With forthcoming competition in the form of the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati has apparently decided it's time for the Quattroporte to get its game face on. Behind the saggy cladding on this tester is said to be a new face with a grille similar to that found on the Gran Turismo coupe. But this won't be just a shot of botox for vanity's sake. The enhanced mouth will likely feed a new direct-injection engine.

That mill is expected to be the same unit found in the fresh new Ferrari California. The extra punch will be plenty for showing off the new rear lights to lesser sport sedans, but we'll have to wait and see how it stacks up to existing rivals at BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Jaguar as well as the new boys from Porsche and Aston Martin. That is of course, until the completely new Quattroporte comes out for 2012.
[Autocar]

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