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Le Mans: Maserati Offered its First 24hour Spot

According to Crash.net: “Maserati could compete in the Le Mans 24Hours for the first time after an agreement was reached between the FIA GT and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to offer entries to four more teams in addition to those already pre-selected for the endurance classic.

Although Maserati have been one of the dominant forces in the GT1 based FIA GT Championship since they arrived in 2004, the Italian team has been unable to compete against Le Mans stalwarts Corvette, Ferrari and Aston Martin in the past due to various issues with regulations, as well as conflicts between the Le Mans Series and FIA GT Championship.

Nonetheless, while Maserati and their MC12 were once again missing from the 24-strong pre-selection group announced last week, a deal has since been struck between SRO Chariman Stephane Ratel and the president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest Mr Jean-Claude Plassar to expand the pre-selection entry for four more teams, those that finished in the top two in the GT1 and GT2 classes.

This means Vitaphone Maserati have received an opportunity to take the fight to their rivals on a worldwide stage for the first time, while BMS Scuderia Italia have also been invited to compete again with their Aston Martin DBR9 after taking part in 2006…”

Read more here: Crash.net

Italiaspeed’s Italian Automotive Awards 2006:

Exotic of the year;
3rd Place: Maserati MC12 Corsa
2nd Place: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
1st Place: Alfa 8C Competizione

For the full award list check out: italianawards.com

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne Interview

By 2010, you want Alfa Romeo to sell 20,000 units a year in North America. Will you be profitable at that volume?

It is highly unlikely that 20,000 units by itself will be profitable because of the amount of money it will require to build this sales volume.

How much will it cost to let North American consumers know that Alfa is back?

Including all the elements of the re-entry, the re-positioning of the brand, the advertising and marketing support, it will cost between €70 million and €100 million. ($93-$130 million US)

How will you build up Alfa’s North American dealer network?

Because of its association with Maserati, our initial dealer base in North America is not big enough. Thus, from January 2007, we will start searching for additional dealers. Anyway, Alfa won’t return in North America before the end of 2008, but we will have all the dealers identified much earlier. Because of CNH’s (Case New Holland) activities in the U.S., this whole issue about parts supports and distribution is gone. We have enough warehouses in the U.S. to support any penetration of the car business. That will be done relatively easily.

What about the products?

We have already done studies in the U.S. with J.D. Power. We got the first findings, so we will be working on the facelifts for the 159, Brera and Spider to ensure that when they are ready for the U.S. launch, they incorporate all the requirements of the U.S. market.

Is it true that Alfa could also offer the Junior and the 149 in the U.S.?

We are looking at it, but no decision has been made.

Alfa has received more than 1,000 orders for the 8C Competizione. You plan to build 500 units. What will you do?

We will build just 500 units, as planned. We have allocated volumes by region and it is first come, first served. It is that simple. There are some (units) that have been allocated to North America, but I will not tell how many. I can only say that I am on the list.”

Read the full interview at Italiaspeed.com

Alfa Sponsors the Coppa Milano-Sanremo Revival

“To celebrate the arrival of the new Alfa 8C Competizione, Alfa Romeo will be a title sponsor the 2007 edition of the Coppa Milano-Sanremo, bringing with them a selection of stunning cars from the official museum in Milan; while the famous historic Alfa 6C will be one of the event’s featured models. Launched in full production form at the Paris Mondial de l’Automobile in September, the dramatic new Alfa 8C Competizione has been the most exciting new sports car of the year. It will begin deliveries next September and the build up period is one of excitement for automotive enthusiasts’ worldwide.”

For more information, visit: Italiaspeed.com, Classicdriver.com , or the Milano-Sanremo homepage

Last years cars:

Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay and the Quattroporte

Jay Kay, lead singer of euro funk\dance\pop band Jamiroquai just picked up a Quattroporte Sport GT to add to his collection. Jason Kay is known for many things besides music, but fine automobiles is one of his bigger passions. Just check out the Ferrari-esque cover of his 1996 album, Travelling without Moving:

The title track even features some discretely sampled engine sounds woven into the mix. Not quite convinced about this pop star’s car cred? Check out this Top Gear video on the Lamborghini Miura, with one of the featured cars owned by none other than Jay Kay.


And even better, his video for ‘Cosmic Girl’:

So, what does he have to say about his Quattroporte?
“I don’t know what it is, but there is something about new Italian sports cars that really gets me going. Sitting in one of these, you look around and say ‘well life ain’t that bad, really!’ Driving one does cheer you up. They are not everything, but they do make the bad days better.”
“This Maserati is exquisite, it’s a gentleman’s express, with a real thoroughbred under the bonnet waiting to get out. The Quattroporte is a superstylish executive car, nicer and more exclusive than the Bentley Continental GT or an Aston Martin. If you are a businessman and you want something with style and pedigree you could do a lot worse.”

Check out our new Quattroportes here: http://www.maseratiofminneapolis.com

More Awards for Maserati

The Maserati Quattroporte has recieved yet another award from the international press. This time it was the Dutch ‘Fem Business’ magazine, selecting the Quattroporte as the ‘Executive Car of the Year’ 2006. Readers chose the Maserati above thirty other luxury vehicles tested.

Check out their Executive Car of the Year minisite here: http://www.executivecaroftheyear.nl/

Germany’s leading automotive magazine Auto Zeitung‘s Readers Poll, has voted the Maserati Quattroporte the best Imported Luxury Car for the third consecutive year. This time it beat the new Lexus LS, and the Bentley Continental Flying Spur for the second year in a row.

And this is in addition to awards from Quattroroute, Auto Motor Und Sport Germany&Holland, Auto Illustrierte, Automobile magazine, Robb Report, and others.