Original subtitles

Narrator: TODAY, ON "HOW IT'S MADE: DREAM CARS" --

THE MASERATI QUATTROPORTE,

A LUXURY SEDAN WITH THE HEART OF A SPORTS CAR.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

BACK IN 1914,

IN THE NORTHERN ITALIAN CITY OF BOLOGNA,

THE MASERATI BROTHERS FOUNDED A RACECAR COMPANY

WHICH HAS BECOME A LEGENDARY BRAND.

IN 1940, THE COMPANY MOVED TO THE NEARBY CITY OF MODENA,

WHERE IT HAS REMAINED EVER SINCE.

THOUGH IT MOVED, THE COMPANY RETAINS ITS TRIDENT EMBLEM,

WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY A FAMOUS SCULPTURE IN BOLOGNA,

THE BIRTHPLACE OF MASERATI.

SO RENOWNED IS THE BRAND THAT IT HAS ITS OWN MUSEUM.

HERE, FANS CAN CHART THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY

THROUGH ITS ICONIC CAR DESIGNS

LIKE THE 1953 A6GCS,

THE 1959 3500 GT,

AND THE SINGLE-SEATER, OPEN-WHEELED 6CM RACING CAR

FROM THE 1930s.

ALSO ON DISPLAY ARE THE DRAWINGS

OF THE VERY FIRST CAR BRANDED AS A MASERATI --

THE TIPO 26.

THESE DESIGNS ARE AMONG THE COMPANY'S FOUNDING DOCUMENTS.

MARIO MASERATI'S SKETCH OF THE TRIDENT EMBLEM

CAN ALSO BE FOUND HERE.

THE QUATTROPORTE MADE ITS DEBUT IN 1963

AND QUICKLY BECAME THE COMPANY'S FLAGSHIP MODEL.

MASERATI IS CELEBRATING THE QUATTROPORTE'S 50th ANNIVERSARY

WITH THE RELEASE OF THIS BRAND-NEW REDESIGN

OF THE FAMOUS CAR.

AS PART OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY REDESIGN,

THE NEW QUATTROPORTE'S BODY

IS LONGER AND WIDER THAN THE PREVIOUS VERSION.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S OVER 200 POUNDS LIGHTER.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR IS NOW ONE THIRD ALUMINUM.

TO ENSURE THAT THE CAR BODIES

MEET THE HIGHEST MANUFACTURING STANDARDS,

TECHNICIANS SUBMIT THEM TO STRINGENT METROLOGY TESTS.

TAKING RANDOM SAMPLES

OF COMPONENTS FROM THE PRODUCTION LINE,

THESE WORKERS INSTALL THEM ON A MASTER COPY OF THE CAR'S BODY

CALLED A MEISTERBOCK.

THEY THEN USE EXTREMELY PRECISE CALIPERS

AND OTHER MEASURING DEVICES

TO MAKE SURE THE PARTS ARE EXACTLY THE RIGHT SIZE.

A TINY AMOUNT OF VARIATION IS ACCEPTABLE,

BUT ONLY WITHIN A FEW TENTHS OF A MILLIMETER.

METROLOGY CONTINUES ON ANOTHER MASTER COPY OF THE CAR.

HERE, SMALL STICKERS LINE THE PARTS EVERY FOUR INCHES.

THESE ARE GUIDES FOR THE WORKERS WHO USE LASER TECHNOLOGY

TO MEASURE THE GEOMETRY OF THE MANUFACTURED PARTS

AND CHECK THE PART CONFORMITY

BEFORE THEY ARE ASSEMBLED ON THE PRODUCTION LINE.

IF THE METROLOGY MEASUREMENTS ARE SET,

PRODUCTION CONTINUES.

HERE, TWO WORKERS GET TO WORK PUTTING TOGETHER

THE REAR SECTION OF THE CAR'S CHASSIS.

A LARGE CLAMPING MECHANISM BRINGS THE PARTS TOGETHER

SO THAT THE TECHNICIANS CAN START JOINING THEM

WITH A SET OF WELDING GUNS.

THE TECHNICIANS FOLLOW A SERIES OF REFERENCE POINTS

AS THEY SPOT-WELD THE STEEL COMPONENTS TOGETHER

WITH AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE OF 380 VOLTS.

NEXT, AN AUTOMATED MECHANISM

LIFTS ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE CHASSIS

INTO THIS YELLOW CLAMPING DEVICE CALLED A GAUGE.

THE GAUGE ALIGNS THE PARTS.

ONCE EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE,

A SET OF ROBOTS SWINGS INTO ACTION,

WELDING AND DRILLING WITH INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY.

ANOTHER ROBOT HOLDS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR FLAT

AS IT APPLIES A THIN BEAD OF SEALANT WITH THE AID OF CAMERAS.

THE ROBOT THEN INSTALLS THE PART IN ANOTHER GAUGE.

THE GAUGE TURNS THE PART,

AND, WORKING WITH ANOTHER SET OF GAUGES,

BRINGS ALL THE PARTS OF THE CAR BODY TOGETHER.

THIS IS WHAT CAR MANUFACTURERS CALL A BODY IN WHITE.

THAT MEANS THAT THE SHEET METAL

AND ALUMINUM COMPONENTS OF THE BODY

HAVE BEEN WELDED AND RIVETED TOGETHER.

ONCE OR TWICE PER EIGHT-HOUR SHIFT,

A BODY IN WHITE IS CHOSEN AT RANDOM

FOR A QUALITY-CONTROL CHECK

TO MAKE SURE PRODUCTION REMAINS ACCURATE.

THE CAR BODY IS NOW READY FOR A PAINT JOB.

FOR THAT, IT COMES HERE TO THE PAINT SHOP.

TO START THINGS OFF, THE CAR BODY TAKES A BATH

TO REMOVE ANY RESIDUAL GREASE OR DUST.

NEXT, A SHOWER COMPLETES THE JOB.

THE CAR HANGS FROM A CHAIN.

A CURRENT RUNS THROUGH THE CHAIN,

GIVING THE BODY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE.

A POOL OF LIQUID BENEATH IT HAS THE OPPOSITE ELECTRICAL CHARGE.

AS THE CAR BODY LOWERS INTO THE POOL,

PAINT PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN THE LIQUID

ARE ATTRACTED TO THE METAL

THANKS TO THESE ELECTRICAL CHARGES.

THIS IS CALLED A CATAPHORETIC COATING.

THE COATING BAKES ON IN AN OVEN,

AND THEN A LARGE DUSTER MADE OF EMU FEATHERS

REMOVES ANY RESIDUAL STATIC.

NOW, TWO WORKERS APPLY A COATING OF ELECTROSTATIC PAINT

IN POLYURETHANE LIQUID PRIMER FORM.

THEY PAINT ALL THE HARD-TO-REACH AREAS OF THE CAR BODY.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR A ROBOT TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

THE CAR BODY HAS AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE

WHILE THE WATERBORNE COLOR BASE-COAT PAINT POWDER

HAS THE OPPOSITE CHARGE.

THE TWO CHARGES ATTRACT EACH OTHER,

MAKING THE PAINT STICK TO THE SURFACE OF THE METAL.

THE ROBOTS SPRAY ON A CLEAR-COAT RESIN TOP COATING

TO FINISH THE JOB.

THE BODY NOW HEADS INTO A HUGE OVEN

WHERE THE PAINT WILL BAKE ON IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES

AT 285 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

EVERY SINGLE PAINT JOB ON EVERY SINGLE CAR

UNDERGOES AN INCREDIBLY THOROUGH INSPECTION.

ONCE IT PASSES THIS INSPECTION,

THE BODY OF THE MASERATI QUATTROPORTE IS DONE.

BUT THE CAR IS FAR FROM COMPLETE.

FOR ONE THING, IT NEEDS AN ENGINE.

Narrator: THIS ENGINE SHOP IS IN THE FERRARI PLANT IN MARANELLO,

NOT FAR FROM MASERATI'S HOME BASE IN MODENA.

FERRARI BOUGHT MASERATI IN 1999.

THE QUATTROPORTE'S BRAND-NEW ENGINE

IS CO-DESIGNED BY MASERATI AND FERRARI ENGINEERS.

USING A PNEUMATIC LIFTING TOOL,

A FERRARI TECHNICIAN PICKS UP AN ENGINE SHAFT

AND TRANSPORTS IT TO A WAITING ENGINE BLOCK.

TO HELP MAKE THE NEW QUATTROPORTE LIGHTER,

THE ENGINE BLOCK IS MADE ENTIRELY OF ALUMINUM.

THE ENGINE SHAFT, HOWEVER, IS STEEL.

THE QUATTROPORTE COMES WITH EITHER A V6 OR A V8 ENGINE.

THIS ONE IS A V6 WITH 404 HORSEPOWER

AND A MAXIMUM TORQUE OF 406 POUND-FEET.

THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLS A SERIES OF CLAMPS CALLED BRIDGES

OVER THE SHAFT.

EACH BRIDGE HAS A MATE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHAFT.

TOGETHER, THE TWO BRIDGES

FORM A RING THE TECHNICIAN BOLTS TOGETHER.

FOUR RINGS IN TOTAL FIRMLY SECURE THE SHAFT IN PLACE.

ONCE THE ENGINE SHAFT IS SECURED,

THE ENGINE BLOCK MOVES TO THE NEXT STATION,

WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CAN INSTALL THE PISTONS.

THIS IS DONE MANUALLY.

ONE BY ONE, THE WORKER FITS THE PISTONS

INTO THEIR WAITING CYLINDERS.

EACH PISTON HAS A CONNECTING ROD EXTENDING DOWN FROM THE HEAD.

THE CONNECTING ROD FORMS A SEMI-CIRCLE AT THE BOTTOM.

THE SEMI-CIRCLE FITS AROUND THE ENGINE SHAFT.

THIS BOTTOM END OF THE PISTON'S CONNECTING ROD

MUST BE SECURELY FASTENED TO THE ENGINE SHAFT.

TO GAIN ACCESS TO THESE FASTENING POINTS,

THE ENGINE BLOCK IS FLIPPED UPSIDE-DOWN.

A SPECIALIZED DEVICE THEN TURNS THE ENGINE SHAFT,

EXPOSING THE BOLTS THAT NEED TO BE FASTENED.

IN THEIR DESIGNS FOR THE ENGINE,

THE ENGINEERS INCLUDED THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TORQUE

THAT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO EACH BOLT WHEN TIGHTENING IT.

THE TIGHTENING MECHANISM

FOLLOWS THESE INSTRUCTIONS AUTOMATICALLY.

ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK,

TWO COVERS WILL ENCLOSE THE CAM SHAFTS.

BEFORE INSTALLATION, A ROBOT PREPARES THEM

BY APPLYING A THIN BEAD OF SEALANT ALL AROUND THE EDGES.

AS THE ROBOT PERFORMS ITS TASK,

IT SIMULTANEOUSLY TAKES PHOTOS OF THE OPERATION

AND COMPARES THEM TO A MASTER.

TWO TECHNICIANS THEN INSTALL THE COVERS OVER THE CAM SHAFTS.

NOT ONLY IS THIS ENGINE

CO-ENGINEERED BY MASERATI AND FERRARI,

IT'S CO-MANUFACTURED, AS WELL.

A FERRARI TECHNICIAN NOW CONNECTS ALL THE WIRING

FOR THE SPARK PLUGS, THE DIRECT INJECTORS,

AND THE ENGINE'S MULTIPLE SENSORS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

NOT ONLY IS THIS NEWLY-DESIGNED ENGINE

LIGHTER THAN ITS PREDECESSOR,

IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY MORE POWERFUL,

MORE EFFICIENT, AND MORE VERSATILE.

IT CAN BE SWITCHED FROM REAR-WHEEL DRIVE MODE

TO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

AND FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL

AT THE PRESS OF A BUTTON.

IN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE,

THE CAR CAN ACCELERATE TO 60 MILES PER HOUR

IN JUST 4.9 SECONDS

AND REACH A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 177 MILES PER HOUR.

THE NEW ENGINE IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE THESE NEW PARAMETERS

THANKS IN PART TO TWO NEW ADDITIONS --

SMALL PARALLEL TWIN SCROLL TURBINES.

MASERATI ENGINEERS WERE ABLE TO INTEGRATE THE TURBINE HOUSING

INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD,

KEEPING THE NEW COMPONENTS COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT.

EACH TURBINE WILL BE FED BY ITS OWN AIR-TO-AIR INTERCOOLER.

HAVING INSTALLED A METAL GASKET

AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ATTACHMENT POINT,

THE TECHNICIAN POSITIONS THE TURBINE

AND BOLTS IT IN PLACE.

FULLY ASSEMBLED, THESE V6 AND V8 ENGINES

ARE READY FOR TRANSPORT BACK TO THE MASERATI PLANT.

ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE QUATTROPORTES

HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED.

NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT THEM TOGETHER.

Narrator: THE FULLY-ASSEMBLED BODY

HANGS SUSPENDED ABOVE THE MECHANICAL ELEMENTS

AS TECHNICIANS PREPARE TO UNITE THEM.

MASERATI TECHNICIANS CALL THIS PHASE THE MARRIAGE.

GETTING TO THIS POINT REQUIRES MANY PRECISION STEPS.

THE ASSEMBLY SHOP IS WHERE

ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE QUATTROPORTE COME TOGETHER.

FIRST, TECHNICIANS ASSEMBLE

THE FRONT SECTION OF THE MECHANICAL GROUP.

THIS INCLUDES THE ENGINE, THE TRANSMISSION,

THE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS,

THE FRONT END OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM,

AND THE FRONT BRAKES,

WHICH, FOR THE TIME BEING, HAVE A PROTECTIVE COVER ON THEM.

THIS SUBGROUP TRAVELS ON A MOVING FLOOR

TO MEET THE REAR SUBGROUP.

TO UNITE THESE TWO ENDS, THE TECHNICIANS START BY

INSTALLING THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM,

WHICH IS MADE UP OF TWO PARALLEL PIPES.

THIS JOINED MIDDLE SECTION WILL THEN BE CONNECTED TO

TWO SEPARATE EXHAUST PIPES

THAT FAN OUT TO EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR.

THESE TWO BACK SECTIONS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM

INCLUDE TWO SEPARATE MUFFLERS.

A SCIENTIFIC STUDY CONDUCTED IN THE U.K. A FEW YEARS AGO

FOUND THAT MASERATI ENGINES

SPARKED AN INTERESTING RESPONSE IN WOMEN.

IN FACT, 100% OF THE WOMEN TESTED

EXPERIENCED A SPIKE IN TESTOSTERONE LEVELS

WHEN LISTENING TO A MASERATI ROAR.

THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH

THE SPECIAL CURVES AND BYPASSES

FEATURED IN THESE EXHAUST SYSTEMS.

USING A LARGER HOOK SYSTEM,

A TECHNICIAN THEN INSTALLS THE TRANSMISSION SHAFT.

FOLLOWING MASERATI TRADITION,

THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE NEW QUATTROPORTE

HAS FIVE DIFFERENT MODES --

AUTO NORMAL, AUTO SPORT,

MANUAL NORMAL, MANUAL SPORT,

AND THE I.C.E., OR INCREASED CONTROL EFFICIENCY MODE.

AND WHAT'S BRAND-NEW IN THE QUATTROPORTE

IS AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE MODE.

NEXT, THE TECHNICIAN LOWERS THE FUEL TANK INTO PLACE.

CAPABLE OF HOLDING 21 GALLONS OF FUEL,

IT'S A BIG TANK FOR A BIG CAR.

THE QUATTROPORTE WITH THE V8 ENGINE

CAN GO 62 MILES ON 3.1 GALLONS OF FUEL.

HERE, A WORKER BEGINS TO

PREPARE THE CAR'S DASHBOARD FOR INSTALLATION.

AS THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND THE CAR,

THE DASHBOARD IS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE'S INTERIOR.

THE QUATTROPORTE DASHBOARD

IS MADE OF MAGNESIUM FOR LIGHTNESS AND STRENGTH

AND UPHOLSTERED IN LEATHER BY SPECIALISTS IN MODENA.

AFTER INSERTING THE STEERING COLUMN,

TECHNICIANS INSTALL AND CONNECT ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS.

IT'S A HIGH-TECH DASHBOARD,

WHICH MEANS THERE ARE A LOT OF WIRES.

IN ADDITION TO STANDARD FEATURES

LIKE CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER,

THERE'S A TOUCH-SCREEN MONITOR WHICH CONTROLS

THE RADIO, THE GPS NAVIGATOR,

DVD PLAYER, BLUETOOTH CONNECTIONS,

AND HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS.

THE HIGH-END SOUND SYSTEM FEATURES

15 SPEAKERS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE CAR.

AND THERE'S NO NEED TO PRESS A BUTTON OR USE A KEY

TO UNLOCK THE CAR.

THE KEY JUST NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR POCKET OR HANDBAG

WHEN YOU'RE PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE OR THE TRUNK.

THE NEW QUATTROPORTE CAN HIT 190 MILES PER HOUR,

MAKING IT AMONG THE FASTEST

MASS-PRODUCED SEDANS IN THE WORLD.

TECHNICIANS NOW USE A SPECIAL GRIP MECHANISM

TO CAREFULLY INSTALL THE DASHBOARD.

THE GRIP HOLDS THE DASHBOARD IN POSITION

AS THEY FASTEN IT IN PLACE.

ALL THAT'S MISSING IS THE STEERING WHEEL.

IF THE DRIVER CHOOSES TO USE THE CAR IN MANUAL MODE,

TWO PADDLES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN

MAKE IT EASY TO SHIFT THROUGH THE QUATTROPORTE'S EIGHT SPEEDS

WHILE KEEPING BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL.

WITH THE DASHBOARD INSTALLED, IT'S TIME TO PUT WINDOWS IN.

THIS ROBOT USES VACUUM-POWERED SUCTION CUPS

TO CAREFULLY PICK UP A PIECE OF GLASS.

IT THEN APPLIES A BEAD OF SEALANT AROUND THE EDGES.

THE TOOL STRUCTURE THE ROBOT USES TO HOLD THE GLASS

HAS A SET OF LASER SENSORS THAT ARE ABLE TO

MEASURE THE GEOMETRY OF THE WINDOW OPENING

AS THE ROBOT PREPARES TO INSTALL THE GLASS.

THE SENSORS ALLOW THE ROBOT TO CENTER THE WINDSHIELD PERFECTLY

BEFORE PRESSING IT INTO PLACE.

TECHNICIANS NOW MANUALLY INSTALL THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS

AND L.E.D. DAYTIME-RUNNING LIGHTS.

A VIDEO CAMERA IN FRONT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR

WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE EXTERIOR DRIVING CONDITIONS

AND AUTOMATICALLY INFORM THE LIGHTS TO SHIFT MODES,

ADJUSTING THE DEPTH AND WIDTH OF THE BEAM ACCORDINGLY.

THE QUATTROPORTE'S BODY IS NOW READY TO MEET ITS POWER TRAIN.

A YELLOW PLATFORM TRANSPORTS THE MECHANICAL ELEMENTS

DIRECTLY UNDER THE BODY, WHICH HANGS SUSPENDED ABOVE.

TECHNICIANS THEN HYDRAULICALLY RAISE THE POWER TRAIN INTO PLACE

SO THEY CAN BEGIN ATTACHING

THE TWO SEGMENTS OF THE CAR TOGETHER.

Narrator: ONCE TECHNICIANS COMPLETE

THE MARRIAGE OF THE QUATTROPORTE BODY AND POWER TRAIN,

THEY INSTALL THE DOORS AND WHEELS

TO REACH THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

BUT A FEW FINISHING TOUCHES AND TESTS REMAIN

BEFORE IT'S READY TO GO.

PARKING THE CAR OVER THIS STATION

ALLOWS A TECHNICIAN TO ACCESS THE UNDERCARRIAGE

AND PERFORM AN EXTREMELY PRECISE WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

IT ALSO REVEALS ANOTHER UNUSUAL FEATURE OF THE QUATTROPORTE --

ITS FLAT BOTTOM.

THE CENTRAL COVER OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED

ONCE TECHNICIANS NO LONGER NEED ACCESS TO IT.

THE FLAT-BOTTOM FEATURE IS DESIGNED

TO MAKE THE CAR MORE AERODYNAMIC.

THIS IMPROVES ITS PERFORMANCE WHILE REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT ALSO IMPROVES

THE CAR'S EFFICIENCY AND HANDLING.

FOLLOWING WCM, OR WORLD-CLASS MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES,

A COMPUTER MONITOR REGISTERS THE ALIGNMENT POSITION AS HE WORKS.

THE IN-LINE WHEEL ALIGNMENT BENCHES

USE LASER SENSORS CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER

TO PROVIDE PRECISE FEEDBACK TO THE TECHNICIAN.

EVERY SINGLE QUATTROPORTE

MUST UNDERGO STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROL TESTS

BEFORE MANUFACTURERS ALLOW IT OUT INTO THE WORLD.

TO START, EACH CAR IS DRIVEN INTO THIS TESTING ROOM

WHERE A TRAINED DRIVER PUTS IT THROUGH ITS PACES

FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES.

THE CAR IS CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER

THAT MEASURES ALL ITS PARAMETERS.

THE DRIVER REVS THE CAR UP TO ABOUT 80 MILES PER HOUR

WHILE THE COMPUTER CHECKS

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE SHOCK ABSORBERS,

THE STEERING, THE WHEEL QUALITY,

ROLLING NOISE, ENGINE SOUND,

GEAR SHIFTS, BRAKES,

AND EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE.

NEXT, THE CAR DRIVES ONTO

A MECHANISM CALLED A SHAKING TABLE.

SIMULATING THE BUMPINESS OF NORMAL ROADS,

THE SHAKING TABLE GIVES THE QUATTROPORTE'S SUSPENSION

A THOROUGH WORKOUT.

THIS TEST ALSO ENSURES THAT ALL OF THE CARS CONNECTIONS,

WHETHER MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL,

ARE SOLID AND CAN'T BE SHAKEN LOOSE.

FOR GOOD MEASURE, EACH CAR WILL ALSO

GO OUT ON THE ROAD FOR ALMOST 45 MILES

TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WORKS PROPERLY

IN A REAL-WORLD SETTING.

EVERY SINGLE QUATTROPORTE

MUST ALSO ENDURE A THOROUGH SOAKING.

THE CAR HAS TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM IN ALL WEATHER,

SO FOR 20 MINUTES, A BANK OF HIGH-PRESSURE NOZZLES

SIMULATES A COMPLETE RANGE OF DIFFERENT RAINS.

SHOOTING WATER AT THE CAR FROM ABOVE, BELOW, AND ALL AROUND,

THE TEST INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM

A SLOW BUT PERSISTENT DRIZZLE

TO A CLASSIC RAINSTORM

TO A SUDDEN TROPICAL MONSOON.

TECHNICIANS THEN CHECK THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR

TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LEAKS

AND THAT THE WATER GASKETS ARE WORKING PROPERLY.

IN THE COMPANY'S MODENA SHOWROOM,

A ROAD-READY QUATTROPORTE JOINS THE MASERATI FLEET.

ALSO ON DISPLAY HERE

ARE THE GRILLS FEATURED ON THE FRONT END

OF MASERATI CARS THROUGH HISTORY.

IN 2014, MASERATI TURNS 100.

MASERATI ONLY PRODUCES THE QUATTROPORTE ON DEMAND.

IN OTHER WORDS, EVERY SINGLE CAR THEY MANUFACTURE

HAS ALREADY BEEN PREORDERED.

FOR AN ADDED FEE, BUYERS CAN CUSTOMIZE THEIR NEW DREAM CAR

DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL.

EVERY MASERATI SHOWROOM IN THE WORLD

OFFERS A SERVICE WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE

DIFFERENT PAINT COLORS, LEATHERWORK, AND STITCHING.

THEY CAN CHOOSE CARBON FIBER AS AN INTERIOR FINISHING MATERIAL

OR SELECT FROM NINE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WOOD INSTEAD.

THE COMPANY ALSO OFFERS THIS SERVICE ON THE WEB,

WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN USE AN ONLINE CONFIGURATOR

TO BUILD THEIR OWN PERSONALIZED MASERATI.

A LUXURY VEHICLE WITH THE HEART OF A SPORTS CAR,

THE QUATTROPORTE FOLLOWS THE BASIC TEMPLATE OF A SEDAN --

IT HAS FOUR DOORS AND A TRUNK.

BUT THAT'S WHERE THE RESEMBLANCE STOPS.

FROM ITS MULTI-FUNCTION TOUCH-SCREEN NAVIGATION SYSTEM

TO ITS POWERFUL ENGINE

STAMPED WITH THE UNMISTAKABLE TRIDENT EMBLEM,

EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THE CAR IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

FLAGSHIP OF THE MASERATI FLEET,

THE NEW QUATTROPORTE IS BOTH POWERFUL AND LUXURIOUS.

WITH ITS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE MODE AND INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY,

IT'S ALSO PRACTICAL.

NEARLY 100 YEARS OF INVENTION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

ARE BEHIND THIS CAR,

WHICH, DESPITE ITS 50-YEAR PEDIGREE,

CONTINUES TO BE STATE-OF-THE-ART.