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Maserati at Geneva

Maserati GranSport MC Victory

The 2006 Geneva Motor Show has seen Maserati celebrate a highly successful start to the year with the launch of the Maserati GranSport MC Victory to mark its motorsport success in the 2005 FIA GT Championship. After the 5,659 Maseratis delivered worldwide last year for a global sales growth of 22.8%, in January and February of 2006 Maserati registered a further increase in worldwide sales. This figure and the dramatic growth to reach it stands in stark contrast to the 518 cars Maserati delivered worldwide as recently as 1998.

In North America, Maserati's largest market in the world accounting for about 37% of the overall volumes, sales nearly doubled over the twelve months of 2005. In Europe, Italy retains its recently acquired leadership position as Maserati's largest market, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France.

Maserati operates in 57 countries in five continents with an overall network of 281 dealerships, an impressive further growth if one compares these figures with the reality of 1998, when Maserati was present in only 17 markets, through 142 dealerships.

Sport GT Executive GT

THE CORE OF THE GROWTH: MASERATI QUATTROPORTE
The success of the Maserati Quattroporte in terms of sales is reflected in the quantity of international awards the four-door sedan has won since its introduction, two years ago. From the day of its launch, the Maserati Quattroporte has been recognised by 26 international juries with prestigious awards bestowed by clients, readers and journalists from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Japan and the United States.

This global success is continuing just as strongly in 2006: in the first month of the year, five European magazines have awarded the Maserati Quattroporte their Best Cars recognition in Maserati's top European markets: Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and Holland. The Maserati Quattroporte not only accounts for a significant share of Maserati's commercial success but has also opened up a whole new segment for Maserati. Of the 5,659 Maseratis delivered worldwide in 2005, 3,591 were Quattroportes.

Maserati's secret weapons
All current Maserati models utilise the front-mid-engine Transaxle drive system with robotised shifting, in which the gearbox is positioned at the rear of the car in a single unit with the differential for an optimum weight distribution between the front and rear axle (53% and 47%). This setup gives enhanced traction and acceleration for a more stable and balanced performance in all conditions. Interestingly Maserati is the only make in the world today to offer the Transaxle solution on its entire line-up.

All models in the Maserati range also share the Officine Alfieri Maserati customisation program, a feature in craftsmanship that allows Maserati clients to tailor-make their Maseratis to their own taste by choosing, almost to the smallest detail, specifications for their cars by the millions in terms of combinations. According to his or her personal preference, Maserati customers are able to choose the exterior paintwork, the shades of leather for the interiors, the colour of the dashboard, steering wheel, stitching, roof lining, mats, different quality of woods, comfort features for front and rear seats, electric sun roof, GSM telephone, rear seat entertainment system, calliper colour, heated seats, satellite navigation system - in addition to a vast catalogue of travel and leisure accessories.

MASERATI GRANSPORT MC VICTORY: A GENEVA WORLD PREMIERE AND A TRIBUTE TO MASERATI'S SUCCESS IN MOTOR SPORTS
Making its world debut in Geneva is the Maserati GranSport MC Victory, a limited edition model of only 180 units and a tribute to Maserati's success in motorsport - the name intends to celebrate the greatest achievement of Maserati's 2005 motorsport season: the victory of the FIA GT Manufacturers' Cup.

On each side, the Maserati GranSport MC Victory has a small enamelled Italian flag, similar to the one worn in official races by the Maserati MC12 driven by professionals like Michael Bartels, Andrea Bertolini, Timo Scheider, Eric van de Poele and Karl Wendlinger. The front splitter of the Maserati GranSport MC Victory was redesigned to guarantee more air load at high speeds with the addition of the two lateral aerodynamic profiles and a bigger protrusion. The sporty look is clearly expressed by the extensive utilisation of blue carbon fibre for the front and rear bumpers and for the interiors, where the typical elegance and colour matching of all Maseratis is stressed by a selection of leathers and Alcantara trim on the upper dashboard, the door panels, in the central part of the racing carbon seats to emphasise the sporty look and on the steering wheel for grip.

The blue carbon fibre matches the Blue Victory body, a new colour inspired by the blue livery of the Maserati MC12 at the world preview of the car, at the 2004 edition of the Geneva Auto Show. The Maserati GranSport MC Victory boasts the most powerful version of the Maserati 4.2 litre V8 engine, a power unit that punches out 400 HP and a maximum torque of 452 Nm for a top speed of 290 km/h at 7,550 rpm. Each Maserati GranSport MC Victory is made unique by a 1-to-180 individually numbered badge with celebration logo.

Just six MC Victories have been allocated to Australia and New Zealand, arriving in the middle of the year.

Maserati GranSport Spyder

MASERATI GRANSPORT SPYDER ONE OF THE FASTEST OPEN CARS ON THE PLANET
The Maserati GranSport Spyder is stressed by a 10 mm lowered set up, a very pronounced front lower spoiler and side bars elegantly integrated into the body - all resulting in improved aerodynamic performance. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels of the same design as those used in the Maserati Trofeo Championship series coupled to specially produced tyres add to the athletic look. The 400 HP V8 4.2 litre engine makes the GranSport Spyder, at 285 km/h, one of the fastest open-air cars on the planet. Thanks to new specific software, the GranSport Spyder offers even faster gear changing, on average 35% faster than its predecessor.

The design and materials of the interior are a mix of leather, high-tech fabric and the most use of carbon fibre in its class. The upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in leather, while the central area, framed by the piping, is trimmed in BrighTex®, the same high tech fabric of the racing MC12.

The Maserati GranSport Spyder, recently seen at the Melbourne motor show, will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand in the middle of the year.

© italiancar.com.au 19/03/06