In the eye of the storm
Maserati stands out as a rare story of success in turbulent times

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- The Most Powerful Quattroporte Ever - Greatest Racing Car of All Time! - In the eye of the storm

Amidst all the doom and gloom of 2008 – bank failures, the credit crunch, plummeting auto sales – Maserati continues to stand out as one of the few ‘good news’ stories. Record sales, an expanding dealer network, race wins and championships, superb new models – the Trident keeps going from strength to strength.

While their rivals found the going incredibly tough, with sales slumping by as much as thirty per cent, sales of the superlative Maserati cars held strong. 2007 had set the bar high, yet Maserati North America managed to do even better in 2008. Around the world the story was the same - 2008 was another record-setting year, with more Maseratis leaving the Modena factory than ever before: almost 8,600 Maseratis found homes in enthusiasts’ garages around the world, with over 2,600 of them in North America.

Even though Maserati’s sales of over 2,600 cars in North America is a record for the company, placing that in the context of the overall market casts light on the secret of Maserati’s success.  Over 13 million cars and trucks were sold in the US alone in 2008; even with record sales Maserati represents just 0.02% of the market.  Maserati’s small size allows it to be nimble and responsive to its core group of clients, meeting the needs of the connoisseurs who seek out the best.  The Maserati product stays focused on the core strengths and heritage of the company while the Maserati dealer network can give personalized attention to each client.

That dealer network continues to expand to meet the growing demand and to provide ever greater convenience for owners. From Calgary in Canada to Naples in Florida, new showrooms appeared – a clear demonstration of both the strength of the Maserati brand and the confidence of the owners in investing heavily in new facilities. By the end of 2008 there was a total of 57 dealerships across the United States and Canada.

A car company stands or falls on the quality of its products – so when those products are the superlative Quattroporte and stunning GranTurismo, the success of Maserati is no surprise. In 2008 the first deliveries of the GranTurismo S, with its 4.7-liter V8 engine and MC Shift gearbox, took place to the obvious delight of new owners and enthusiasts. The 2009 Quattroporte was announced, featuring restrained and attractive styling refinements that enhance the sporting appearance; and the Quattroporte S was introduced, the first appearance of the new 4.7-l engine in the four-door sedan. Yet with 2009 just a few days old another model was unveiled: the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the most powerful Quattroporte in Maserati’s history, which combines the 4.7-l V8 with a sports exhaust and single-rate suspension for astonishing performance, roadholding and traction.

On the race track 2008 was another vintage year for the Maserati MC12. It swept all before it in the FIA GT Championship, taking both Drivers’ and Team’s titles. Vitaphone Racing claimed the Teams’ Championship for the fourth year in succession, while Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini claimed the Drivers’ crown, a repeat of their 2006 triumph. In four seasons of racing the Maserati MC12 has powered drivers and team to ten championship titles – near-total dominance in a challenging series where a podium finish means carrying weight penalties in subsequent races.

Buoyant sales, a growing dealer network, superb new models and continuing success on the track – 2008 was a stellar year for Maserati. And with another version of the gorgeous Quattroporte already announced, confidence is high that 2009 will see yet more of the same.