This is the most affordable Quattroporte on the market, at a smidgen under half a million. It’s also the most comfy, says one fan…

SINGAPORE — Bored with Benz and BMW? Maserati is hoping to tempt you away from that S-Class or 7 Series with a new, entry-level iteration of the Quattroporte.

The most basic version was launched here yesterday with a price tag of $488,888 with COE — by no means small change, but within the pricing neighbourhood of similarly large but less exotic cars from BMW and Mercedes.

With a 330 horsepower engine, the new Quattroporte model slots in beneath the Quattroporte S and GTS models, which have more power but cost more, by roughly $100,000 and $200,000 respectively.

The new entrant still hustles to 100km/h in just 5.6 seconds, and can reach 263km/h if you keep your foot pressed to the floor long enough.

It’s also the cleanest and most fuel-efficient version of Maserati’s flagship ever built, with a consumption average of 9.8L/100km of petrol, and a carbon dioxide output of 228g/km.

MORE: Prefer to drive yourself? Then it’s the 307km/h Quattroporte GTS for you!

Maserati is hoping to tempt buyers from more common luxury brands as it seeks to extend a rapid expansion in sales, which have boomed after the introduction of the latest Quattroporte and the smaller Ghibli.

In 2012 the Italian carmaker sold only 6,200 cars, but by last year that number had ballooned to 32,500.

By the end of 216 two years it targets annual sales of 75,000 cars, where it intends to stabilise its output in order to preserve exclusivity. “In the context of 75 or 80 million cars sold around the world, that is just a drop in the well,” says Gaetano Marino, the brand’s regional director for South East Asia and the pacific region. 

Next year, Maserati will launch a Sports Utility Vehicle called the Levante, with a new coupe to be known as the Alfieri scheduled for a 2017 release.

Meanwhile, local importer Hong Seh Motors is sweetening the prospect of switching from German to Italian luxury by offering a five-year warranty on the Quattroporte, along with three years’ free servicing.

Executive director Edward Tan feels that, even though it has less power and performance than the S and GTS models, the basic Quattroporte could offer more comfort, thanks to its mellower power delivery. “It’s actually nicer to sit in as a passenger,” he says.

The goal now is to get BMW and Mercedes owners to agree.