The 2006 Geneva Motor Show has seen Maserati celebrate a successful start to the year with the launch of the Maserati GranSport MC Victory to mark its motorsport success in the 2005 FIA GT Championship.

After the 5,659 Maseratis delivered worldwide last year for a global sales growth of 22.8%, in January and February of 2006 Maserati registered a further increase in worldwide sales. This figure and the dramtic growth to reach it stands in stark contrast to the 518 cars Maserati delivered worldwide as recently as 1998.

In North America, Maserati's largest market in the world accounting for about 37% of the overall volumes, sales nearly doubled over the twelve months of 2005. In Europe, Italy retains its recently acquired leadership position as Maserati's largest market, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France.

Maserati operates in 57 countries in five continents with an overall network of 281 dealerships, an impressive further growth if one compares these figures with the reality of 1998, when Maserati was present in only 17 markets, through 142 dealerships.

THE CORE OF THE GROWTH: MASERATI QUATTROPORTE

The Maserati Quattroporte not only accounts for a significant share of Maserati's commercial success but has also opened up a whole new segment for Maserati.

Of the 5,659 Maseratis delivered worldwide in 2005, 3,591 were Quattroportes, with its balance of elegance and sportiness combined with state-of-the-art technology and distinctive Maserati style that is most appealing to an ever growing community of dynamic business people and opinion shapers that were not part of the Maserati family before.

The Maserati Quattroporte family has grown today to include two additional models - the Quattroporte Executive GT and the Quattroporte Sport GT, both of them on display in Geneva - that further emphasise what has been defined the "best handling super sedan on the planet".

MASERATI GRANSPORT MC VICTORY:

Maserati's success is not only spelled out by the Maserati Quattroporte as the Maserati GranSport continues to achieve significant sales results. Making its world debut in Geneva is the Maserati GranSport MC Victory, a limited edition model of only 180 units and a deserved tribute to Maserati's success in motor sports - the name intends to celebrate the greatest achievement of Maserati's 2005 motor sports season: the victory of the FIA GT Manufacturers' Cup - and the expression of Maserati's commitment to sportiness.

On each side, the Maserati GranSport MC Victory has a small enamelled Italian flag, similar to the one worn in official races by the Maserati MC12 driven by professionals like Michael Bartels, Andrea Bertolini, Timo Scheider, Eric van de Poele and Karl Wendlinger. The front splitter of the Maserati GranSport MC Victory was redesigned to guarantee more air load at high speeds with the addition of the two lateral aerodynamic profiles and a bigger protrusion. The sporty look is clearly expressed by the extensive utilisation of blue carbon fibre for the front and rear bumpers and for the interiors, where the typical elegance and colour matching of all Maseratis is stressed by a selection of leathers and Alcantara trim on the upper dashboard, the door panels, in the central part of the racing carbon seats to emphasise the sporty look and on the steering wheel for grip.

The blue carbon fibre matches the Blue Victory body, a new colour inspired by the blue livery of the Maserati MC12 at the world preview of the car, at the 2004 edition of the Geneva Motor Show. The Maserati GranSport MC Victory boasts the most powerful version of the Maserati 4.2 litre V8 engine, a power unit that punches out 400 HP and a maximum torque of 452 Nm for a top speed of 290 km/h at 7,550 rpm. Each Maserati GranSport MC Victory is made unique by a 1-to-180 individually numbered badge with celebration logo.

Just six of these cars have been allocated to Australia and New Zealand. They will begin to arrive from the middle of the year.

MASERATI GRANSPORT SPYDER

The Maserati GranSport Spyder maintains every ounce of the aggressiveness and temperament of the Maserati GranSport Coupe, stressed by a 10 mm lowered set up, a very pronounced front lower spoiler and side bars elegantly integrated into the body - all resulting in improved aerodynamic performance.

Nineteen-inch alloy wheels of the same design as those used in the Maserati Trofeo Championship series coupled to specially produced tyres add to the very athletic look of the car. The 400 HP V8 4.2 litre engine makes the Maserati GranSport Spyder, at 285 km/h, one of the fastest open-air cars on the planet. Thanks to new specific software, the GranSport Spyder offers even faster gear changing, on average 35% faster than its predecessor.

The design and materials of the interior are a mix of leather, high-tech fabric and the most use of carbon fibre in the class. The upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in leather, while the central area, framed by the piping, is trimmed in BrighTex®, the same high tech fabric of the racing MC12.

The Maserati GranSport Spyder, recently seen at the Melbourne International Motor Show, will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand in the middle of the year.

Mitsubishi Motors at 76th Geneva Motor Show
1st March, 2006
Mitsubishi gave the Concept-EZ MIEV 4WD mono-box concept and the Colt CZC coupe-convertible their world premieres at the 76th Geneva Motor Show ..... more

Renault Clio Renaultsport 197
1st March, 2006
The new Clio Renaultsport 197 stands out as a worthy successor to Clio Renaultsport 182 and features a groundbreaking first in its segment in the form of a rear air diffuser ..... more

Suzuki To Contest WRC From 2007
1st March, 2006
Suzuki has announced, at the Geneva Motor Show, that it will enter the World Rally Championship (WRC) from August, 2007 onwards ..... more

Audi's New Allroad
1st March, 2006
Audi’s brand new A6 Avant based Allroad quattro all-terrain vehicle has been unveiled in readiness for the 2006 Geneva Motor Show ..... more

Daewoo's New Holden Captiva
28th February, 2006
Holden’s new Daewoo-built sports utility vehicle will be called Captiva and will be powered by a new 3.2-litre Global V6 all-alloy engine ..... more

Saab Aero X Concept
28th February, 2006
The Saab Aero X concept harnesses the power of Saab's aviation and Scandinavian roots to make a unique statement in performance car design ..... more

Mitsubishi Offers Limited Edition 380
28th February, 2006
What do you get when you take a limited number of the award-winning Mitsubishi 380 and add many of the features you would normally only find in high-end signature models? ..... more

DTM: Audi Signs Ickx and Scheider
27th February, 2006
Audi has resigned former DTM driver Timo Scheider and the Belgian born Vanina Ickx who will contest the 2006 DTM ..... more

World Premiere of the Most Economical Polo Ever
27th February, 2006
In Geneva, Volkswagen will present its first series production vehicle under the BlueMotion banner: the Polo BlueMotion ..... more

WRC Leaders Ford Seek Treble In Mexico
27th February, 2006
The unbeaten BP-Ford World Rally Team will take its lead in the FIA World Rally Championship to Mexico this week ..... more

Euro NCAP issues wake-up call to industry
26th February, 2006
A wake-up call for the motor industry as Euro NCAP awards two star strike-through for the new Chevrolet Aveo sedan (Holden Barina sedan) ..... more

Peugeot 207 Achieves 5 Stars In Euro NCAP Result
26th February, 2006
A Euro NCAP 5 star occupant protection, 3 star pedestrian protection and 4 star child protection rating has not been achieved before by a supermini ..... more

Last Monaro To Shine In Emerald
24th February, 2006
The country Queensland businessman who bought the very last current generation Monaro in a global auction seen his historic coupe for the first time today ..... more

Holden At The Brisbane Motor Show
24th February, 2006
The stunning custom EFIJY will make its Queensland debut alongside current Holden models at the Brisbane Motor Show from Friday 3rd March ..... more

Audi Continues Success: Annual Press Conference
23rd February, 2006
Audi has posted record figures again in the 2005 financial year for revenue, profit before tax, production and vehicle sales ..... more

Jayco Boosts Demand For Fiat Vans
23rd February, 2006
Growth in the popularity of motorised recreational vehicle (RV) ownership is helping Fiat Commercial expand its business ..... more

Lamborghini Murciélago LP640
23rd February, 2006
Automobili Lamborghini will present the passionately developed evolution of the Lamborghini Murciélago Coupé at the 76th Geneva Motor Show next week ..... more

Audi RS 4 now also in Avant and Cabriolet
22nd February, 2006
Audi will be offering additional versions of the RS 4. Following the successful market launch of the saloon, the Avant and Cabriolet versions will be available from mid-year ..... more

Prince Andrew Visits Rolls-Royce
22nd February, 2006
His Royal Highness The Duke of York yesterday visited the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars manufacturing plant and head office at Goodwood ..... more

Shepparton's Moke Muster
21st February, 2006
The 40th anniversary of Australian Moke production is being celebrated with the first National Moke Muster ..... more

McNish Bids To Make History In Audi's Diesel Racer
21st February, 2006
Allan McNish will aim to become the first Briton to win the Le Mans 24 Hour race driving a diesel-powered sports car ..... more

UK Competitor Selected For 2006 G4 Challenge
21st February, 2006
Brian Reynolds, a railway engineer, has beaten two other UK finalists in the Land Rover G4 Challenge to take his place as the UK representative ..... more

Ford's S-Max And Galaxy For Geneva
20th February, 2006
Ford Motor Company today announced the arrival of two all-new interpretations of the modern people carrier. The sporty new Ford S-Max and the spacious new Ford Galaxy ..... more

North America's New Hummer H3 X
19th February, 2006
Less than a year after the H3 went on sale, Hummer has announced, at the Chicago Motor Show, a new model called H3 X, based on the H3 Street Concept ..... more

Audi S6 V10 for Australia
19th February, 2006
The new Audi S6 is characterised by a refined flow of power in conjunction with superlative comfort and an elegantly understated appearance ..... more

Volkswagen's Compact AWD Concept Vehicle
17th February, 2006
Volkswagen has revealed its latest design study, the Concept A, a crossover between a sports car and a compact SUV ..... more

Ford Territory SR
17th February, 2006
Ford unveiled a special edition model of its popular award winning Territory at the Melbourne Motor Show – the Ford Territory SR ..... more

Peugeot At The Geneva Motor Show
16th February, 2006
At the 76th Geneva International Motor Show the Peugeot 207 will make its world première and is set to be the ‘star of the show’ ..... more