Maserati is an Italian manufacturer of sport-luxury automobiles. The company was founded in 1914 in Bologna, Italy by the 5 Maserati brothers, but is currently based in Modena. The corporate logo is a trident, and Maserati is part of the Fiat Group. The firm also has a rich motorsports heritage, having won their first race in the 1926 edition of the demanding Targa Florio race.
The company underwent several changes in ownership. In 1937 the surviving brothers sold Maserati to Adolfo Orsi, who relocated the headquarters to Modena. In 1968 Citroen bought the company, and in 1975 it changed hands once again to new owner De Tomaso. In 1993 the marque was again sold, this time to Fiat, whose substantial resources have helped ignite Maserati’s resurgence once more. In 1997, in a strange deal, Fiat sold 50% of Maserati to its archrival Ferrari, yet Ferrari was itself part-owned by Fiat. Nevertheless, Ferrari ownership has injected much needed capital, shared platforms and stability. The Modena factory is now one of the most high-tech in the world after a 2001 overhaul. Sales have also climbed steadily, and the company even showcased an exotic new model, the MC12.
The Maserati range consists of only two models in New Zealand, the first of which is the GranTurismo, a large, sleek, gorgeous low-slung coupe with an unusual concave grille. The powerplant is a choice of either 4.2 or 4.7-litre engine mated to a 6-speed transmission. The other car is the Quattroporte (which means “four-door” in Italian), a large sport sedan also with the same drivetrain options. Prices start at around NZ$ 300,000.
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