Hipsteronomics
Feb 1st
From this month’s Mpls St Paul Magazine:
They have a great article this month profiling what’s hip and what’s not. Dozens of the twin citie’s tastemakers were polled so who are we to argue with their results?
(on newstands now!)
Latest Maserati News
Feb 1st
From the Detroit International Autoshow:
“Former boxer and current CEO of Maserati, Karl Heinz Kalbfell, President of Maserati North America, James Selwa, and Maserati PR chief Luca Dal Monte each took a turn describing the Trident’s snowballing success: a 92% increase in cars delivered during 2005 to North American buyers, for a total of over 2000…”
From the latest Robb Report:
“The sound throughout the rev range is worth the price of admission – especially when the car is in Sport mode, when freer-flowing exhaust and quicker shift mapping add layers to the motor’s music. One would not be insane to buy this vehicle for the exhaust note alone…”
Perhaps the ultimate accolade is that the CEO of CurtCo Robb Media owns a 90th Anniversary Spyder, while its Senior VP and Creative Director traded his Porsche for a GranSport!
“The sound throughout the rev range is worth the price of admission – especially when the car is in Sport mode, when freer-flowing exhaust and quicker shift mapping add layers to the motor’s music. One would not be insane to buy this vehicle for the exhaust note alone…”
Perhaps the ultimate accolade is that the CEO of CurtCo Robb Media owns a 90th Anniversary Spyder, while its Senior VP and Creative Director traded his Porsche for a GranSport!
From Maserati Monthly; Owner Profile: Dan Hammond
“A quiet and thoughtful man, Dan lives in Dallas, Texas. He is recently retired at the age of 53 from his position as founder, Chairman, and CEO of Intervoice, the leader and an originator in voice recognition telephony systems.”
“Dan Hammond grew tired of driving the same car as everyone else, so he went looking for something different – and within minutes of getting into the 2005 Maserati GranSport, he knew he had found it: “you start to drive it and feel the g-forces, even accelerating from 0 to 40 – all of a sudden I feel like I’m driving something besides a car, it feels like a race car.”
Mpls St. Paul Magazine – Best of the Twin Cities 2005
Jan 30th
Way to Spend $100,000
“Interstate 394 isn’t the autostrada, but the recent introduction by Morrie’s Automotive of Maserati (plus its new show room) certainly added a little more Milan to the metro. About thirty-five TC tastemakers have already purchased hand-built Italian Coupes, Spyders, and Quattroportes. Customers choose from three wood grains, ten leather options, twenty-five paint finishes, and many other extras to personalize their ride. And at an average of $125,000 a pop, these cars are sure to stand out in the daily gridlock.”
See the entire list at Mpls St Paul Magazine’s website
Owner Profile: Nick Mason
Jan 29th
“Our profiled owner this month is a hero to many for both his “day job” and his well deserved reputation as one of the world’s foremost car enthusiasts. For him the choice of Maseratis was a clear one, and money really wasn’t much of an object. The drummer Nick Mason, you see, is a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd; just one of their albums, Dark Side of the Moon, spent fifteen straight years in the Billboard Top 200, and has sold over 40 million copies.
Nick can afford to indulge in his hobby: motor racing. What’s more, he enjoys the luxury of being able to keep anything he wants. His world famous collection currently runs to around 30 cars – including three of the most desirable Maserati racers in existence, and unlike those in many collections, every one of Nick’s cars gets used.”
Maserati News
Jan 29th
Quattroporte Leads the Way
Maserati’s $100,000 sedan helps automaker turnaround in North America
This is a fantastic article from AutoWeek about the current status of Maserati, as well as their future ambitions.
Quattroporte Voted Best Imported Luxury Car
”Readers of Germany’s leading car magazine, Auto Zeitung, have voted the Maserati Quattroporte the best Imported Luxury Car for the second consecutive year. The Quattroporte far outstripped the second place Bentley Continental Flying Spur, with almost double the votes.
German voters appreciate the Quattroporte’s advanced engineering, performance technology and quality – a strong endorsement from a country whose affinity for all things technical is well known. This is the second consecutive year in which the Quattroporte’s unique blend of performance, style, and luxury earned clear victory in the category. Since the Bentley is essentially a German car, the discerning and highly demanding German public has signaled its agreement that Maserati sets the standard for premium luxury sports sedans. They have also recognized true exclusivity in saying the Quattroporte is the car to drive on the Autobahn and boulevard.”
Maserati Quattroporte: Ciao, Bella: An Italian Opera in Four Doors (By Ted West, NYTimes)
October 9, 2005 — They took back my Maserati today. No, worse. They made me drive it to Maserati North America in New Jersey and surrender it. That wasn’t easy. (This article is available by full or temporary subscription to the New York Times)
A great article about how one New York Times writer came to love the Quattroporte, “On my first few tries, DuoSelect shifted like a bag of broken glass.” “All it asked of me was some touch and a little technique. Shifting became like driving the pedals of a pipe organ. I was playing the DuoSelect as if it were Puccini.” “The Quattroporte beckons to those stalwart few who believe a car should have a soul.”
Maserati Announces Master GT Driving School in North America From the Detroit International Autoshow
“Maserati announced in Detroit the establishment of Maserati Master USA driving school. Modelled directly from the extraordinarily successful Master GT Driving School held at the Varano circuit in the mountains of Parma, Italy, the US program will provide expert driver training in Maserati products in an elegant setting.
Twelve two-day and eight single-day programs will be offered beginning in March 2006. A total of eighteen participants will spend time in exclusively Maserati cars including the Coupe, GranSport and Quattroporte.
Master Maserati will be held at the famed Road Atlanta circuit with support from Panoz Racing School. Each program will include all technical equipment necessary, gourmet catering, concierge service and a full business centre available. The two day course will also feature one night at the Château Elan resort including a Maserati supper with instructors and Maserati North America staff.”
