If Ferrari were ever to build a four-door sedan, the outcome would probably be a car that closely resembles the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The Maserati aims to excite and involve, challenge and inspire, seduce and allure. To do so, it has been equipped with a sports car drivetrain, a sports car chassis, and a sports car interior. Furnishings include four suede-trimmed bucket seats, large shift paddles, and a feature called MC auto shift. MC offers launch control, extra-aggressive rev limits for up- and downshifts, a hold-in-gear and no-kickdown mode when manual has been selected, and the most riveting intake and exhaust duets this side of Maserati's MC12 supercar. Unlike the Bentley, the Maserati has never learned to relax; it's always in a fighting mood. It will snap after potholes, kick back at grooves, tap-dance through puddles, swing its hips in response to lift-off maneuvers or in preparation of a full-throttle sprint. There's plenty of grip in the rear but not quite enough in the front, the massive brakes could do with a bit more staying power, and the steering is a little too light for all the weight it must control.
One of the reasons why the XFR breaks with tradition in so many ways is because the R&D brief said it should. We can think of no other explanation for the motorized-knob gear selector, the lack of real timber in the cabin, and the disappointing passenger space - there's less room up front than in a Honda Civic. But the autobahn isn't a catwalk, and after two days and 650 miles, we lined up at the Jaguar for an encore. In this company, it may lack prestige, panache, and presence, yet in terms of accessible performance, total immersion, and grins per bend, the XFR stood at the head of the pack. Its steering puts the road into your palms, its brakes have a built-in fast-rewind mode, the ZF gearbox can be both velvety-smooth and scalpel-sharp, the adaptive dampers handle dynamic forces without ever dropping a ball, and the aerodynamic balance combines high downforce with impeccable stability.
In this group of three, the Jaguar XFR is the least exotic and yet the most involving. It feels almost as compact as a four-seat coupe, is surprisingly easy to drive fast, and doesn't need to go to the changing room before entering the next drift challenge. In the Bentley Flying Spur Speed, it doesn't really matter whether one samples the atmosphere from the driver's seat or from the back bench. Pace in the Spur is such a relative commodity when compared with tangible assets like exquisite woodwork and fine leather. Even at velocities approaching 200 mph, the dominating impression is of a relaxed blend of grace, speed, and total effortlessness. Among the superlatives the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S can claim are the most intoxicating sound track, the most eager engine, and about twice as many turned heads as its rivals. Indeed, the Maserati is about as laissez-faire as a lion on the prowl. It puts up a bigger fight than most of the classic sports car gladiators, and its often dramatic handling habits require a seasoned wheelman as well as fearless passengers. Like the other two contenders, it has character and charisma by the bagful, evokes strong emotional responses, and triggers more daydreams than the complete works of Pamela Anderson. So what are you waiting for? Enjoy one of these diverse super sport sedans before government-mandated hybrids or the next economic tsunami wipes out your ability to get one. ...next page >>