Maserati are at the Geneva Motor Show this week with a large stand on which they are presenting their comprehensive range, giving the limited edition GranSport MC Victory its world première, and celebrating more sales success: in the first two months of 2006 Maserati delivered more cars than in the whole of 1998.

The success achieved in all major markets by Maserati in 2005 continues in the first months of 2006. After the 5,659 Maseratis were delivered worldwide last year for a global sales growth of 22.8 pct, in January and February of 2006 Maserati registered a further increase in worldwide sales. The steady increase in sales comes as the natural confirmation of the work started in what today seems the prehistoric 1998, when only 518 units were delivered. In North America, Maserati's largest market in the world accounting for about 37 pct 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 is today a commercial reality 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. 

THE CORE OF 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, with its perfect balance of elegance and sportiness combined with state-of-the-art technology and distinctive Maserati style that is most appealing to an ever growing community of dynamic business people and opinion shapers that were not part of the Maserati family before.  

The Maserati Quattroporte family has grown today to include two new models - the Maserati Quattroporte Executive GT and the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT, both of them on display in Geneva - that further emphasise the two souls of what has been defined the "best handling super sedan on the planet".
 

The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT is the car for those appreciating the enthusiastic feeling of engaged driving. The performance of the F1-inspired, 6-speed transmission has been increased for unmatched responsiveness and control: the Sport button now allows the driver to significantly cut gear change times up to 35% faster, thanks to enhanced software in the electro-hydraulic transmission system's CPU. At high speeds, the 4.2 litre 400 HP V8 Maserati front-mid-engine growls an even more sonorous basso thanks to a specially tuned exhaust system. Sculptured 20" wheels communicate the car's great sporting ability and feature specially produced tyres with a pressure monitoring system. The high performance Brembo braking system now features metal weave tubing and cross-drilled discs with titanium-coloured callipers.

The Maserati Quattroporte Executive GT embodies the "other" soul of the Maserati Quattroporte, the sedan for comfortable long distance travelling that sets the Maserati Quattroporte apart from any other luxury sedan. Great attention has thus been dedicated to the comfort of the interior and the exclusive finish. The cabin boasts Alcantara suede for the roof lining, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with wood inserts and a comfort equipment - combining heating, ventilation and massage for the front seats. Rear seat passengers are treated to a separate climate control zone with control panel, retractable wood rear tables and retractable screens on the windows for extra privacy.

Stunning beauty of forms and shapes combined with advanced technological solutions, this is Maserati. All Maserati Quattroportes share with the rest of the Maserati current range 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 pct and 47 pct) that make possible enhanced traction and acceleration for a more stable and balanced performance in all conditions. And it is worthwhile to remember that 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 will have a chance 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 SPYDER ONE OF THE FASTEST OPEN CARS ON THE PLANET

The Maserati GranSport Spyder maintains every ounce of the aggressiveness and temperament of the Maserati GranSport Coupe, 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 very athletic look of the car. The 400 HP V8 4.2 litre engine makes the Maserati 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 pct 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 the 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. First introduced in Frankfurt, the Maserati GranSport Spyder will go on sales across Europe in March 2006.