Italian heads of state still use Maserati Quattroporte/Royale as their official cars today. Of course, these are always adapted to current safety standards, but despite all the modifications, you can still feel that Giorgetto Giugiaro is behind the design. Because these Maserati combine luxury and elegance with exceptionally good performance.
Solemn ceremony in the Quirinal Palace
The fact that the name Maserati has always stood for elegance, luxury and performance was once demonstrated by the choice of the Italian President, Sandro Pertini, who chose a Quattroporte as his official company car. On December 14, 1979, the time had come. In a festive ceremony at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, attended by the Minister of Industry and Trade Antonio Bisaglia and Maserati CEO Alejandro de Tomaso, the head of state received his 3rd generation Maserati Quattroporte, in two versions with automatic and manual transmission.
Luxurious interior as a highlight
Giorgetto Giugiaro was responsible for the design of the 3rd generation Maserati Quattroporte (1979). It was also the first vehicle to be built in its entirety during de Tomaso's management of the company (1976-1993). The lines of the new Quattroporte were based on the first model from 1963, but had a somewhat less sporty and more formal character.
A particularly striking feature of the 3rd generation Quattroporte was its luxurious and elegant interior. With its V8 engine and displacements from 4.2 l with 255 hp to 4.9 l with 280 hp, it reached a top speed of 220 km/h. From 1979 to 1990, a total of 2,145 units of the car were sold. In 1986, the "Royale" version was launched with an even higher-quality interior. The seats were upholstered in fine soft leather and the dashboard and interior doors were lavishly clad in walnut root wood.
Other special features included a radio telephone in the center console and narrow, hinged console tables in the rear doors. A powerful 4.9 l V8 engine with 300 horsepower provided the necessary propulsion for the Quattroporte Royale. Only 51 vehicles were built with this special equipment.
The Batmobile of the head of state
In 1982, the General Secretariat of the President commissioned Maserati to produce an armored Quattroporte for the head of state.
The Quattroporte delivered by the Modena-based company to Sandro Pertini in 1983, with a "Dark Aquamarine" exterior and beige interior, pleased the President so much that he immediately made it his vehicle of choice for official occasions.
A special feature was the large ashtray with pipe holder between the rear seats, for which Maserati had to modify the rear seat at the President's personal request.Other extras included a minibar, a telephone system and an intercom system for communicating with people outside the vehicle. The necessary protection was provided by extremely resistant manganese steel, with which the entire passenger area was bullet-proof armored. The four electrically operated windows were also reinforced with 31 mm polycarbonate. The roof could be opened electrically above the rear seats so that the President could stand up and wave to people as he drove past. A special handle was fitted to the rear of the front seats to enable him to move around comfortably and safely in this position.
Local rivalries between Ferrari and Maserati
The head of state used the 3rd generation Quattroporte on all public occasions. This was also the case during his historic visit to the Ferrari plant in Maranello on May 29, 1983, when the usual etiquette demanded that the host, in this case Enzo Ferrari, should approach the presidential limousine as soon as it drove onto the factory premises. However, Enzo Ferrari stopped ten meters away and did not move a single step. President Pertini, who was already quite elderly, therefore had to get out of his Quattroporte and make his way to the Ferrari boss on foot. The reason for this unseemly behavior was the eternal local rivalry between the brand with the rearing horse and the one with the trident in the company logo. In the 1980s, more celebrities joined the ranks and chose the 3rd generation Quattroporte as their preferred means of transportation. The most famous of these is probably the Modena-born star tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Famous photos show him and his Quattroporte in front of La Scala in Milan.
Highest safety standards for state cars
The Quattroporte is still the official vehicle of the Italian president today. On June 2 of this year, on Republic Day, the incumbent president, Sergio Mattarella, climbed into a 6th generation Quattroporte.
The exterior color "Blu Istituzionale" is a special production by Maserati. The interior is characterized by applications in "piano lacquer" (black lacquered wood) in combination with Pieno Fiore core leather. Special care has been taken to ensure that the interior is soundproofed to ensure maximum comfort even in adverse conditions.
The back of the center console bears the official coat of arms of the Italian Republic. The custom-made vehicle for the Italian President meets the highest safety standards that apply to prestigious state cars. The famous 530 hp twin-turbo V8 engine with a peak torque of 650 Nm serves as the power plant. This continues the tradition that has made Maserati the official supplier of the Italian president's vehicles.
Further information...
...about the brand and the models can be found on the official Maserati website.
