European patent applications are required to “disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear,” even if it’s a top-secret sports car in development, like the 2014 Maserati QuattroPorte. An unfortunate hazard to protecting one’s inventions, though, is the possibility that such specific schematics might be leaked.
That’s what happened to Italian carmaker Maserati after a series of drawings appeared that depict the front and rear view of said auto. The contours of the body remain relatively unchanged, though some differences can be noted at the front and rear of the new model. The grill and headlights seem to have been based on Maserati’s GranTurismo coupe, while a quad-tipped exhaust that is uniquely Maserati’s shares the rear of the vehicle with vertical taillights that are reminiscent of Audi’s A4 sedan.
The drawings do not reveal anything about what’s under the hood, but the current QuattroPorte sports a 4.7-liter V8 with 433 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission that can be switched into a manual shift mode. Inside, the 14-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats are clad in real Italian leather and face a dash, which can be crafted from several different real woods, including mahogany with bois de rose inlays.
The 2014 model will be the sixth in the QuattroPorto series – which literally means “four door” in Italian. Approximate annual sales of the luxury sports sedan top 1,400 units.
Pictured: 2013 Maserati Quattroporte
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