The Top Gear car review:Maserati Quattroporte

Only the Italians could get away with calling a car ‘four door’. Appended to the name Maserati, though, Quattroporte conjures up all sorts of romantic imagery, an idea that the car itself hasn’t always merited since first appearing in 1963. Now, somewhat belatedly into its fifth generation, the QP has finally grown-up, and in more ways than one: in its bid to really take the fight to the German limos that dominate this posh end of the market, the latest QP is well over five metres long, making it much bigger than its curvier predecessor and providing vastly more legroom in the rear. Maserati is clearly gunning for business in China, where size definitely does matter.

That also explains the QP’s rather brash appearance. Even on vast 21in alloys and in a suitably menacing colour, it’s simply not as elegant as the previous car, and is no longer likely to be mistaken for a four-door Ferrari. Then there’s the addition of a diesel model…