticed. Maserati’s trident logos are omnipresent, but add to the ambiance rather than detract. My wife comments on the elegant finger feel of the window lift controls, and the overall feeling of luxury and good taste that abounds in this car. Even the name Quattroporte, which sounds so exotic, literally translates as "four doors," but much like opera, sounds so much better in Italian.
We know at this point that the Quattroporte qualifies at least as a country club/boulevard cruiser that can't be faulted for upscale image, but what about the driving experience in this four door sedan? Unfortunately, the trip to breakfast is a restrained 20 mph affair with all of the participants lined up in a sedate, slow moving, conga line. No chance to get a feel for the QP, so far.
We finally arrive at our first stop and enjoy our breakfast on the outdoor deck of the Bernardus Winery, sharing the pleasant sunshine and conversation while perched at tree height. After we finish stuffing ourselves, and have heard the usual formal remarks and introductions, we go back to our cars for the trip to Laguna Seca about 25 miles away.
We have enjoyed a police escort for both legs of our rally, but have also been the subject of a film crew sent by the SPEED Channel to document the event. One of the photographers attempts to shoot each car and driver as we drive down Carmel Valley road on the way to the races, and this process works fairly well for a while, but ultimately oncoming traffic separates us into two groups -- and I'm at the head of the separated group. Behind me is a fire engine red Maserati Spyder, and I'm determined not to be the slow poke in his way -- so I punch the accelerator, pass the photo car, and try to find the limits of this Q ship.
To my great delight, I never really get to the limits, as the Quattroporte takes 20 mph turns at 2 to 3 times the recommended speeds and stays planted and poised. For the next 12 miles, I'm gaining space between me and the sport cars behind and grinning all the way to Laguna Seca. With a Ferrari engine and sport suspension, this is an impressive 4-door sports car.
As we enter the Laguna Seca track and park at the "corral" reserved by Maserati for their group, wedged between the Ferrari group and the Aston Martins, we receive many admiring glances and questions about this four-door sedan that stands out even among so many exotic 2 seaters.
At over $100k, the Quattroporte isn't cheap; but as an alternative to an S Class Mercedes or a 7 Series BMW, this is a driving experience that should be on the list of anyone that needs 4 doors and transport that can seat 4 adults in comfort and style. This Maserati is really a driver's car elegantly disguised as a responsible, sophisticated family sedan. It's not a surprise to learn that Quattroporte sales in the US increased 44% in 2007 over 2006. As more of their target market checks out this car, even more will decide they must have it.
Fans of the HBO series "Entourage" will remember that this was the car given to Vince and his pals, once initial success came. The producers of that show originally thought that a Ferrari might be the car they would cast, but after seeing the Quattroporte, they knew that this 4-door sports car was the right choice. Entourage revolves around a lead character who rides a wave of success in Hollywood and makes the room to take his three compatriots with him. After all, this series opens each week with the four protagonists riding through LA in a vintage 60's, 4 door, Lincoln Continental convertible with suicide doors, and features an overhead shot of all four exiting the car simultaneously.
You can't do that with only two doors.
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