Maserati has arrived at the Bologna Motor Show this week having achieved an outstanding result: its assembly line in Viale Ciro Menotti (Modena) has produced 850 vehicles in just one month.

On 31 October, Maserati achieved an outstanding result: its assembly line in Viale Ciro Menotti (Modena) produced 850 vehicles in just one month. The result is thanks to the hard work, commitment and passion of every worker at the plant and all those who work for Maserati. To put this event into perspective, just think that, only a few years ago, the same number of cars was produced in a year. Building 850 cars in a month is a significant result, but not an end goal. It is the starting point for the quality and efficiency targets that Maserati has set itself for 2008.

The Bologna Motor Show will be the setting for the Italian premiere of the new Quattroporte Sport GT S, which received an enthusiastic tribute from press and public alike at its worldwide debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Designed for those looking for a sporting edge in a luxury sedan, the Quattroporte Sport GT S, equipped with an automatic 6-speed gearbox, stands out for its exceptional dynamic behavior and uncompromised handling.

This result was obtained with the introduction of single-rate dampers and a new "racing" set up. The Quattroporte Sport GT S sits 10 mm lower at the front and 25 mm at the rear, and also features new, stiffer springs and dampers. Thanks to these modifications the roll and pitch angles have been significantly reduced, and lateral acceleration significantly increased. In everyday driving, this translates into limited movements, with significant improvements in terms of agility, as well as travel speed through and traction coming out of curves. The result is a car that feels very much like a coupé to drive.

The Quattroporte Sport GT S also boasts another major new development: a unique braking system developed in collaboration with Brembo. This innovative technology uses composite dual-cast discs, the first time such a set up has been employed on a road car.

Unlike traditional cast iron discs, dual-cast discs are made of two materials, cast iron and aluminium, to ensure optimized braking, improving performance in the most extreme conditions and providing greater resistance to fade even at the highest temperatures. The dual-cast disc consists of a cast iron braking surface and an aluminium hat, making it possible to combine the advantages of heat-resistance provided by cast iron with the lightweight properties of aluminium. In particular, the use of aluminium, which is generally 20% lighter than cast iron, made it possible to increase the diameter of the front discs up to 360 mm, while maintaining the same weight. In addition to improving the performance of the braking system, other advantages created by the dual-casting of these materials include greater driving comfort, less wear on the discs and pads, and better component performance.

The Quattroporte Sport GT S's new braking system also features new mono-block, six-piston front brake calipers and new tyres have been developed especially for this car (front 245/35-R20 and rear 295/30-R20). The larger rear ground footprint allows optimum use of the V8's 400 hp, whilst the new tyre mix helps the brakes and set-up to guarantee a superior level of handling and driving emotion. The fuel economy is also remarkable: it uses 9% less fuel compared to the Quattroporte DuoSelect (non-urban driving).

The Quattroporte Sport GT S's exterior is distinguished by a more aggressive look. The black-chrome mesh front grille, a characteristic element of sporty Maseratis, is joined by a series of significant aesthetic elements: the side window trims and the two double exhaust pipes are also in black, whilst door handles are in the same color as the body of the car. The Quattroporte Sport GT S is fitted with dark-chrome 20", seven spoke alloy wheels.

Even the interior reflects the muscular character of the car, thanks to a meticulous selection of materials which celebrate the sportier nature of the latest evolution of the Maserati flagship vehicle. The interior finish features carbon-fiber with aluminium treads. Thanks to a more cosseting shape, the front seats ensure an excellent level of comfort as well as support for the upper body and legs in sporty driving. The interiors of the Quattroporte GT S combine the traditional Poltrona Frau leather and Alcantara, which covers the central sections of the seats, the door panels and the rim of the steering wheel.

MASERATI GRANTURISMO ALREADY ON THE ROAD IN ITALY

The Maserati GranTurismo is already being driven on Italian roads. Over 500 GranTurismos have been delivered to the first customers, and approximately 2500 cars have now been ordered - further proof of the car's worldwide success. Style and dimensions of the GranTurismo blend into a thoroughbred and sporty car body - masterfully designed by Pininfarina - well-proportioned, elegant and never over the top.

The GranTurismo is suitable for everyday use, with excellent handling, a very sporty feel and a thrilling drive. It is also a car which pays attention to comfort, materials, details, with large interior space and a capacity of up to four adult people, which is greater than the average for the segment. The rear seats have been designed to accommodate two adults comfortably even on long journeys, which makes the vehicle a perfect example of Maserati's concept of a great touring car.

A high-performance sports car, exciting to drive, the GranTurismo has a V8 4.2 engine with 405 hp at 7,100 rpm and a maximum torque of 460 Nm at 4,750 km/h, of which 75% is already achievable at 2,500 revs. Its maximum speed is 285 km/h, and it accelerates from 0-100 in 5.2 seconds. Weight distribution is 49% on the front, 51% at the rear. The gearbox is automatic with self-adjusting controls which adapt the gear change to the driving style and conditions. The car is 4881 mm long with a wheel base of 2942 mm. The standard wheel rims are 19", with 20" available as optional extras. The fuel economy on the GranTurismo has been improved even further - with a 3% reduction compared to the Quattroporte Automatic (which had already achieved savings of 9% compared to the earlier model). As usual for Maserati cars, the possibilities for customization are endless, with a wide selection of materials to choose from, including leather and various types of wood, as well as numerous color schemes.

Maserati's Gran Turismo tradition began in 1947, at the Geneva Motor Show, where Maserati unveiled its first A6 Gran Turismo, styled by Pininfarina. It was the first Maserati road car and 58 units were then produced. Ten years later, in 1957, again at the Geneva Motor Show, Maserati unveiled its first standard Gran Turismo, the 3500 GT. This was the car that turned Maserati into a road car manufacturer: from then on, production of road cars took priority over that of racing models. A total of 1,983 units of the 3500 GT were produced over seven years. The name Maserati GranTurismo is no coincidence. Once again, the Maserati-Pininfarina partnership has produced an exciting car whose construction, unique and inimitable style sets it apart from the competition.

FIFTY YEARS AFTER FANGIO'S VICTORY, MASERATI'S RACING SUCCESS CONTINUES

In 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio won the F1 World Championship Drivers title at the wheel of the Maserati 250 F, partly thanks to a great comeback that brought him victory at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Fifty years later, Maserati is continuing this tradition by winning the FIA GT1 Constructors' Championship for the second time, and all four of the titles are up for grabs in 2007. Bologna-based driver Thomas Biagi won the drivers' championship, in his Vitaphone MC12, following in the footsteps of the 2006 winners Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels (also at the wheel of a Maserati). The German team also won the team title for the third time running. The Citation Cup awarded to gentlemen drivers also went to an MC12. The MC12 driven by Thomas Biagi will be on display at the Motor Show, at the Autosprint stand.

This year, there have been six Maserati MC12s lined up at the FIA GT Constructors' Championship, driven by the Playteam, Vitaphone Racing Team and JMB Racing. The Doran team also entered two races of the North American ALMS championship, with another MC12. The production of MC12 Versione Corse, in only 12 units, derives from the MC12 GT1 and can be used exclusively on track during private test sessions. The car will be on go on the racetrack at the Bologna Motor Show on 7 December, with Andrea Bertolini at the wheel, whereas on 8 December the MC12 Vitaphone driven by Biagi and the MC12 Playteam driven by Bertolini will challenge each other on the racetrack.

AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR CONTINUED GROWTH

In the third quarter of 2007, Maseratis's revenues were 141 million euros, up 33% compared to the same period in 2006. This improvement can mainly be attributed to the excellent performance of the new Quattroporte Automatic and the new Maserati GranTurismo which is going to be launched officially in all markets by the end of 2007. In the third quarter of this year, Maserati's profit from ordinary operations was ¿6 million, significantly improving from the 6 million loss for the same period of 2006. The turnaround that had emerged in the previous quarter thanks to an increase in volumes and cost containment policies was thus confirmed.

In the first nine months, Maserati's revenues amounted to 485 million euros, up 29.3% compared to the same period of the previous year. In the period January-September 2007, Maserati achieved a 6 million profit from ordinary operations, a significant improvement compared to the 32 million euros loss for the same period of 2006. Overall deliveries for the 10 months exceeded 5,400 vehicles, and orders booked for GranTurismo amount now to approximately 2,500 units.

The United States is still Maserati's leading market, accounting for approximately 40% of turnover, in front of Italy, the European leader, followed by Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Switzerland, France, China, Australia and UAE. Italy is confirmed as second most important market for Maserati, registering a 24% increase, after ten months, in comparison to 2006, with more than 550 vehicles delivered through a total national network of 28 showrooms. Maserati now is present in 59 countries and five continents, with a total network of over 272 dealers.