Maserati has been building QuattroporteMaserati QuattroporteItaly, 1963 > present6 series
48 versions
103 photos
1 video
models off and on since 1963, and it introduced the sixth generationMaserati Quattroporte Gen.6Italy, 2013 > present26 versions
41 photos
car at the North American International Auto Show. The latest car is longer than the last generation and will be offered with either a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 or twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8. Maserati hopes that the car will push it toward 50,000 sales a year by 2015, which would be a major jump from the 6,307 cars it sold in 2012, which was up 2.2% over 2011. 

The Quattroporte's new V6 produces 405hp and 406lb-ft of torque. The V8 produces 523hp and 524lb-ft of torque. Both cars come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It moved the V8 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds and the V6 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. The big difference is that the V8 has a top speed of 190.8mph (307km/h), and the V6 has a top speed of 177.1mph (285km/h).

The other new feature for the Quattroporte is that the V6 will be available in an all-wheel drive version as well as in rear-wheel drive. The system can send as much as 50% of the power to the front wheels. 

Unveiling the car in Detroit makes sense for Maserati because the United States is its largest market worldwide and takes 46% of the brand's sales. 

Sales for the new Quattroporte will begin later this year, and Maserati has not discussed pricing yet.