APART from the exterior colour, buying a Maserati Quattroporte usually involves only one major decision - whether to choose the automatic transmission or the clutchless manual DuoSelect gearbox. These days, however, there are a lot more choices - seven, to be exact.

Each Automatic or DuoSelect model is available in regular, luxury or sports trim. The last one comes with the Sports GT moniker and, in addition to bigger 20-inch wheels and stiffer suspension, has red brake callipers to immediately set it apart from the other variants.

Maserati Quattroporte

Engine: 4,244cc V8 Gearbox: 6-speed automatic transmission Max power: 400 hp @ 7,000 rpm Max torque: 460 Nm @ 4,250 rpm 0-100 kmh: 5.6 secs Top speed: 267 kmh Price: $428,000 (both with COE) Distributor: Hong Seh Motors, tel 6266-1555

Now there is a more extreme version of the Sports GT and it is denoted by the addition of a single letter S. The Maserati Quattroporte Automatic Sport GT S promises more dynamic behaviour than the Sports GT, but what is unusual is that it is only offered with the automatic transmission - not the more 'hardcore' DuoSelect box.

Visually, the Sport GT S stands out from the rest of the Quattroporte range because it has no shiny chrome. Everything has been darkened, from the black chrome of the quad exhaust tailpipes, to the gunmetal grey finish of its 20-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels.

The cosmetic differences extend to the interior, where plush black alcantara lines the armrest, door panels and central part of the redesigned sports seats. Only the red stitching on the black leather provides a striking contrast, while the centre console has the same carbon fibre finish as in the Sport GT.

All Quattroportes have the same 4.2-litre V8 engine driving the rear wheels, but the Sport GT S has a lower ride height - 10 mm in front and 25 mm at the rear - for even sportier handling. The harder damping further reduces body roll in corners and the Sport GT S has better traction too, thanks to slightly wider rear tyres.

More interestingly, its Brembo-derived brakes have bigger discs with six-piston front callipers, compared with the Sport GT's four-piston pair. Stopping quickly in a Quattroporte finally comes with a sense of reassurance.

Despite having a smoother automatic transmission rather than the edgier DuoSelect clutchless manual, the Sport GT S is still a more aggressive version of the regular Quattroporte. Its all-black treatment also has an interestingly sinister appeal. But expect a premium of $20,000 or about 5 per cent extra over the Sport GT. Still, it should be a small price to pay for the new black.

This article was first published in The Business Times on Mar 22, 2008.