(November 7, 2012) Italian luxury-car maker Maserati announced Tuesday that it will unveil its new 2014 Quattroporte high-performance sedan during the 2013 North American International Auto Show in January. The redesigned Quattroporte is part of the company’s plan to increase its worldwide sales to 50,000 vehicles a year by 2015.

The new car keeps certain design elements from the outgoing model, including the basic front grille shape, side vents and triangular C pillar. But overall its body looks more sculpted and muscular.

The previous version of the Quattroporte — which literally means "four doors" — came on the market in 2004, so it was time for an update. While specifics weren't announced, Maserati did confirm the new model would have an engine "designed and developed" by Ferrari engineers and the powerplant would be built in Ferrarii's Maranello, Italy plant.

The engine is promised to be more powerful and efficient than its predecessor, which is a 4.2-liter V-8 making 400 horsepower and moving the sedan from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds.



“The new Maserati Quattroporte is a high-performance sports luxury sedan that reinterprets the design features of classic Maseratis in a contemporary design language,” said Maserati design boss Lorenzo Ramaciotti. “Its style was born out of the guiding design principles of Maserati: harmony of shapes, dynamism of lines, Italian elegance,” he said.

The current model Quattroporte starts at $128,000.

Sources: Maserati, news accounts