Last Thursday evening the première in the Baltic State of Latvia of the new Maserati GranTurismo model took place with a grand show in the prestigious surroundings of the Latvian Stock Exchange House (Biržas nams), in Riga.

In the last five years time this is the first and only absolutely new Maserati model. Latvia is now one of the selected places in the world, where the V8 sports car has now been presented. The GranTurismo made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and it has already caused a notable stir in media. Since its Swiss unveiling the GranTurismo has made high profile motor show appearances, including the New York Auto Show, AutoRai 2007 in Amsterdam, and at the Shanghai Auto Show in China. It has also appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where it made its dynamic driving debut up the famous 'Hill'. A pan-European 'road show' has seen it unveiled in capital cities including Rome, Vienna and London. It has also appeared in Japan, Moscow and now in Latvia.

The Maserati GranTurismo is a four-seated sports type car with a two-winged coupe body, which is suitable both for everyday driving and long journeys on motorways. However its general purpose is to complete long distances at a high speed, providing the utmost convenient, safe and dynamic journey for the passenger. The automobile is equipped with a 4.2-litre V8 engine, which achieves horsepower of 405hp. The automobile accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds, but its maximal speed is 285km/h. The vehicle is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission; the gears can be switched with keys located behind the steering wheel.
 

At the moment in Latvia sales of the new GranTurismo have begun, and the first owners will receive their automobiles when deliveries get underway from the Modena factory in September. In fact the seven models, which were the planned quota for Latvia this year, have already been sold out. Though the sales of the automobile are still being continued.

The only official Maserati importer in Baltic States is the company “Modena Motors”, located in Riga, on K. Ulmaņa gatve 114/1, which provides the sales and maintenance of the new automobiles. Modena Motors is one of the enterprises belonging to Vincents Grupa. Vincents Grupa has a number of prestige businesses including: restaurant (Vincents), design salon (Vincents Inspira), Natuzzi furniture salon (IVN Grupa), building chemistry (Vincents Poliline), architecture bureau (Avotiņš, Vincents un Partneri), construction (Vincents); it is is also the official dealer of Fiat, Alfa Romeo in Latvia through 'Auto Italia', and the importer of Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Latvia and Estonia (Italia Auto).

Meanwhile the most awaited event of the year in Latvia for owners of Alfa Romeo car took place in the last weekend – the gathering AROMS 07. The club of Latvian Alfa Romeo owners organized the event together with the official Alfa Romeo dealer in Latvia, Auto Italia. More than 30 Latvian crews and also 3 Lithuanian crews participated in the event this year. The competitions and skill tests – the rally of regularity, the search of the biggest Latvian grand stones, orientation by map and others took place all day long, when the crews competed for valuable prizes both from Auto Italia and the club of Latvian Alfa Romeo owners. This year AROMS took place for the fifth time and the number of participants keeps increasing each year.