To kick start 2008, Maserati has brought its flagship saloon in a super-deluxe incarnation to Detroit — the Quattroporte “Collezione Cento” — of which just 100 will be produced: comfort, technology, and luxury all rolled into one; dressed for the occasion in a sophisticated Italian outfit — in a brand-new ivory colour, with a contrasting coach line on the sides that enhances the sinuous lines of the Quattroporte. 20” wheels are fitted with polished rims, adding the perfect touch of sophistication and elegance. The chromed honeycomb front and side grilles also bring out the executive nature of this flagship saloon.

The interior is no less spectacular. Everything exudes luxury, from the Poltrona Frau “Cuoio” coloured leather seats with diamond-shaped stitching and matching buttons in the centre, to the polished Wenge wood inserts on the steering wheel, centre console and small object compartment. The mother of pearl inlays are a true delight, adding an unusual gleam to the name of the vehicle and the trident on the gear ****. Cuoio coloured leather is also used for the superior-weight overmats, enhanced by edges in contrasting Beige. The interior's concept was exclusively presented to Maserati customers at last year's Frankfurt Motorshow; the “Collezione Cento” has been developed on the basis of their feedback and comments.

Technology is another area where the Collezione Cento scores highly. Back seat passengers in the new Quattroporte find themselves in a multimedia paradise controlled by the Maserati Multimedia Entertainment system. The technology is housed in the rear centre armrest, which contains an AUX-IN socket, iPod docking station, SIM card port and a USB port so that passengers can view photographs, videos or listen to MP3/WMA tracks on other external devices. The car's sound system or the special Bluetooth headsets can also be used.

The armrest also features a built-in keypad for Internet browsing and email access, which can be folded away. As image also counts, especially when it comes to luxury, there are two real eye-catchers built into the back of the front seats: two 10.4” touch screens complete with a CD/DVD player built into the back of the centre receptacle.

The 100 lucky owners will be guaranteed luxury and exclusivity, thanks to the numbered plate housed in the dashboard moulding.

The Quattroporte Collezione Cento is fitted with a 4244 cc engine (400 bhp) paired with a hydraulic automatic 6-speed transmission that guarantees the same performance as the Quattroporte Automatic range.