How It's Made: Dream Cars (2013) s01e06 Episode Script

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 --
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 HIGHES
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 FLA
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 CURREN
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 PAIN
IN POLYURETHANE
LIQUID PRIMER FORM.
THEY PAINT ALL THE HARD-TO-REACH
AREAS OF THE CAR BODY.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR A ROBO
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 SHAF
AND TRANSPORTS I
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 SHAF
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 GASKE
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 TRANSPOR
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 POIN
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 OU
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 ELEMEN
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 CONNEC
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 FASTES
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 ROBO
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 ELEMEN
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 THA
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 DIFFEREN
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.