Just the name Maserati connotes style, performance, power, and luxury. The 2009 Maserati Quattroporte, a five-passenger Italian-designed-and-built luxury sports sedan, embodies all of these attributes and more. Just sitting at the curb, the ’09 Quattroporte oozes luxury and speed, style and sophistication, and, well, money. Originally introduced in the early ‘60s, the fifth-generation Maserati Quattroporte has received numerous tweaks and upgrades for 2009. Styling changes include a slotted, vertical grille, revisions to the front and rear fascias, and two additional colors for the standard leather upholstery and trim. A new upper-level trim, the Quattroporte S, is introduced for ’09 that incorporates a tweaked version of the 4.7-liter V8 equipping the Maserati Gran Turismo S coupe. This same 4.7-liter V8 has made its way into the Quattroporte Sport GT S for ’09 as well. The base engine for the ’09 Quattroporte is a 4.2-liter V8 that puts out 405 hp at 7,000 rpm and 339 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The 4.7-liter V8 equipping the Maserati S generates 425 hp at 7,000 rpm and 361 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The ’09 Quattroporte S is claimed to get from 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, which isn’t at all shabby for a family sedan. The Quattroporte Sport GT S, however, with further tweaking and up-fitted exhaust, uses the same 4.7-liter V8 to reach a top speed of 177 mph, allowing an extra cup of coffee before pulling out of the driveway for the morning commute. All three ’09 Quattroporte trims use a six-speed auto-manual transmission that replaces the old-school sequential-shift tranny of yore. The base ’09 Quattroporte rides on standard 18-inch alloy wheels, the Quattroporte S is equipped with standard 19-inch alloys, and the Sport GT S rolls on 20-inch polished aluminum alloy wheels. Both the ’09 Quattroporte S and Sport GT S feature an adjustable suspension system that’s optional for the base trim. Standard comfort, convenience, and luxury features for the ’09 Maserati Quattroporte include a power sunroof and sunshade, premium leather upholstery, premium leather and wood appointments, heated, power-adjustable front seats, reclining rear seats, a universal remote transmitter, a Bose Premium Sound System that includes a single-CD/DVD player, satellite radio, and nine speakers, a hard-drive-based voice-activated navigation system, and Bluetooth hands-free communication technology. Options include upgraded exterior paint and interior leather, the Skyhook electronically controlled suspension (standard on the Sport GT S), heated rear seats, and rear fold-down wooden tray tables. Safety features that come standard with the ‘09 Quattroporte include four-wheel disc ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction and stability control, side impact airbags, supplemental side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, front fog/drivers lights, a remote anti-theft alarm system, adaptive, self-leveling Xenon HID headlights, and high-pressure headlight washers. Owners of the ’08 Maserati Quattroporte have a few grumbles regarding fuel economy, low resale value, high service costs, and rear seat comfort. Past issues with acceleration and outdated technological features, however, have been dealt with by Maserati for the 2009 Quattroporte with the addition of the 4.7-liter V8, an improved standard navigation system, and the Bose Premium Sound system. Virtually all owners of the ’08 Quattroporte mention the thrill they experience just from listening to the engine at speed, and most are impressed with the unmatched build quality, ride and handling, reliability, luxurious interior and exterior styling, and the adjustable suspension that this posh and peppy sedan offers.