“The coming year will see more exciting model developments as well as the continuation of retail network improvements," says Edward Butler, "so their can be little doubt that 2008 will be another year for the record books!” The Quattroporte’s unique reputation for style and performance now boasts the added the convenience of a state-of-the-art automatic gearbox, significantly enhancing its appeal for Australian car buyers.

Maserati enjoyed a record year in 2007, figures released by VFACTS today (07 January 2008) revealed, with Australian sales climbing by more than 25 per cent.

With the number of customers awaiting delivery of their new Maserati GranTurismo exceeding the total Maserati sales in 2007, this year is set to be another record breaker for Maserati in Australia.

Already on the climb following the appointment of European Automotive Imports as the importer in October 2005, Maserati sales increased sharply with the launch of the Maserati Quattroporte Automatic in early 2007. The new model maintained the Quattroporte’s unique reputation for style and performance, but added the convenience of a state-of-the-art automatic gearbox, significantly enhancing its appeal for Australian car buyers.

Setting a new all-time Australian record in 2007, Maserati sales rose to 134 cars, a 25 per cent increase over the 2006 total of 107, which was a record year in its own right. Driven by the opening of a new dealership in Christchurch, New Zealand sales rose by 50 per cent, given Maserati Australia and New Zealand a total sales increase from 134 units in 2006 to 155 last year, an increase of 28 per cent.

From the moment that the Maserati GranTurismo was revealed at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Australian car buyers started putting their names down for Maserati’s newest model. By the time it was unveiled at the Australian International Motor Show in October, the waiting list had climbed to more than 140 for Australia and New Zealand.

Impressive as the 2007 sales total for Maserati is, as GranTurismo deliveries start this month, the number of people awaiting their new Maserati shades the total Maserati sales figure for 2007. This provides a clear indication of how Maserati plans to lift total Australian and New Zealand sales to 245 in 2008.

“The Maserati Quattroporte Automatic stimulated a rapid increase in sales, but was supported by a significant improvement in customer service as dealership operations were upgraded in Australia and New Zealand,” says Mr Butler. “The coming year will see more exciting model developments as well as the continuation of retail network improvements, so their can be little doubt that 2008 will be another year for the record books!”