Auto News 5

We're holding our breath in the Quattroporte. It's not because the new 2014 Maserati Quattroporte is so beautiful that it takes your breath away - which it is -- but instead it's because this reborn sedan is a much bigger car than before. As we thread out way through tiny villages on the outskirts of Nice, France, it seems certain that we're going to inadvertently run over one of the slim young girls that ride wacky three-wheel scooters in this part of the world and squash her like a bug.

This car was made for southern California, with its roads as smooth as glass, its easy access to tracks, and its proximity to twisting canyon roads. Driving the C63 Black Series away from this automotive land of milk and honey may leave drivers wondering why they didn't go for the "regular" C63 AMG Coupe due to the stiffly sprung suspension, steering that feels connected to nothing, and the bi-polar accelerator pedal. Yes, you can take this car to the track and drive it home, but unless your route consists completely recently paved blacktop you won't want to. Even the car's best feature - its maliciously evil-sounding exhaust note with a crackling overrun becomes neutered unless you use the slow-to-react paddles.