Detroit  - The latest incarnation of Maserati's Quattroporte luxury four-seater, the Sport GTS, will make its international debut at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit from January 17-25, 2009.

The Sport GTS is the most performance-orientated edition of the flagship saloon. It uses a slightly upgraded version of the Ferrari-built V8 engine which extracts an extra eight horsepower from the 4.7-litre unit. Output has been boosted to 440 hp and to ensure the appropriate throaty engine sound there is a new sports exhaust system controlled by pneumatic valves.

Stiffer springs and dampers are designed to enhance performance of the GTS along with more powerful front brakes and revised gearshift management software. Visual differences include a black grille and black finishing around the doors along with headlights in metallic titanium finish. (dpa)