Maserati and Zegna to roll out limited-edition Quattroporte in Frankfurt

Thu, 05 Sep 2013

Back in April, Maserati announced a new partnership with men's clothier Ermenegildo Zegna. We wondered at the time how a Maserati could possibly get any more stereotypically Italian stylish, but now the Modenese automaker is presenting the answer in this fresh take on the new Quattroporte.

When the doors open at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, Maserati will unveil the Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car. That's their name, not ours, and if you're wondering how a production vehicle could be turned at once into both a concept and a limited edition, well... we don't know, either. Maserati says that it previews a production version to follow next year.

So, confusing nomenclature aside, what are we looking at here? For starters, there's a special platinum-color paint finish with tiny aluminum flecks and a gloss-black primer to give it that extra-deep luster. And the interior has been upholstered in "moka" and "greige," with leather seats, door panels and headliner and other surfaces finished in Zegna's own textiles.

We have the feeling pictures probably don't do it justice, as strikes us as the kind of thing you have to see in person to appreciate, so we'll look forward to seeing how it comes across in the flesh next week.

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA LIMITED EDITION CONCEPT CAR TO DEBUT AT FRANKFURT AUTO SHOW

The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show features a unique new look in colour scheme, materials and finish. The car, presented as a limited edition concept, is intended for development into a production version in 2014 and will maintain the same personality and quality of the current Quattroporte range.

Ermenegildo Zegna's concept for the Maserati Quattroporte limited edition is the result of a close collaboration between two companies that are linked by history, tradition and exclusivity.

The exterior of the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car features a special effect paint finish that simulates the fluidity and purity of metal, by using ultra-fine aluminium pigments. A gloss black primer amplifies the brilliance of the aluminium pigments and creates a sensation of depth. The platinum metal colour effect finish is warmly nuanced to express the car's classic and sophisticated yet technically advanced character.

The material and chromatic research behind the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition is based on a play between the classical and the contemporary.

A leading role in the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car is played by its interior. Classical warm hues like moka and greige are re-interpreted in a modern key to emulate Zegna's latest men's fashion collections, conveying a formal, sophisticated character. Interior components such as seats, door panels and roof lining are finished in genuine soft leather, in addition to a velvet-smooth, bright fabric that, due to Zegna's vast experience and know-how, guarantees the level of performance needed for automotive applications.

By Noah Joseph