24.08.2003 MASERATI QUATTROPORTE RECEIVES SECRET US PREVIEW AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
There has been a secret US preview for the new Maserati Quattroporte ahead of the official presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show scheduled for 9 September 2003. The new flagship of the Italian automobile industry was presented to a select public of collectors, prestige clients and opinion makers in a closed location under tight security at the Pebble Beach, California Concours d'Elegance, the ritual society event for the US car industry.
In the presence of its designer, Mr. Pininfarina, the CEO of Maserati, Antonello Perricone, and the President of Ferrari Maserati North America, Maurizio Parlato, the Italian limousine was unveiled to the applause of an illustrious clientele of connoisseurs.
The car was presented to a public including, among others, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, actors Clint Eastwood, Jennifer Connelly and Adrian Brody (Oscar for Best Leading Actor for his performance in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist), singer Enrique Iglesias and NBC anchorman Jay Leno.
John Lasseter, (Oscar winner for Toy Story) was also present to express his interest in including Maserati in his next film, after the brand’s featuring roles in Charlie's Angels II and in the American TV series Fast Lane, The Sopranos and The Family.
Maserati,
which has sold 1,350 cars in North America, its leading market, over the
last twelve months, also drew acclaim at Pebble Beach for some of the jewels
of its past. A Bird Cage, the race car which took first place with Stirling
Moss at the wheel in the 1960 Nürburgring 1000 Kilometres, took 1.5
million dollars at auction, while a 1954 A6G Cabriolet with Frua bodywork
took the Concorso Italiano. The Californian public was also delighted by
the appearance of a 1932 V4 Zagato in the characteristic bordeaux red livery
of Maserati’s pre-war race cars.
