As the Maserati Quattroporte hits showrooms, Auto Express has taken the Italian luxury sedan for a spin to see how it compares to its predecessor. With Maserati aiming to hit 50,000 annual sales by 2015, it's vital that the all-new Quattroporte takes a bigger bite out of the luxury limousine segment. To that end, the Italian carmaker has built the car afresh from the ground up, stripping 100 kg off the curb weight, and lengthening the wheelbase to provide more space in the back.

Maserati's design language continues to exude elegance, a choice of two Ferrari-developed twin-turbo engines - a 404hp 3.0-liter V6 and 523hp 3.8-liter V8 - offer ample performance coupled with improved fuel economy, while an all-new independent suspension combined with comfortable seats and a well-appointed cabin make for a comfortable cruiser.