The 400bhp V8 engine is mounted well behind the front wheels and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed automated manual box, which defaults to the auto setting on start-up. The weight distribution is a remarkable 47/53 front/rear.

There has also been some late tweaking of the Quattroporte's design details, including making the unusual nose less protuberant and disguising the intakes under the grille. The front seats were also resculpted into virtual buckets to give the driver a more intimate sense of sitting in the car.

Apparently, senior Italian government ministers will be switching from their (often-German) transport into Quattroportes.